Free live entertainment at all five — nightly at Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, and Brownwood Paddock Square; Sawgrass Grove and Eastport host regular programming. Each has its own architecture, character, surrounding neighborhoods, and typical annual costs. Understanding the squares helps you choose the right part of The Villages.
The Villages has five town squares, each serving as the social and entertainment hub for the neighborhoods around it. They are not the same as the three geographic areas (Northern Area, Central Area, and Southern Area) — the areas describe where in The Villages a neighborhood sits; the squares describe which entertainment hub is closest. Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, and Brownwood Paddock Square host free live entertainment nightly on an outdoor stage, typically from around 5 to 9 PM. Sawgrass Grove and Eastport host regular live entertainment — check the current Villages calendar for schedules. All five have restaurants, shops, and free parking for golf carts and cars.
For buyers, the closest town square is one of the most important lifestyle considerations in choosing a neighborhood. Homes within roughly a quarter-mile of any square can hear the music and see stage lighting on event nights. Whether that's a feature or a drawback depends on the buyer — it's worth knowing before you fall in love with a specific street.
| Town Square | Opened | County | Area | Theme / Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Springs Town Square | 1995 | Lake County | Northern Area | Spanish colonial |
| Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 2004 | Sumter County | Central Area | Coastal / Key West |
| Brownwood Paddock Square | 2012 | Sumter County | Central Area | Country / Western horse-themed |
| Sawgrass Grove | 2022 | Sumter County | Southern Area | Modern, less themed |
| Eastport | 2025 | Sumter County | Southern Area | European-inspired |
Since 1995 · Lake County · Northern Area
The original town square. Spanish colonial architecture, large open plaza, and the most established surrounding neighborhoods in The Villages. The nightly entertainment lineup here has the longest track record — 30 years of regulars.
Spanish Springs details →Since 2004 · Sumter County · Central Area
The only waterfront square, on the shore of Lake Sumter. Key West-inspired architecture, a working clock tower, and a boat dock for arriving by water. The most visually dramatic of the five squares during the day.
Lake Sumter Landing details →Since 2012 · Sumter County · Central Area
Country and Western horse-themed square with the liveliest bar and restaurant scene of the five. Horse statue plaza, padded outdoor seating, and a crowd that skews toward later evenings. Hub of the Brownwood corridor neighborhoods.
Brownwood Paddock details →Since 2022 · Sumter County · Southern Area
The most modern of the five squares, with less themed architecture and a contemporary feel. Clifton Cove Putting Course is adjacent. Surrounding neighborhoods carry High to Very high bond tiers — the newest construction in The Villages.
Sawgrass Grove details →Since 2025 · Sumter County · Southern Area
The newest town square, opened 2025. European-inspired architecture across 250 acres around Central Lake. Olympia Recreation Center and Bellaire Executive Golf Course are on-site. Entertainment programming is still phasing in.
Eastport details →Most buyers in The Villages end up spending most of their time at whichever square is closest — a 10-minute golf cart ride is the difference between going out three nights a week and going out once. If nightly entertainment is central to why you're moving here, proximity to a specific square should be a filter before you look at homes, not an afterthought.
The northern area and central area have the most mature square infrastructure — Spanish Springs (1995), Lake Sumter Landing (2004), and Brownwood Paddock (2012) each have full dining and entertainment ecosystems in place. Sawgrass Grove (2022) and Eastport (2025) are still building theirs out, which matters if you're comparing lifestyle on day one versus lifestyle in five years.
Bond costs and county property taxes vary by area — and both are tied to where the surrounding neighborhoods are located, not which square you prefer. See the three areas comparison and the bonds and fees guide for the full picture before you start narrowing down neighborhoods.
Browse all neighborhoods by area: Northern Area · Central Area · Southern Area
I can map any shortlist of neighborhoods against the five squares and walk you through the trade-offs — without the sales pitch.