Where is Minneola's 100th birthday party going to be? The city has an answer. The Centennial Celebration is set for Saturday, December 5, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Minneola Trailhead Park on East Madison Street. As of the September 1 council meeting, that park was still under construction, with earthwork underway and pickleball court foundations in place.
The town's newest gathering place is already finished. It opened in July at the opposite edge of town, off Florida's Turnpike. For now, Minneola's fall depends on both places. The new hall on Hancock Road is open every day. The older center around Madison Street is being rebuilt so it can host the year's biggest event.
The Hall That Opened With Hours of Notice
Crooked Can Brewing Company opened its Minneola location on July 15 at Hills City Center. The Daily Commercial reported the opening was announced just hours ahead. The building at 1600 Crooked Can Loop covers 43,000 square feet. According to the South Lake Tablet, that's four times the size of the original Crooked Can at Plant Street Market in Winter Garden, which is still open downtown. The taproom has at least 24 beers on tap, plus wine, sake and cider.
Out of 11 announced food vendors, seven are serving now. The Daily Commercial checked in on September 30, and its photos show these counters open on both floors:
Vendor | What it serves | Posted hours |
|---|---|---|
AJ's Pizza Joint | Pizza, on the second floor | Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight |
Braza | Brazilian steak sandwiches and comfort-food snacks, on the second floor | Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m. |
This Little Piggy BBQ | Brisket and ribs, on the second floor | Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m. |
Sir Benji's Donuts | Donuts and beignets, on the first floor | Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; closed Mon; Tue–Thu 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
Three Birds Express | Soups, sandwiches, croissants and pastries | Sun–Thu 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri–Sat 9 a.m.–9 p.m. |
Empanada & Co. | Empanadas | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily |
Daniel's Cheesesteak Express | Cheesesteaks | Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m. |
Three Birds opens at 9 a.m., two hours before the other counters. That makes it the morning option in the building. The Daily Commercial photographed its chicken pesto spinach artichoke sandwich with tomato bisque. The brewery itself, according to its September 21 page, opens at 11 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and closes at 11 p.m. On Fridays it's open 11 a.m. to midnight, and on Saturdays it opens at 10 a.m. and runs until midnight.
Four Counters Still Dark
The hall isn't fully built out yet. On September 30, the Daily Commercial reported that work on Pita Mediterranean Street Food was nearly done, with an opening expected in about a month. Kai Kai, which serves dim sum and noodles, and Norigami, which serves sushi, are still marked "Coming Soon" on Crooked Can's roster. The Local Butcher's page also says coming soon, and no newer update has been posted. The roster lists hours for all four, but those hours don't mean the counters are open yet.
When those four open, the second-floor patio, the outdoor beer garden and the live stage will all be serving a full lineup. Central Florida Lifestyle reports the venue also has a splash pad, open daily from 9 a.m. until dusk, next to a playground.
A Fall Calendar That Already Fills the Weekends
Crooked Can opened 11 weeks ago and already has more scheduled through November than most places in town. The dates below come from its own listings and an organizer's page:
- Thursdays at 6 p.m.: Puzzles Entertainment trivia at the mezzanine bar, which was listed for September 10, 17 and 24
- Tuesdays: Service Industry Tuesdays, with 30% off drafts
- Thursday through Sunday: live music on the main patio
- October 11 and November 8, 9:45 a.m.: Pure Barre on the turf
- October 18 and November 15, 9:45 a.m.: Jetset Pilates on the turf
- October 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: the Our Cause 4 Paws Halloween Pet Costume Contest, with registration at 11 and judging at 1
Crooked Can's Burgermeister Oktoberfest, a German-style Märzen, is listed as available from July through October.
The area around the hall is still being finished too. In its August 4 update, the city said it was locating utilities for road lighting along Hancock Road and planned to request a temporary signal near Crooked Can and Keystone. No construction schedule had been confirmed. The hall is the first finished piece of the 96-acre Hills City Center on North Hancock Road. Retail, medical offices, walking trails and green space are planned around it.
The Old Town's Park, Mid-Rebuild
The Madison Street side of town is in a very different stage. The city's page for Trailhead Park at 315 Madison Street says the park is being upgraded. At a February workshop, the city laid out the plan: a new playground, more parking, pickleball courts, work on the ballfield and basketball court, ADA sidewalks and a stabilized trail. By August 4, the pavilion had been torn down and grading for the pickleball courts had started. By September 1, the court foundations were in, lighting was installed and the city was still coordinating with the energy provider. Staff reported no significant issues. At the same meeting, the city said it would advertise open-gym hours while the park stays closed.
The construction has already moved one event. In February, the council agreed to hold Safe Night Out at another city site this year. The event is still on the calendar for October 31 at 5:30 p.m., but the listing doesn't name the new venue yet. The city hasn't announced a reopening date for Trailhead Park. The December 5 celebration is still listed there.
What the Park Is Being Readied For
The Centennial marks Minneola's incorporation in 1926. The city's history traces the town to George W. Hull, who settled by Cow House Lake in 1882 and helped get the town mapped in 1884. Hull's wife chose the name Minneola for both the town and the lake. Archibald A. Pitt was the first mayor.
Here is the city's schedule for December 5:
- 2:00 p.m.: Food and activities open, with Gilly & the Girl on stage
- 3:00 p.m.: Opening ceremony with a welcome from the mayor, and the first Legacy Talks
- 3:30 p.m.: The Chicken Perlo cook-off begins, with Tyme Peace performing
- 4:30 p.m.: Judging, then winners announced for the cook-off, scavenger hunt and car show
- 5:00 p.m.: iHeritage performs
- 6:00 p.m.: More Legacy Talks
- 6:30 p.m.: Corey Marshall Band performs
- 7:30 p.m.: Closing remarks from the mayor
- 8:00 p.m.: Drone show
Registration is required for the cook-off, and the winner takes home an Ultimate HexClad cookware set valued at $2,000. The vintage car show is open to cars built from the 1920s through the 1980s. There's also a year-long scavenger hunt, open only to Minneola residents, that sends players to local landmarks, businesses and historical sites. Prizes include an iPhone, iPad Air, Apple Watch and AirPods Pro.
The rest of the city's calendar for the season:
- October 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Book, Bake & Craft Sale
- November 21, 6 p.m.: Holiday Movie Night
- December 12, 6 p.m.: the Minneola Moonlight Parade, starting at Disston Avenue and Silverton Street, looping around Main Avenue and ending where it began
Smaller Additions Closer to Main Avenue
The old part of town has new places too. Tail Feather Coffee & Social House is at 70 W Center St., Suite E. It's open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Its September 2 post describes espresso drinks, layered tea blends, drink flights and coconut-cream floats. It also mentions a curbside pickup option called "Smooth Landing," an Eco Roots activity corner for kids, and Thursday classes. The post lists dates of September 1 through November 30 for the Discover Minneola Passport. The art class and Cars & Coffee listed in that post have already happened, so check with the shop for what's next.
On the water, the city approved buying a new pier for Lake Minneola in April for $166,373. As of August 4, state and DEP permits were in hand, but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit was still pending. No installation date has been set.
The Hancock Road hall will have its full food lineup soon, once Pita and the last three counters open. Trailhead Park's next big date is fixed. On December 5 at 8 p.m., a drone show is scheduled over the park on Madison Street to close out Minneola's 100th birthday.
When David and Rema Perras talk with families about Lake County, they often start with what's actually on the calendar, like the Centennial schedule or which counters at Crooked Can are open. If you'd like to talk about where Minneola is growing and what that means for your own plans, reach out to Perras Team. Contact Us.
