Donate blood drive, Mote-Morris House tours, back to school scoop, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, The Villages. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let The Villages Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Shaq eyeing a local retirement home, open pool access spawns SunPass gate proposals, and hurricane-proof condos rise near Lake Deaton Plaza — catch up here.
State-level stories: Tiny Gulf island charms anglers and museum buffs, a $280 million program funds storm proof home upgrades, and SpaceX reuses a Falcon 9 booster — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Safety alerts for hundreds of thousands of Kia and Ford vehicles as an early Atlantic storm takes shape, and Mediterranean diet tips ease inflammation — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Explore hot topics at Creative Conversations
- Join gentle outdoor yoga for social justice
- Give blood at Publix’s Grand Traverse Plaza
- Discover free holistic pain management solutions
- Meet adult peers for games and crafts
- Endurance’s auto protection plan is $300 off
🫶 We got your back
Pets: Spoiling your fur baby doesn’t have to be complicated or pricey. Hit up these pet stores in The Villages for everything from gourmet treats to quirky toys that’ll have tails wagging.
Golf: With over 1,000 courses across Florida, deciding where to tee off first can be tough. This travel guide points you to the Sunshine State’s top greens.
Travel: Traveling solo after 50 doesn’t have to feel scary. These safety hacks will have you packing with confidence.
Playhouse: Whether you’re craving toe-tapping show tunes, spine-tingling drama, or the offbeat charm of experimental one-acts, The Studio Theatre - Tierra Del Sol brings center-stage magic (and just enough backstage buzz) to town.
Wealth: $4,000. That’s how much an ounce of gold is expected to cost in 2026. And since gold thrives in unstable markets, its rally appears far from over. Check out gold IRAs, which let you own physical gold while taking advantage of IRA tax breaks.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
💉 Donate Blood @ Publix Super Market at Grand Traverse Plaza | Wednesday (8/6) at 9:00am – If your grocery list already brags about eggs and milk, why not toss in ‘save lives’ while you’re there? The Big Red Bus is out front at Publix in Grand Traverse Plaza, offering a $25 eGift card, snazzy drinkware, and a free wellness checkup.
🍺 Victory Beer Dinner @ Victory Sports Grill | Wednesday (8/6) at 6:00pm – Join a four-course beer pairing dinner at Victory Sports Grill. Expect clever combos like sliders with Sierra Nevada and chateaubriand paired with Sam Adams. Limited seats—call to reserve.
🐉 Dungeons and Dragons Club for Teens @ Fruitland Park Library | Thursday (8/7) at 4:00pm – Got a teen tired of scrolling? The library’s Dungeons and Dragons club for 13 to 18-year-olds promises epic quests, dice-rolling drama, and zero wifi. Space is limited, so call or drop in before they stage a revolt with boredom.
✨ Fairy Hair @ Cal’s Barber & Beauty at Brownwood | Friday (8/8) at 9:00am – Whether you’re ready to unleash your inner pixie or just tired of run-of-the-mill highlights, pop over to Cal’s Barber and Beauty in Brownwood for Fairy Hair magic. Slots fill faster than gossip at brunch.
🎸 Beatlemaniacs of the Villages – Abbey Road (Side 2) Medley @ The Odell Recreation Center | Friday (8/8) at 10:00am – Odell Rec goes full Beatles mania as 28+ unpracticed locals tackle Abbey Road’s side two blind, with your live song requests thrown into the mix. It’s free for Villagers, utterly guesswork guitar solos, and the communal joys of happy accidents.
This weekend
🏡 Mote-Morris House – Open for Tours | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – Step into Leesburg’s Victorian past with a self-guided wander through the charming Mote-Morris House. It’s the kind of spot where creaky floors whisper stories and every corner begs for a photo op. History buffs, Instagrammers, and curious locals—all welcome.
📚 Back to School Scoop | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – Nothing says “summer’s over” like free haircuts, backpacks stuffed with supplies, and a scoop of ice cream, all on Guava Street. Eye screenings, health tips, and free library cards sweeten the deal. It’s the only back-to-school line worth waking up for.
⛵ The Villages Lake Sumter @ Lake Sumter Landing | Saturday (8/9) at 5:00pm – Saturday nights at Lake Sumter get a little rowdier when a band tackles everything from Classic Rock to Hip Hop, country to pop, slides included. Bring your dancing shoes, your skeptics, and that friend who still thinks disco died. Guaranteed sing-alongs, optional dad moves.
🎶 Nathan Chester and the Old Souls: Motown Revival @ The Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – Clear your usual dinner-and-a-movie night and dive into some genuine Motown magic courtesy of Nathan Chester and The Old Souls. A Chicago-born, Nashville transplant fresh from The Voice hype, Chester’s soulful pipes will have you up, dancing, and texting your friends for cocktail recommendations.
🏐 Sun Open Play 8:30 @ SeaBreeze Recreation Center | Sunday (8/10) at 8:30am – Seabreeze is throwing open play with community courts, free paddle checkouts, and a rotating crew that’s more unpredictable than your fantasy football lineup. All skill levels welcome, so grab some friends, test that rusty backhand, and prepare for a side of serious smack talk.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/5 August Tupperware Bingo @ Bob Evans – 5:30 pm
- 8/5 Banks Bingo @ Mulberry Recreation Center – 6:30 pm
- 8/6 Groove Slayers @ Brownwood Paddock Square – 5 pm
- 8/7 Cathy Kerns @ Orange Blossom Hills – 4 pm
- 8/7 Night Karaoke @ Oxford Downs – 7 pm
- 8/7 Laura Kaye @ Orange Blossom Opry – 7 pm
- 8/8 Playing at The Villages @ Brownwood Paddock Square – 5 pm
- 8/8 Donna Moore @ Old Mill Theater – 5 pm
- 8/8 Friday Night Live @ Orange Blossom Opry – 7 pm
- 8/9 Crystal Vision @ Cody’s Original Roadhouse – 5 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Kandis Buse (REALTY EXECUTIVES IN THE VILLAGES)
Perched on the 4th green with water views and zero golf cart traffic in your backyard, this Gardenia model in Virginia Trace turns everyday living into a private resort experience. The saltwater pool comes with a waterfall, built-in sit-in bar, and a second kitchen in the lanai that sports a Bosch gas range—cocktail hour just found its new HQ. Inside, find vaulted ceilings (popcorn-free), luxury vinyl plank floors, crown molding, and a chef’s kitchen with quartz everywhere, plus dimmable lighting for the perfect mood.
The garage fits up to five cars, thanks to a third bay that goes deep, and comes climate-controlled with epoxy floors. Five solar tubes, a Generac generator, and a tankless water heater keep things bright and breezy, while built-in desks, plantation shutters, and lush landscaping add the finishing touches. Just 1.3 miles to Lake Sumter Landing, but the hardest part might be leaving home.
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