Wellen Park hosts Great American Picnic event to celebrate Fourth of July

VENICE, Fla. (June 15, 2023) – Wellen Park invites the community to an all-day Great American Picnic celebration Saturday, July 1, in Downtown Wellen. The Great American Picnic, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., marks the beginning of the Fourth of July holiday weekend with live music, family friendly activities, a pie bake-off and plenty of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy.

The festival will also debut Wellen Park’s new augmented reality experience showcasing the vibrant, playful spirit of Downtown Wellen. Guests will enjoy a new level of entertainment that blurs the line between virtual and realty, including a virtual bike or kayak ride around the Grand Lake, see the blue heron’s come to life on the massive mural wall or be surrounded by a carnival of circling colorful Florida butterflies while taking a selfie with them landing upon your extended arm. By completing the augmented reality experience, guests receive an exclusive prize offer that’s most definitely a reality.

“We are excited to bring the community together to kick off the holiday weekend,” said Christine Masney, vice president of marketing for Wellen Park. “The Great American Picnic event will have something for everyone. There will be a line-up of live music throughout the day, paddle boat races, a watermelon eating contest, a 360-photo experience and so much more.”

The festival begins at 11 a.m. and will feature live music throughout the day by Rob Hazen, Derek Lersch Country Band, Queen Kay Duo and the Nightbreakers. Family-friendly activities include a water balloon toss, face painting, carnival games, cornhole and more. Once the sun sets, guests will enjoy a special projection art show at select locations through Downtown Wellen.

As a Fourth of July tradition, there will also be a watermelon eating contest. Interested participants must pre-register here.

The event will also have a pie bake-off contest, offering both youth and adult categories for contestants of all ages. Contestants must register beforehand here.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating on the Great Lawn and pack their own picnic baskets, or purchase picnic eats from The Yard food containers and restaurants throughout downtown.

The event is open to the public. For more information, visit wellenpark.com/events/great-american-picnic.

About Downtown Wellen

Downtown Wellen is the region’s newest social and gathering spot, offering restaurants, boutiques, beauty services, and medical and professional offices. The downtown’s thoughtfully designed spaces create unique outdoor experiences – from intimate parks, a natural playground and a living room shaded by a decades-old relocated live oak tree to larger gathering spaces like the Great Lawn for community festivals, markets, celebrations and events, and the lakefront fountain and splashpad. Solis Hall features an outdoor stage, a lakefront patio and an easy flow from inside spaces to neighboring alfresco areas.

The pedestrian-friendly downtown emphasizes heartfelt connections to community and nature and celebrates a waterfront vibe with the 80-acre Grand Lake providing a scenic backdrop and opportunities for fishing and paddle sports. Visitors can enjoy time on the water and along downtown’s 3-mile lakefront trail with on-site bicycle, e-bike, kayak and paddleboard rentals at Kind Vibes Outfitters.

Also open is The Yard, offering a playful outdoor environment with a dining area, games and activities, and ultra-casual food and beverage choices served counter style from retrofitted shipping containers. The Yard features gourmet ballpark favorites from Atlanta Braves-affiliated Pop Dawgs and New England-style seafood at Claw & Co.

Located at 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice, Downtown Wellen can be accessed directly from Preto Boulevard and U.S. 41, just west of South River Road. A future downtown entry directly from U.S. 41 and Wellen Park Boulevard is currently under construction.

Learn more about Downtown Wellen and access a complete list of businesses at wellenpark.com/shop-dine.

About Wellen Park

Consistently ranked among the U.S.’s top-selling communities annually by prominent real estate consulting firm RCLCO, Wellen Park offers a mix of single-family and multifamily residential, commercial and recreational options. The community currently has approximately 9,500 residents, and at full buildout will have more than 50,000 residents and 22,500 homes within its three distinct districts: West Villages, Downtown Wellen and Playmore.

Wellen Park’s expanding residential choices include new-construction single-family homes in picturesque neighborhoods, a bundled golf and country club community, paired and attached villas, coach homes and condominiums. Rental options offer one- to three-bedroom luxury apartments and single-family homes, an apartment community for active adults 55 and older, and world-class independent, assisted living and memory care.

Wellen Park is close to top-ranked beaches and the area’s many attractions.

To learn more about Downtown Wellen and living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice, Fla. The Welcome Center is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact:

Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and PR, 239-275-5758, [email protected]