Great live music !! Great ambiance and last but not least on the ball servers , bartenders…read more Also Fuel is joined and there yummy food there also.. also a wonderful Gm tell her Debi said Hey !! Friday and Saturday nights there is an awesome jewelry person Barbara with very cool rings and necklaces and guitar pics earrings ! Tell her Hey for me also !!

If you're looking for a fun, casual pub with a great atmosphere, The Alley in Sanford is your…read moreplace. There's no waitstaff, so you'll need to head to the bar to grab your drinks, but that didn't bother me at all. I only ordered a Shirley Temple, and it was fine. My husband stuck to Stella's most of the night, and he said they were fresh and served ice-cold, just how he likes them. The real highlight of the evening was the band--the 789s. They were absolutely fantastic! The artists were engaging with the crowd, creating an electric vibe that kept the dance floor packed the whole time. You couldn't help but be caught up in the energy of the music. The combination of great drinks and lively entertainment made for an unforgettable experience. If we're ever back in Sanford and there's a good band playing at The Alley, we will absolutely return. It's a great spot to enjoy a drink and listen to great live music.

Such a great concert experience here! The staff and bartender was actually super nice to me as I…read morewasn't feeling well from all the blinking lights and they got out of chair so I could sit down. I really appreciated that. The Acoustics in the place is absolutely fabulous. I also enjoyed the outside patio area just to chill out and they had a little fire pit area you could relax around to where you could still hear the music. Inside they had a little bar area and places to sit down where you could order food and get drinks. Everything was super clean and there were bouncers everywhere so I felt super safe! Also, the little Hidden Gem suffering bastards is inside and had a nice little visit with some drinks in there before the concert! It was a really great experience!

Tuffy's concert venue seems to be a combo outdoor (covered! But open air) bierhall kind of place…read morewith an indoor aircraft hangar converted into concert venue. Standing only, all concrete in the hangar, one bar, lots of waiting. The bathrooms are cleanish and highly functional, no flushing issues, not disgusting, multiple women's stalls. For our concert, the venue set up a Coleman cooler of water and small free water cups by the entry, but they did not make an effort to refill the water jug, so we got quite dehydrated and unhappy halfway through. Liquid death cans and cups of ice can be purchased for about the same cost as alcohol at the bar. Nutrl was only $6 and change, I was thrilled! The sound quality was EXCEPTIONAL! Kudos and a half to Tuffy's for excellent balance and not blowing our eardrums. The light show, meh, too many dark blends, too moody and could barely see the band. When most lit up, I enjoyed seeing the stage. The place got very crowded, very quickly. They need crowd control and to not overpack concert goers like sardines. The outdoor bierhall vibe was chill but was basically a refuge for chainsmokers :( Would def go back, but have clear expectations, multiple water cans in pockets, and very very supportive shoes for tha concrete floor.

I am not from Florida, but came in while visiting, and had a great time checking out this country…read moreline dance bar! There were a lot more line dances than what I'm used to seeing in Nebraska bars, with just a few couples dancing on the perimeter. Most of the line dances were about a medium level, with some harder and some easier ones mixed in. It was clear that this place is packed with regulars, since every single song had an absolutely packed dance floor! There is very limited seating here, almost everyone stands around the dance floor. They are not on it. We were able to find a table when a couple left, and set our drinks here. During the couple hours we were here, another group joined our table, asking if they could use our chairs and some of the space. I walked around this bar for a minute, and noticed that they also have karaoke in the back room! This location is much bigger than I expected, although the dance floor itself is not very large. I would definitely come back to this spot if I find myself here again! Although I didn't know many of the dances, having learned most of what I know from Nebraska, it was still a great time, and a good vibe for country dancing.

Up until the last couple of years I only visited the Barn on rare occasions; however, recently,…read morethey have been hosting quite a few exceptional charity events with some of our favorite local bands and many new ones who travel here to support the cause. First off, this venue is huge. They have two stages in separate areas of the building where two bands can play simultaneously if needed; there are two full bars with more than one bartender working making it easy to get a drink; several pool tables and other games available if you're feeling competitive; a massive dance floor perfect for line dancing and other dance genres. Staff, especially bartenders are very friendly. The bar area clean and most times the restrooms are as well. The inside of the Barn is absolutely gorgeous; one of my favorite parts of attending an event here is taking-in the beauty of the stained wooden interior, it's a must see! Drinks are on the pricy side. I usually stick to beer here because it's cheaper than mixed drinks. Almost all their beer is $7 each. The sound and lighting for concerts can be hit and miss. I have been coming here a lot lately and it seems like they just can't get the lighting right. My biggest complaint is not being able to see the bands from the dance floor. I wish they would have made the main stage just a bit taller so everyone in the middle or back can see what's going on. If you really want a good view of the band, be sure to get the VIP tickets so your right up front. Plus, it's so much easier to leave your spot for a drink and get back without much hassle. I'm not much of a country music fan, but if you are, I highly recommend stopping in to experience all the Barn has to offer. They usually have great live county music events lined up, line dancing, line dancing classes, truck pulls, a weekly lady's night, and now rock-n-roll/heavy metal shows. It's great to see the Barn is taking a risk and branching out by hosting other genres of music. Keep up the great work and the community will continue to support you. See you at the next one!

