[DaddyD]

Last Friday I drove to Tampa, and on the way back on a lark decided to visit all three Village Squares (this was probably from 5-7pm). Brownwood was pretty busy, Sumpter less so, and Spanish Springs was decidedly the least busy of the three.

Presumably Brownwood could have been busier that particular night because it had the best band playing--and likewise Spanish Springs the least busy because the band playing that night was not very popular--but I'm guessing the Square w/ the youngest population living around it (i.e., Brownwood) is typically the busiest.

Yes / No / all depends on which band is playing where??

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

Last Friday I drove to Tampa, and on the way back on a lark decided to visit all three Village Squares (this was probably from 5-7pm). Brownwood was pretty busy, Sumpter less so, and Spanish Springs was decidedly the least busy of the three.

Presumably Brownwood could have been busier that particular night because it had the best band playing--and likewise Spanish Springs the least busy because the band playing that night was not very popular--but I'm guessing the Square w/ the youngest population living around it (i.e., Brownwood) is typically the busiest.

Yes / No / all depends on which band is playing where??

In my experience it's about the band. A few weeks ago Relic was at Sawgrass and you couldn't get near the place. Some of the other big bands like Uncle Bob's it's a similar situation.

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

In my experience it's about the band. A few weeks ago Relic was at Sawgrass and you couldn't get near the place. Some of the other big bands like Uncle Bob's it's a similar situation.

Newcomers frequent the squares more often than old-timers. It is all new to them. Those of us that have been here for several years have heard the bands hundreds of times. Some of the bands have been playing the same songs for 20+ years. Most of us are not interested in hearing the same music, over and over. The restaurants in each of the squares seem to have an equal amount of patrons, night after night. Brownwood, Sawgrass, and Eastport will always be busier because of the amount of newcomers arriving monthly. Lake Sumter and Spanish Springs is too far for them to travel.

[Bogie Shooter]

The bands are the draw…..

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

The bands are the draw…..

Spot on. The band makes the difference. Up until the last couple of years, on average, it was Sumter Landing. Now probably Brownwood.

[npwalters]

I agree the bands are the draw. Additionally, Brownwood is closest of the three main venues to all the homes south of 466A. I don't know the numbers but I suspect there are many more homes using that square.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'd say it's a combination of the bands, events, and to some degree, the weather. I don't know if there were any events at any of the other squares last night. There was no event at Spanish Springs. But we went to dinner near Spanish Springs last night and at around 6:30 when we finished dinner, it looked like it was about to rain. We ended up not going to enjoy the band, and went right home instead.

Crazy thing about the Villages, is it's so LONG from north to south, that it could be torrential downpours for three hours at one end, and a bright beautiful sunshine day at the other end, with just clouds and sporadic showers in the middle.

But if the weather's nice, it'll be busier where there's an event than where there is no event. If there's no event anywhere, then it'll be busier wherever the more popular band is playing.

The Car Show attracts a LOT of people, no matter who's playing that night.

[tophcfa]

Generally speaking, Brownwood. Simple logic, the other two squares are fairly close to each other and Brownwood is currently the only relatively close town square option for a large portion of the Villages. That being said, on any given evening the popularity of the bands playing or a special event dictates which square will be most crowded. Spanish Springs rocks on the monthly Cruise Inn night or a special event like St. Patrick’s day, LSL during things like the Madi Gras celebration, and Brownwood during the Strawberry Festival.

[Furrydogmom]

Which are the best bands to check out? I’m new in town and it seems clear that everyone knows which bands are best….except me! Who do you recommend?

[Southwest737]

Why do so many people add a P to Sumter?

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by Southwest737

Why do so many people add a P to Sumter?

I doan no

[jimdecastro]

Brownwood has many more people that can call it their closest Square (not including Sawgrass) - probably 60% of The Villages. But the band IS important. The snowbirds being away and the heat are other factors. I bet whatever you saw was nowhere near what these Squares have had. This past Tuesday, Sawgrass and Brownwood were EMPTY (the band at Brownwood was excellent, too).

[bowlingal]

Daddyd....it's SUMTER SUMTER SUMTER NO P repeat after me....SUMTER SUMTER SUMTER

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

The bands are the draw…..

Artists are a draw too.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Randall55

Newcomers frequent the squares more often than old-timers. It is all new to them. Those of us that have been here for several years have heard the bands hundreds of times. Some of the bands have been playing the same songs for 20+ years. Most of us are not interested in hearing the same music, over and over. The restaurants in each of the squares seem to have an equal amount of patrons, night after night. Brownwood, Sawgrass, and Eastport will always be busier because of the amount of newcomers arriving monthly. Lake Sumter and Spanish Springs is too far for them to travel.

I’m interested in hearing the same songs over and over! I never tire of hearing, say, Rolling Stones covers, or the Eagles, or Steely Dan. I do tire of hearing most of the songs over and over, as I never liked them to begin with. I never tire of hearing songs from the thirties and forties, but I know most people don’t like them. I’d love to hear good bluegrass bands, or Gypsy Jazz, or Brazilian Choro, but I know that isn’t going to happen.