[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by RiderOnTheStorm

Let me know if you receive any demerit points for this post; I suspect that such information might irritate the Developer and his Moderator.

The Villages has nothing to do with this site,

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Regorp

Arrived at 10:15, left when no parking and saw mix of young and old. Maybe this 2 day festival need one day villagers then 2nd day outsiders. May alleviate some parking issue or need a shuttle system.

Have people park at Eisenhower or in the parking lots over at The Brownwood Hotel and have the trolleys run back and forth.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

That’s what we get for an extra 3 mil in taxes

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I feel like I'm reading posts from people who've never been to opening day at a county fair. So here's a tip for everyone for the next time around:

If you want to avoid traffic, don't go to these things at all. There will be traffic. Especially since this is snowbird season, AND this is the kind of event that attracts people who don't live in the Villages, but rather live within an hour of the Villages.

Also - don't ever go to the big yearly Mt. Dora Crafts festival. If you were ever thinking about it, stop thinking about it. It's not an option for you.

Next - if you want to go opening day, avoid the opening hour. There is no need or reason to be the first people there. It runs til 4pm. I took Buena Vista down from El Camino Real and had -no- problem with traffic the entire way on the golf cart paths. But I left home after 11, and got to Brownwood sometime between 12:00 and 12:30. I didn't try parking in any of the lots, I just parked along the grassy bank beside the golf cart path with a bunch of other folks. There was plenty of room, and it was only around a block away from the center of the square.

IF you get there at lunch time, make sure you have a little bite of something before leaving home. You might need to wait in line for the food trucks and you don't need your blood sugar to take a dive while you're standing still on hot pavement with no place to sit for a half hour.

Bring a bottle/thermos with cold water in it. Bring your own small canvas bag with handles. Keep the bottle in the bag so you don't have to hold it in your hand the whole time. You can then use the small bag for smaller purchases, as sometimes vendors run out of bags - plus you really don't need one of their bags if you bring your own. You know you're going to buy stuff. Bring a bag.

Go to the bathroom before leaving the house. If you don't have to go, drink some water, and wait until you do have to go. And then go. THEN leave the house. And bring more water with you. Dehydration or needing to take a wiz while you're waiting a half hour in line for food is no joke.

DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG unless it's a) an ACTUAL service dog and b) wearing something to protect its feet (you can buy dog booties online). The dogs here today looked like they were ALL overwhelmed by the crowds and some of them were visibly suffering from standing on the hot pavement (the blacktop roads can get to temperatures over 140° - you try standing on that pavement barefoot and see how well you like it). It's just flat out cruel to bring your pet to a crowded pavement fair. If it was a county fair on actual fairgrounds with shaded grassy areas to sit on, it'd be different. But it's not. So don't do it. If you need a "comfort" animal with you at all times, then assume you won't be comfortable at this fair, and just stay home.

A plethora of good advice!⭐️

[greg.turay]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.

How can it be tooo crowded if nobody goes there?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by GizmoWhiskers

T V is getting too big for its britches. Great suggestion. Distribution and spread of events to all townsquares. Now... HOW does that happen??? T V Developers think villagers should go to Leesburg for movies NOT Brownwood. They sell golf courses and houses now. So WHO actually gives a hoot about over crowding? Oh and all of CENTRAL FL comes to Brownwood. Not seeing much benefit in what T V is becoming. What will it take to reel in the over crowding?

Have you listed your house yet?

[Bogie Shooter]

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.

Well, a new Developer basher.

[sallyg]

It is unfortunate that the crowds are so huge that many of us can no longer attend events. There are lots of large parking lots, but they often fill. Walking a long distance is not an option any more for us. Perhaps festivals such as this should be held at the polo Field or another large open space. Surely a shuttle could be arranged to assist people walking from the parking area.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by sallyg

It is unfortunate that the crowds are so huge that many of us can no longer attend events. There are lots of large parking lots, but they often fill. Walking a long distance is not an option any more for us. Perhaps festivals such as this should be held at the polo Field or another large open space. Surely a shuttle could be arranged to assist people walking from the parking area.

Go later in the day. We went yesterday at 2:30. Close parking and walked right in. Problem solved.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by sallyg

It is unfortunate that the crowds are so huge that many of us can no longer attend events. There are lots of large parking lots, but they often fill. Walking a long distance is not an option any more for us. Perhaps festivals such as this should be held at the polo Field or another large open space. Surely a shuttle could be arranged to assist people walking from the parking area.

There comes a time in our lives when some things are no longer possible, I for one have not given up a scotch at 5 in the evening.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Regorp

Arrived at 10:15, left when no parking and saw mix of young and old. Maybe this 2 day festival need one day villagers then 2nd day outsiders. May alleviate some parking issue or need a shuttle system. Move it to May, when full timers can get in avoiding snowbird season.

It's public property, those are public roads. There are also public restaurants and other businesses there where people work, there are also some offices that are open for business that aren't retail or restaurant.

A shuttle system to and from where, exactly? And who will pay for it?

You can't move the strawberry festival to May. This is strawberry season. That's kind of the whole point of the festival.

[Chamo]

People are never satisfied if your not complaining about something your not happy. Unbelievable on how people love to complain who cares if your never going back because it’s too crowded. Enjoy your short life that’s left. ………. SMH

[Vermilion Villager]

I just got back.... sadly, it looked like any Saturday's Farmers Market at Brownwood with a just few more vendors. Made one walking loop thru, got in the golf cart, and headed home.

[NJRICHARD]

EVENTUALLY, all festivals start out very good and as they gain popularity PROFESSIONAL vendors take over and turn it into a junk show. I have had experience with this happening and The Villages MUST screen EVERY vendor, EVERY year so there is a balance of mostly individual, personal wares & food and not all large professional vendors showing up and taking over. This is difficult to do, also having ONE major event, as indicated before, in ALL the squares at the same time would thin out the traffic as well. Commercialism kills the personal, unique events, ALL the time! (IMO)
Let the criticism begin....

[tallyhoer]

I was expecting everything "strawberry". Milkshakes, pies, cookies,etc. The only thing strawberry was one shortcake stand. There were produce vendors selling flats of strawberries, but that was it. The event was just like a crowded market night. It took us a half hour driving around trying to find a parking place.