Good Morning, Villages, happy March and Happy National Anthem day. And now, a haiku about the month.

March strides in with gusts,
Rain taps a soft reveille,
Buds dare to unfurl.

I’d like to thank the 921 new subscribers who joined this past week. Welcome! We’re just getting started, keeping Villagers informed by curating the best events, live music, activities, and a sprinkling of short news and business briefs whenever something notable happens in the area.

In today’s Villages Pulse:

• Paws for The Cause Fur Ball

• Dining Deals of the Day

• Live music listings

Let’s get to it.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

🐾 “Paws for The Cause” Fur Ball

🐩 Get ready to unleash your inner gala star at the Inaugural “Paws for the Cause” FUR BALL, supporting the Humane Society of Sumter County! Join Honorary Chairman Chief Randy Parmer, the Wildwood Police, and Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for a paw-some night of fun—think silent auctions, a tasty dinner, and a K9 salute crowning the King & Queen. Then, groove to Evolution: Motown’s soulful hits from Temptations to Bruno Mars in a theatre decked with hi-top tables and a dance floor! Dress to impress (Victorian flair encouraged—gloves, canes, hats, oh my!), and help fund animal care and campus expansion. Tickets start at $100—grab yours before March 15th and let’s wag some tails together!

April 12, 2025 | 5:30 PM - 9 PM | Savannah Center, 1545 North Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages

For full details and tickets, go to go.yhsspca.org/Furball

Local Dining

Notable Early Week Dining Deals

Here’s a few select deals to start the week out right, keeping your belly full, while keeping your budget balanced:

🥩 Glenview Country Club | Monday | All you can eat steak night | $29.99 with the purchase of a beverage | Includes: Prime Ribeye, Chateaubriand, Lamb, Shrimp, Sides & Salads. This is my personal favorite.

🐟️ Lighthouse Point Bar and Grill | Tuesday | fish and chips | $9.99

🦀 Coastal Del Mar | Wednesday | Filet Oscar Duo – twin petite filets topped w/crab meat, asparagus, and hollandaise sauce $29.

🍸️ Free Margaritas?

There are currently two local Mexican restaurants running free margarita ads on Facebook. All you have to do is grab the offer and you’ll get one free margarita with the purchase of any entree! No mention of when these deals expire. Disclaimer: I have gotten both offers but have not yet tried to redeem them. I recommend you enter a fake email and phone number on the form, for safety sake. Here’s the links:

Campo Azul Mexican Kitchen | 17860 SE 109th Ave #614, Summerfield

El Ranchito The Villages | 1 Lagrande Blvd, Lady Lake

Village Spotlight

Village With Highest Average Home Price

One of the great things about the Villages is the wide variety of Villages to choose to live in. There’s something for everyone: older homes, newer homes, smaller homes, huge homes, waterfront homes, homes close to the square, etc. First off, we thought we’d look at the Village with the highest average home price.

And the Winner is: Village of Bridgeport

• Home types: Large, upscale homes with big backyards and multiple bedrooms

• Average home value: $868,300

• Great for: Waterfront homes, golfing, social activities, boat racing

The Village of Bridgeport at Lake Sumter features large waterfront homes near the lively Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, a fishing village-style hub with dining, entertainment, and activities like dragon boat racing. The exclusive Palmer Legends golf course nearby boasts a popular restaurant. An expansion will add a floating dock and boathouse for lake tours.

There is currently only one home for sale in The Village of Bridgeport, a 3 bed/2 bath, 2400 sq ft home, listed at $929,000. Here’s the listing on Zillow.

Early Week Events & Coming Soon

Oxford Downs | Shirley’s Seniors No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournament (50+) | 11:15 AM | $30 buy in | 3500 starting chips | 15 Minute levels

Learn & Grow Expo | Ezell Recreation | 769 Marilee Place | Thurs March 20, 10am - 2pm | Check out the over 3500+ Resident Lifestyle Volunteer Clubs and Activities

The Villages Florida Senior Games | Registration Deadline Monday March 31 @ 4PM | Games are scheduled for April 18 - 27 | For more info/brochure and registration details go to the villages senior games website.

2025 Mardi Gras Festival at Lake Sumter Landing | Tuesday March 4 | 4 - 9 PM
Mardi Gras is back and better than ever! This beloved annual tradition brings all the excitement of Mardi Gras to life, with vibrant decorations, plenty of beads, lively music, and, of course, festive drinks. This year’s celebration will feature incredible live performances you won’t want to miss.

Crimson Sunset - Live and Free at the Old Mill Playhouse | Wed March 5 | 4 - 6 PM
Crimson Sunset will be performing at Lake Sumter's Old Mill Playhouse was part of Stellar Stage Productions Free Live Music Series. Food and Drink will be available for purchase.

Civil News & Updates

Closures

🤽‍♂️ Burnsed Rec Indoor, Outdoor Facilities and Family pool Closed Monday, March 3

🏊️ Colony Cottage Rec Sports Pool, Closed 7am - 12pm for power washing Monday, March 3

🏊‍♀️ Laurel Manor Sports Pool, Tuesday March 4, Closed 7am - 12pm for power washing

🤸 Captiva Rec Indoor, Outdoor Facilities and Family pool Closed Wednesday, March 5

🏊‍♂️ Sugar Cane Recreation Adult Pool will be closed for furniture replacement on Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Weather

A cool and sunny start to the first week of March, warming up with rain on Wednesday.

Monday

69 🌡️ 54 | ⛅️ | 0% | 🌬️ NE 5 - 10 mph

Tuesday

76 🌡️ 61 | ⛅️ | 0% | 🌬️ SE 10 - 15 mph

Wednesday

80 🌡️ 54 | ⛈️ | 70% | 🌬️ WSW 5 - 10 mph

Live Music Lowdown

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thanks!

Thanks for reading Villages Pulse today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who loves margaritas.