[jojoturf]

Went to Festival around 1pm. Super crowded. TOO many dogs! Why bring dogs to what you know will be a crowded venue? Too hot for them on pavement. Crowd lightened around 3pm. Band was fabulous - Hayfire. Will look for them again.

Originally Posted by geobar

You bought a home there.
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Now you finally know the "Morse Clan" only does things for their own benefit.
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Look at all the houses built South of CR-44. Amazingly with nothing to do except drive North of CR-44. Guess what with nowhere to park.
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"The Villages" was originally built by building all enmities to draw purchases. For the last 6 years or so. NO. NO. NO. Only sell homes to line the "Morse" pockets..
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Why dont they spend the money to build more Town Squares like "Spanish Springs", "Lake Sumter Landing," and the last one built was "Brownwood" which opened in October of 2012. That was almost 11 years ago.
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However, they never stopped selling homes, have they? Many new purchasers are unhappy and move North of CR-44 or out of The Villages completely.
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Shameful of the "Morse Money Hungry Moguls"
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I believe T V is now on 3rd generation running the show. For sure the vision is more about selling homes and selling golf south of 44. They certainly do not think about time and distance of driving a car to get to shopping 20 -30 miles away. Main entry and exit out of villages via car can take 6 miles and 20 min in itself when going the set speed of 25 mph, being passed by golf carts. Much less designated golf cart trails S of 44 and in newest areas not seeing any so far.

It may seem petty but trust me there is a reason S of 44 needs emergency defibs stations installed at village neighborhood homeowner expense.

Relative to building "infrastructure" a championship golf course trumps another hospital S of 44. Of course we need the schools and under 55 sections to be built first so housing and fun brings under 55's to work in hospital... right?

Yep the 3rd generation truely has a different vision continuing to sell sell sell and populate with over 55's before infrastructure is done. Makes sense.

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by Sandy and Ed

Now THAT would be a good idea. Similar to the way they treated the craft show distribution of attendees recently

The polo fields are for polo, and it is polo season. First match is Friday. A fair like the strawberry festival would tear up the fields.

[NotGolfer]

ALL the complaining, yet you moved here and you attended an event that somehow was too crowded, too hot, too_____(insert your reason). We stopped going to these events years ago not because of parking issues but people with dogs and retractable leashes. Well I guess it's because it's "too people-y". Now, I wonder if people complain about going to Orlando and all the parks??
Complainers---what do you like about living here???

[jrandall]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.

It appears many people go there or there wouldn’t be a crowd. I myself did not go.

[TomPerry]

Originally Posted by GrnThumb

How about a festival in each square on the same day to distribute the crowds or have it at the Polo Field?

Do you think the venders could afford to open three booths at the three town squares and staff them all? BTW we arrived by golf cart at 11 am after attending a seminar at Eisenhower RC and got a parking space in front of City Fire.

[MikeC]

We went at 1pm and found parking right away in parking lot behind World of Beer. Was in golf cart, would not suggest taking a car. It was crowded but expected. It is like market night on steroids. We liked the band a lot but it is one of our favorites. Not sure why anyone is surprised by crowd since all the new people south of 44 with few activities there, it is obvious they come north and it causes crowds. It seems to me the overzealous building of homes south of 44 without offering adequate shopping and entertainment is the issue. We enjoyed it

[Steve]

Originally Posted by JD Tremor

If "Nobody goes there", why is it too crowded? LOL

Ever hear of a guy named Yogi Berra?

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.

Yogi was always spot on. I wonder what size crowd would create a good impression?

[alicevt]

We arrived at 2:30 in car found a parking spot easily. Walked around once. Had shortcake and listened to music in shade in breezeway by tommy Bahamas. Stayed for band at 5. Busy but that is expected.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by GizmoWhiskers

I believe T V is now on 3rd generation running the show. For sure the vision is more about selling homes and selling golf south of 44. They certainly do not think about time and distance of driving a car to get to shopping 20 -30 miles away. Main entry and exit out of villages via car can take 6 miles and 20 min in itself when going the set speed of 25 mph, being passed by golf carts. Much less designated golf cart trails S of 44 and in newest areas not seeing any so far.

It may seem petty but trust me there is a reason S of 44 needs emergency defibs stations installed at village neighborhood homeowner expense.

Relative to building "infrastructure" a championship golf course trumps another hospital S of 44. Of course we need the schools and under 55 sections to be built first so housing and fun brings under 55's to work in hospital... right?

Yep the 3rd generation truely has a different vision continuing to sell sell sell and populate with over 55's before infrastructure is done. Makes sense.

in some places a crowded festival would be considered a success. Owned here 15 years and most days I could send a bowling ball down Canal Street on my way to Colony for shopping. And I am only here during the winter.

[MrChipster]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

Resident for 6 years. Have never been. This year have family visiting so sent them to Strawberry Festival Sat morning at 10 am. They couldn’t find parking- said it was total mob scene. So my question is how early do you have to arrive?

“No one goes there anymore it’s to busy.” Yogi Berra….

[xcaligirl]

Good idea or move it to the Polo Fields or they might need to sell tickets for the event. It'sa total zoo and not even enjoyable to many.

[xcaligirl]

Originally Posted by coconutmama

The polo fields are for polo, and it is polo season. First match is Friday. A fair like the strawberry festival would tear up the fields.

I did forget Polo starts soon and a large amount of people prior to the matches would tear up the field.. The event at all squares sounds good but I doubt the vendors would like it. I've attended the festival for a couple of years until it turned too crowded so we just don't go anymore. Even the farmers market is super crowded unless one gets there early. We adjust our schedule according to the season and live a much calmer life!

[Gettingoutofdodge]

I went with a friend around 2:30. We finally found a parking spot by Kissel Road. The square was very crowded and the vendors were the same as at all the big Square Events. Very little of the event was about strawberries. A Pretzel was $7.00. We walked around the square, bought nothing and left. This was the same as the chaos at Mardi Gras at LSL.
I can only imagine what the squares will be like once the hundreds of apartments and non Village housing by 466a is built and occupied?