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Rise and shine, Sanford!
In today’s planning-your-week edition: King Cajun Crawfish named best southern, a new lakeside amphitheater, and Taste & Sip 2026 + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Florida drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*
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📰 In the news
From Biloxi to Orlando: King Cajun Crawfish was the critic’s pick for Best Southern in the 2026 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, with Sanford’s The Bayou Kitchen & Lounge among the runners-up — read the full story.
High-tech upgrades for events: Renovations are underway at Fort Mellon Park, where Sanford is building a lakeside amphitheater overlooking Lake Monroe to draw more events downtown. The city expects to finish the project by fall 2026 — get all the details.
Central Florida celebrations roundup: St. Patrick’s fun is rolling across the Sanford area this week with chili and cornhole, Celtic music, a rivership celebration on the Barbara Lee, and a Mount Dora Irish session — check out the full lineup.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*
Highlights this week:
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💎 Local business spotlight
Native-plant paradise: If your yard’s begging for a refresh, DeBary Nursery has the goods—Florida natives plus a deep lineup of annuals, perennials, roses, shrubs, and trees—along with pottery and garden accents that make everything look intentional. Consider this your friendly nudge to level‑up the landscape this week.
Level up your week: Rally the crew for Elev8 Fun—hundreds of arcade games plus go‑karts, bowling, mini‑golf, and laser tag all in one spot. It’s the easy “let’s actually do something” plan when you want stress-free fun and a legit shot at bragging rights.
Upgrade your noodle game: Jimotti’s Restaurant turns weeknights around with slurpable comfort—silky tonkotsu, clean shoyu, and a gently fiery dan dan that lingers in the best way. When the craving hits, this Sanford spot nails broth, chew, and cozy vibes without any fuss.
These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.
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🫶 We got your back
What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →
Six figures you can’t spend: Most homeowners over 50 have spent years dutifully paying their mortgage, assuming the only time it’ll pay off is when they sell. I thought the same thing until I discovered you can tap into the equity you’ve earned whenever you want (without leaving your home). Overdue for a new roof? Want to build your dream bathroom? There are two ways to turn equity into usable cash →
Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →
Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →
Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →
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📆 Our favorite events this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
☘ St Patrick’s Day Celebration @ St. Johns Rivership Co. | Tuesday (3/17) at 10:30 AM – St. Patrick’s Day calls for trading bar stools for the Barbara Lee, a lazy lunch cruise on Lake Monroe with live tunes, green beer, and a proper Shepherd’s Pie. Reserved tables, full bar, and downtown Sanford views, because we’re festive, not feral.
🚗 JCOF Concours d’Elegance @ Alaqua Country Club (Longwood) | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Whether you’ve babied an E-Type for decades or your garage holds more golf clubs than horsepower, JCOF’s 38th Annual Concours d’Elegance is the place to shine, ogle, and swap stories. Register your Jaguar, or just come get inspired by polished cats and that proper British growl.
🌱 Popup Plant Sale @ Thomas Moreno Landscape Nursery, Inc. | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Swing by the popup plant sale for a mini version of the shop, Saturdays in March only. Restock the jungle, replace the dearly departed, or finally adopt that pothos your windowsill keeps hinting at. Can’t make it? Call or text 407-324-2115, and order.
♻ Park Clean-Up Day @ The Woodlands Park (Longwood) | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Help spruce up the neighborhood park with mulch spreading, bench scrubbing, fence-line tidying, and a little tree trimming. Swing by when you can. Bring gloves, shovels, a wheelbarrow if you’ve got one, and call it cardio, community, and volunteer hours for high schoolers.
🐰 2nd Annual Citywide Easter Egg Hunt @ Central 28 Beer Company (DeBary) | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – Whether you’re corralling the kids or eyeing the grown-up loot, Candiss is hiding eggs all over DeBary. Hunt fast, then rally at Central 28 for games, prizes for kids and adults, egg coloring, Easter Bunny, and local business love. Your step count will forgive you.
🍷 Taste & Sip 2026 @ Sanford Civic Center | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – This feast brings Central Florida’s top chefs and restaurants to Sanford for the 4th annual Taste & Sip, presented by The Picnic Project. Small plates, big flavors, mingling that reminds you why you still live here, so wear stretchy pants and call it sampling.
🎷 Great American Big Band @ The Ritz Theater/Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center | Sunday (3/22) at 3:00 PM – Great American Big Band brings The Best of Basie to life, all snap, swagger, and that velvet swing. Expect tight horns, a rhythm section that actually swings, and charts you forgot you loved. It’s date-night classy, and you’ll be home before your knees complain.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Sanford report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 82°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 74%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. West northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tomorrow – High: 60°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 5%
Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
This house is wild
Under construction on a pond-view homesite, this 3,783-square-foot M/I Homes build in Sanford’s River Stone Trail packs serious flexibility. Five bedrooms and five baths include two owner’s suites, one on each floor. An airy open-concept main level flows to a lanai and balcony, plus a huge loft, bonus room, and a 2-car garage.
Take a peek inside →
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