Matthew Daley is a lot younger than most people around here but the kid really digs The Villages — especially on the Fourth of July.
“We come here every year for the 4th,” John Daley said, as he held Matthew, 2, in his arms Friday evening at Spanish Springs Town Square. “Matthew loves coming here to stretch his legs and run around.”
Thousands of other Villagers had the same idea on Friday evening as all three town squares featured entertainment, dancing, food and special holiday treats. The list included everything from hula dancers to baton twirlers to cheerleaders and stilt walkers. And just about everyone was red, white and blue all over.
“On a day like this, it’s easy to understand why people love The Villages; it’s a place to stay active and have fun,” John Daley said. He and his wife, Elizabeth were visiting Matthew’s grandparents, Dave and Terri Lewis who live in Woodbury.
Andy and Kathy Richardson were easy to spot at Spanish Springs: they were the ones wearing flag shirts, red, white and blue glasses and big smiles.
They don’t mind acting like kids on the Fourth.
“We live in The Villages; we don’t have to grow old,” Andy Richardson said. “A day like this is like a big party, it gets you in the mood to have a good time,” added his wife. “We appreciate our freedom and are thankful to live in this country.”
The couple lives in Country Club Hills and has been coming to July 4th celebrations here for the past decade. After Friday night, they were headed to Tennessee for a family reunion. “But we just couldn’t miss this night in The Villages,” Kathy said.
Among the attractions at Spanish Springs were a couple of stilt walkers named Heather and Tim. It was hot, muggy and crowded but that didn’t bother them way up in the sky. “It’s a great view up here,” Heather said. “We’re just happy to be part of the celebration; it’s a fun night.”
Over at Lake Sumter Landing, meanwhile, Violet Ray and her crew of hula dancers were shaking things up. Bill Ray, Violet’s husband announced and explained each number.
“It’s wonderful to see al l these people here showing their patriotism and having a good time,” Violet Ray said after the Aloha ‘O Ka Hula group performed. About 15 dancers wore white blouses with blue skirts and red leis around their necks. The highlight was a performance to “God Bless the U.S.A.,” and the crowd sang-a-long and stood up to cheer.
“Something like that makes you feel good,” Ray said. “That’s why we put so much time and effort into doing this.”
Nick Knolmayer, who watched the performance while sitting in his golf cart with his wife Joyce and dog Mitzi, was in a serious mood.
Knolmayer grew up in Germany and Hungary during the Cold War and knows what democracy and freedom mean.
“When you’re born in a foreign country you learn to appreciate America,” he said. “Too many Americans have no idea how lucky they are. I think about all the people who have died so we can be out on a night like this enjoying our freedom.”
The couple lives in Amelia and sat in their 1932-model Ford golf cart soaking up the holiday. “We can just sit back and enjoy it,” Joyce Knolmayer said as Mitzi barked at a person walking by. “We’re just thankful to be here, safe and free.”
Over at Brownwood Paddock Square, “Big” Dave Worker and the band Prairie Junction were belting out country tunes to a packed audience.
“This is a unique experience,” Worker said. “People in The Villages are always patriotic but on day like this, you can feel it even more. It’s about the pride they have for living in a great country.”
Most people are home grilling hot dogs or sipping an ice cold beer on a night like this, but not Worker and his band. “In this business, you learn to work on holidays,” he said. “This is our mission: to entertain people doing what we love. We can have our hot dogs another day. Right now, we want to make people in The Villages happy.”
Judy Whitmore, who lives in Calumet Grove, thoroughly enjoyed the event. She suffers from Parkinson’s disease but that does not diminish her feelings about July 4th or any other day.
“For me, it’s not about a holiday; it’s about everyday being special and living in the moment,” she said. “That’s the way people live here and I think that’s the secret of The Villages.”