Best Happy Hour we have found in downtown Sanford. You seat yourself after ordering from the bar…read moreas no servers outside at this time. We came twice during our trip because of the great outdoor dining experience and excellent service from the bartenders. They have a very limited menu and the lady working it, stayed on her phone lol. The bar is clean enough but the ladies restroom could benefit by a deal clean and fixing up a bit. The atmosphere is so nice and it's kid/pet friendly. One thing I especially loved were the nice wine glasses you can take outside. So many places have gone to plastic and while we understand, it's so appreciated. Come with confidence.

Celery City Bar is hands down one of the most unprofessional bars I've ever stepped into…read more Both bartenders were visibly drunk, rude, and acting like they were the main characters in a sad little power trip. I ordered an espresso martini from one bartender. Another randomly made it without confirming, then absolutely spiraled when I asked about my drink. Instead of clearing it up, he chose public humiliation berating and talking down to me at the bar like I'd committed some unforgivable crime. Full medieval town-shaming energy. Shame bell not included. What were they busy doing instead of their jobs? Flirting with freshly-21 customers and openly staring at their chests. If you weren't new, young, or feeding their ego, you were invisible or worse, a target. Two grown adults behind a bar acting like sloppy, insecure children with alcohol and an attitude problem. No class. No taste. No professionalism. Just embarrassing behavior that would get you fired anywhere that actually cared about standards. Save your money, skip the humiliation, and go literally anywhere else.

Another fun "2-3 star/5 star" review…read more First, you guys REALLY need to clean up the area at the back of the place...we park in the county lot after 6 when it's legal and walking in that way is, frankly, gross. 2 star worthy Asked for a Miller Lite. Out. Asked for another beer on the menu. Out. Now Maddie our server (6 star worthy) made it right, was super cheerful/"embarrassed" and bought me a bar drink to make up for it...so no big deal...BUT wanted the Big Fish...OUT. Wanted fish and chips...OUT. Two of your more popular dishes I bet...wth???? Now the FUNNIEST thing? Couldn't get our bill because...you guessed it...receipt paper for the printer? OUT. 2-3 star worthy. Now, what we were able to scrounge off the menu? Really good as usual. Enjoyed ourselves, Maddie and one of her colleauges (they seem to have had all the tables by themselves?) were uber friendly and fun and made us chuckle about the situation, and other things so we had a light hearted, nice time. (5 star worthy) But guys. This isn't normal. (Right?)

Me and my girlfriend went for a quick late lunch, focusing on appetizers and some beer. As far as…read moreatmosphere goes, cute outside seating and decent vibes. But ambiance doesn't cut it alone. Albeit only ordering two appetizers and two beers, the apps we ordered were NOT good. We ordered the 1lb mussels and the nachos with added beef. The mussels were in a butter garlic sauce with what tasted like white cooking wine or champagne(???) that was NOT all the way simmered, it was bitter and extremely sour. The mussel meat was all but ruined and swimming in this weird butter sour soup, basically drinking champagne with mussels. For $15, Easily 1/10 and not acceptable(stay away). The nachos which were $14 and for an additional $7(chicken) or $6(beef) they weren't terrible, but not great either. We got the beef add-on, and the beef was charred and dry, it appeared as if they just let the beef sit under a heat lamp for a few hours, it was black but didn't taste burnt. The nachos had some semi-dry cheese sauce with pico de gallo spread on top and came with a side of sour cream in a black plastic cup (which was fine). The best part about the nachos were what seem to be home made chips, those were quite nice actually. But because of the charred/dry beef it quickly became too salty. Portion size was good so maybe sharing with at least 3-4 people, not sure anyone would notice how salty it can get. For $20, 4/10. Our server was fine, at one point he disappeared for ~15-20 minutes when we were ready to close out but overall service was normal. The beer was also fine, nothing abnormal. Could have been a bit colder if I had to be nit picky. This was our first and last time unfortunately, had decent hopes considering it's in such a premier location in downtown Sanford. We will not be returning as there are much better options on this strip and if any would like to try them(based on this review) AVOID THE MUSSELS.

