Epic Entertainment and Family Fun at the Summer Bash

Families gathered at Founder’s Square for a day filled with laughter, music and activities, marking the start of summer. STEPHANIE DAVIS / BABCOCK RANCH TELEGRAPH

Whether it’s 1970 or 2024, when school lets out, and summer covers Southwest Florida like a warm, steamy blanket, that means it’s time to celebrate.

For adults, excitement comes from less traffic on our local roads, shorter grocery store and Home Depot lines, and no need to make reservations at our favorite restaurants. Yes, the Gulf might be like bath water these days, but you can drive over the bridges to the islands in no time — and our summer sunsets give us reason to do just that.

For kids, summertime is the best time. No school, no books, no teachers and best of all — no alarm clock! And for the kids and teens of Babcock Ranch, the summer season is downright idyllic, with plenty of room to ride bikes, play, fish, swim and enjoy summer sports.

Babcock Ranch is all about celebrating the season of warm temperatures, sunshine and longer days — so this year, the folks in the lifestyle department of the residential association outdid themselves on Saturday, June 8, when a wide variety of families gathered at Founder’s Square to welcome summer with a bang.

Kids of all ages, from grandparents to babies in strollers, slathered on the sunscreen to enjoy a ton of summer fun and relaxing activities. An awesome DJ from Epic Entertainment set the fun and festive tone with lots of upbeat dance music, plus there were four different inflatable bounce houses, face-painting and several contests, including hula hoop competitions, sack racing and even the limbo. Happy and proud winners were rewarded with free ice cream — and on a hot summer day, they certainly appreciated something cold and sweet for their efforts.

Two generous sponsors—Lee County Plumbing and Well Service and Little Big Smiles Pediatric Dentistry—helped make this day’s dream come true.

Babcock Ranch Residential Association Lifestyle Director Brittany Pinho, who, along with her team, put the Summer Bash together, reports that there were at least 500 to 600 attendees.

“Everyone loved the food trucks that we brought in for the party,” she said. “We had Paradise Smoothie and Not Your Mama’s Kitchen. Everyone ate it up, so to speak.”

Brittany said that the satisfaction of organizing events like the Summer Bash, is seeing so many Babcock residents (and beyond) enjoying themselves. “It feels great to celebrate and to bring families together,” she said with a smile. “The feedback has been incredible — and there’s nothing more rewarding than helping people create memories.”

Summer, though, has a tendency to fly by — so Brittany and the rest of the lifestyle department are already busily planning the End of Summer Bash, happening Saturday, August 3, in Founder’s Square — a last hurrah as Babcock Ranch bids a fond farewell to summertime. Mark your calendar!

The post Epic Entertainment and Family Fun at the Summer Bash first appeared on Babcock Ranch Telegraph .