SARASOTA – Food, live music, and pure relaxation…
“Whether its grouper, lobster or crab, you name it, you can get it fried broiled, any way you want it its here,” said Member of the Downtown Enrichment Association, Ron Soto.
The annual and free Seafood and Music Festival made its way back to Suncoast this weekend with three full days of outdoor fun
“It’s about music, it’s about fun, it’s about a family oriented having a good time, and it’s a great way to bring the community together. It’s amazing walking down through here, how many of the downtown residents I’ve seen, just a good, family friendly time,” said Soto.
Soto says the festival has been great for patrons and vendors
“It’s been a long time since these vendors have had a chance to get out and make some money, so it’s a great opportunity for them and it’s a good time to bring the people together and they get out of the house for a change where they haven’t been out for a year and a half,” said Soto.
Co-owner of Buonissimo Pizza says events like the Seafood and Musical Festival will definitely help put vendors back on their feet.
“Now that the events are opening back up and people are able to travel again and make back the income that they had years ago, they’ve dug a deep hole to make it through but I think that now they’re going to start being on the good side of it,” said Co-owner of Buonissimo Pizza, Bill Ives.
Family owned business, Jamaican Jerk Hut made its way to Sarasota from Polk City.
“It gives us a different variety of people, a lot of people don’t really know about Jamaican food out here, they don’t have a lot of Jamaican options out here so were allowed to show them our culture a lot of different varieties that we have allow them to try different foods or even our drinks, like the pineapple mango punch that we serve, they’ve never really had that so if you like beer or alcohol, take one of our drinks, go to the bar put some vodka in it you’re good,” said Co-owner of Jamaican Jerk Hut, Tayana Dallas.
Besides trying a variety of sea food, patrons got to sit back and relax and enjoy a weekend of the regions musical talents.
For more on the Seafood and Music Festival, you can visit their website here.