I've lived in Sanford for 17 years, and while I've only made a handful of trips to Rockin'…read moreRhonda's, each visit has left a lasting impression. Most of my time here has been spent meeting up with riding buddies heading to or from a charity motorcycle run, or supporting local bands. Our most recent visit was this past Saturday to catch our friends' band, Night Wind, play. Unfortunately, the turnout was smaller than expected, likely due to the 11th Annual Mardi Gras celebration happening downtown. We started at the festival, then made our way to Rhonda's to enjoy the band before heading back downtown to wrap up the night. Rockin' Rhonda's is a classic dive bar and a popular pit stop for bikers--this might deter some newcomers, but if you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping by for a drink and a bite. The drink prices are some of the best in town. Well drinks are only $4, and if you order two of the same drink, it's just $6. You really can't beat that price, especially downtown. I usually ask for a double in a 16oz glass, so I don't have to juggle drinks all night. They also offer $12 domestic beer buckets, which are a great deal, and on Saturdays, they discount top-shelf liquors by $2 when you order a double. Food-wise, they have a decent selection of bar-food and it's affordable. A cheese pizza is $10, and only $2 more for a pepperoni version. If you're in the mood for something different, you can grab two corndogs for $6, mozzarella sticks for $5, a cheeseburger or hot dog for $4, or even taquitos for $4. For a casual bite, it's a great deal. If you plan to hang out for a while, there are several high-top tables available for dining. The staff here are friendly, and the place is generally clean and well-kept--inside and outside. If you're looking for something to do, there's no shortage of entertainment. They have several arcade games, two pool tables, multiple dartboards, and JENGA to keep you busy. If you're a bit tight on cash, there's an ATM right inside the main gaming area. When you step outside from the back of the bar, you'll find a cozy seating area next to a clean pond and fountain. Beyond that, there's a large, covered outdoor bar/patio area with more high-top tables facing the stage where our friends played. There's even another outdoor bar and service area to the left of the stage. The outdoor space can accommodate over 60 people (mostly standing) if the crowd is right, making it a great place to hang out on a busy night. We had a fantastic time at Rhonda's, and I'm grateful they provided the space for our friends to perform. The drinks were fantastic, and I appreciate that they pour the old-school way (free-pour), which is a nice touch. Three things to keep in mind: (1) Smoking is allowed inside, so if you're planning to dine-in, you may want to enjoy your meal outside under the covered patio; (2) the parking area and the space between the patio and stage are mostly dirt and sand, so it could be dusty/slippery/or muddy depending on the weather during your visit; and (3) The venue does not providing in-house lighting and sound for the stage, so if your planning on landing a gig here you will need to bring all of this equipment and manage your sound/lighting needs during the show. Overall, Rockin' Rhonda's is a laid-back, local gem that's definitely worth checking out if you're in the Sanford area.

Great little dive bar. They don't serve food, but they do have a vending machine for snacks. The…read moreservice was awesome, I don't remember the ladies name, but she was an older blonde haired woman who wore a cowboy hat. There is a pool table, pinball machines, an old 80's style arcade game, darts, and a dart board. The music was at a great level, although a little pricey to play music, 10 credits for $5.00. It seemed like everyone knew each other there. If I ever go back to Sanford (which is doubtful) I would go here again.

Alive after five…read more On the second Tuesday of every month the town of Sanford holds a block party in the center of town. They vary in size and theme but one of the very best is something called Party Gras. Of course it's an obvious copy of the original Marti Gras down in New Orleans and even though it is much smaller in size and debauchery it still is fun and entertaining. They block off the street and musicians, artists and food vendors fill the area. You pay seven bucks for a wrist band and that entitles you to all the free samples of food and drink that you want. A cool idea because it allows you to try all kinds of different things, some of it you might not have bothered with if you had to buy a whole meal. You can go back as many times as you want as long as you are willing to stand in a small line again. The event also had three bands playing, mercifully separated by enough distance so they didn't interfere with each other. Some cool music and talented musicians. They also had a nice old car display, some creative art, and random trombone, trumpet and strangely dressed folks milling around. Of course a nice assortment of friendly and stinky dogs added to the ambiance. Certainly nothing like the original Mardi gras but then that is probably a good thing for Sanford. This is a cool event that allows people to have fun, hear music, see interesting people and eat lots of food without ending up in jail.

Western End Trading is a cool spot to go get drinks. Drinks are not expensive. They fell off after…read morethe years. Wings used to be way better back in the day, the food in general is not that good anymore 5/10, but the drinks are still at a decent price. If you looking to just get drinks and some music on the weekend is good spot to goto. Bartenders are not that welcoming to me.

Visited to see Soulswitch and a few other local bands. I've never been to Westend & I was looking…read moreforward to checking the place out. I bought tickets online in advance which was a super easy & efficient transaction. Found the venue easily enough even as a first time visitor. Employee at the door was friendly, quickly found my tickets and provided wristbands for entry. Inside the music space, it's dark and standing room only (at least for this show). I noticed a few guests found some seats around the perimeter of the room. There's a small bar & restrooms near the stage The show was great and the sound quality was very good, no complaints. I really enjoy smaller venues with artists who interact with the crowd. It makes the event so much more enjoyable and memorable. When I left the show and exited through the front room, I noticed the vibrant scene of 20-something's laughing & having a great night while the DJ played electronic music. The place was really packed! Definitely a spot to check out if you're looking for some night life in Sanford.

First time here and I absolutely love the vibe. The music is great if you are a Jazz lover and my…read morewife is. See is enjoying a glass of Mercedes Egurem. There are places to sit all around the place and the owner is just a great person to talk to. He knows his wines and his jazz and it has his personal touch written all over it. Next time you are in Sanford, stop by!

Perfect weather for a food truck festival All the seafood stuff and plenty others to choose from.read more

Lots of great choices and so much fun! Take your time, and support these amazing local businesses.read more