Good Morning, Villages. Here’s your Villages weekend events and live music listings. Welcome to all the new subscribers! And a big thank you to all the readers who emailed comments about Part 2 of the Villages History feature. I tried to respond to all of them, but I’m sure I missed a few. On this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy delivered his iconic 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech in West Berlin to over 120,000 people. Expressing solidarity during the Cold War, he emphasized freedom and unity against the Berlin Wall, strengthening U.S.-German ties and symbolizing resistance to oppression.

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In today’s Villages Pulse:

• Villages Development Update South of Turnpike

• Retirement Poll Results

• Sumter Landing Aldi opens July 9

• Tons of Live Music listings and Events

Let’s dive in.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

Monday’s Retirement Poll Results

Thank you for all your comments on Monday’s poll! In The Villages, retirees are owning the scene, with 42.5% zipping around as full-time golf cart bosses, soaking up the leisure life! On the non-retired side, 15.6% are rocking part-time hustles for that side gig flair, 14.0% are still grinding full-time, and 7.8% are volunteering like superheroes. Passion projects light up 12.8%, while 2.8% are dropping wisdom as consultants or mentors, and 4.5% are snagging odd jobs for fun. Overall, its a real blend of chill and hustle in The Villages!

Business Brief

Local business you should know

Stanage Tree Service

Trimming trees before hurricane season helps prevent falling limbs and uprooted trees, reducing the risk of damage to your home and power lines. It also keeps trees healthier and more wind-resistant during severe storms.

Stanage Tree Service in Fruitland Park is one of the best for this kind of work. Their crew is professional, on time, and leaves your yard spotless. They trim massive oaks with precision and care—no damage, no mess, just quality work. You’ll see they truly know what they’re doing. It’s rare to find a company that combines skill, safety, and great customer service like this. If you need tree work done right the first time, Stanage Tree Service is the one to call.

Villages Developments South of Turnpike

This drone video really gives you a sense of the magnitude and speed of the Villages development south of the Turnpike! It covers Oak Hollow, East of Bexley, Beauty Berry and Honey Suckle, Edenfield, and Downtown Eastport. There’s an interesting tidbit on the scaling back of the Middleton family homes. Check it out by clicking the video.

Business News

Sumter Landing Aldi Sneak Peak AND Grand Opening

The “word on the street” on the soft opening was wrong! But, good news, it’s officially official, the Sumter Landing Aldi is doing a Sneak Peak opening July 9th, with the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting July 10. You can get all the details here.

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Upcoming Events

Alan Ross Karaoke Roadshow | Old Mill Playhouse | Fri Jun 27 | 5:30pm | Details

Hometown Market | Brownwood Paddock Square | Sat Jun 28 @ 9am | Details

🎆 The Big Bang Independence Day Celebration | Lady Lake | Sat Jun 28 | Details

Weekends @ The Winery | Lakeridge Winery | Sat: Robbie Lit; Sun: Bobby Blackmon | Details

🎻 Red, White and OSO Blue | Reilly Arts Center Ocala | Sun Jun 29 3pm | Details

🍽️ Cooking Class | Prima Steakhouse | Mon Jun 30 | 2:30pm | ←Register at link

🎇 Patriotic Spectacular | Savannah Center | Thu Jul 3 | Details

🎆 Freedom on The Waterfront Fireworks, Live Music | Mount Dora | Jul 3 | Details

Happy Birthday America Fireworks, Live Music | Wildwood | Jul 3 | Details

🎇 Star Spangled Spectacular | Leesburg | July 4 | Details | Best fireworks show in the area

🏌️‍♀️Two Lady Summer Golf Series | Mallory Hill CC | Jul 3 | 7 am - 2pm | Details

All American Celebration | Brownwood | July 4 | 4 - 9 pm | Details

Arts & Craft Festival | Brownwood Paddock | Jul 5 & 6 | Details

Events Further Out

🏌️‍♀️ Ladies Basics Of Golf | Palmer Legends | Jul 8 | 9 am | Details

⛳️ New To Golf School | Sarasota Practice Center | Jul 7 | 8 am | Details

🎤 US2 - A Tribute to U2 Live | Whispering Oaks | July 10 | 7pm | Tickets + Details

🍽️ Mixology Class - Classic Cocktails | Legacy Restaurant | Sat July 12 | Register

🍽️ Cooking Class | Legacy Restaurant | Tue Jul 15 | 12 pm or 2:30 pm 

On Sale This Week

An Evening With YES - The FRAGILE 2025 Tour | The Sharon | Oct 21 | On Sale June 27 - 10am | Tickets and Details

If you have an event you want to announce to 5,000+ local Villagers, email us the details at [email protected]

Humane Society of Sumter County Presents:

Weather

Thursday: 92 🌡️ 73| 🌤️ | 70% | 🌬️ SE 5 mph

Friday: 93 🌡️ 74 | ☀️ | 80% | 🌬️ SW 5 mph

Saturday: 91 🌡️ 75 | ☀️ | 80% | 🌬️ WSW 5 mph

Sunday: 89 🌡️ 74 | 🌦️ | 60% | 🌬️ WSW 5 mph

Live Music Lowdown

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Thanks!

Thanks for reading Villages Pulse today. If you found something useful, please share it with everyone who likes to learn about the history of The Villages.

P.S. Want to get your business in front of 5,000+ local Villagers? Email us at [email protected]