At Latitude Margaritaville, the beat not only goes on…it is the heartbeat of the community. After all, when you name a community after a Jimmy Buffett song, you can expect a musical concoction like no other. It’s impossible not to get your happy on at Latitude Margaritaville, and great music sets the tone and the beat for the community’s escape to the islands lifestyle.
From the moment you arrive at Latitude Margaritaville, life gets an extra measure of fun stirred in. Love of music and celebrating a happy, no-worries approach to life surrounded by friends is organic at Latitude Margaritaville. We’ve all heard the expression dance like no one is watching. At Latitude Margaritaville, residents and guests are ready to dance at a moment’s notice and no one gives a fins to the left or a fins to the right who is watching!
“Great music is an integral part of our lifestyle programming at Latitude Margaritaville,” says Vice President of Community Hospitality and Lifestyle Scott Gambone. “We have a very high tech, integrated system and music programming that come together to create the great music vibe.”
Latitude Margaritaville communities feature a colorful Latitude Town Center that surrounds a Town Square with full-size concert stage backed by a jumbo screen. A large dance area at the center of the Town Square includes a special recessed wood dance floor that is cushioned to provide a little give and spring for the dancers.
Giant sunshades have mounted cameras that project the action on stage and the sound system is integrated throughout the Town Center. You can hear what’s playing on stage throughout the Town Center and also see the performance on the TVs in the Bar & Chill restaurant.
The newest of the communities — Latitude Margaritaville Watersound near Panama City Beach, Florida — will have a tiered amphitheater at the Town Center. The amphitheater will be positioned so that residents can hear live concerts and watch spectacular sunsets over the Intracoastal Waterway at the same time.
The music plays seven days a week at Latitude Margaritaville. The stages of Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach and Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head have featured name bands and popular local groups. Smaller groups and soloists perform throughout the week at the Latitude Bar & Chill and Paradise Pool. Full live concerts are on stage at least two nights a week.
Musicians go through a rigorous audition process. Joe Ginel, Entertainment and Atmosphere Director with Margaritaville Management Group, joins the Latitude Margaritaville lifestyle team for auditions to select the approved acts for Latitude Margaritaville.
Some of the well-known names gracing Latitude Margaritaville concert stages include Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band members Peter Mayer and Mac McAnally. Others have included Alan Price who played for Shinedown; Kenny Munshaw who wrote for Justin Bieber; Morgan Myles who played with Reba McEntire; Blue Stone Circle; Shannon Tanner, Bonn E. Maiy and others. Dwayne Dopsie and The Zydeco Hell Raisers recently brought down the house at Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach with their high energy Big Easy sound.
From Left to right: Mac McAnally, Dwayne Dopsie, Jimmy Buffett & Judy Thomas 
There also is virtual programming including pop-up Jimmy Buffett concerts. When featuring a Jimmy Buffett concert on the jumbo screen, a live group opens for him adding to the excitement. Some of the on-stage concerts are recorded so that residents can stream them later and watch at home.
While wrapping up a sailing trip in May, Jimmy Buffett himself decided to make a surprise appearance at Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head and thrilled residents with an impromptu 45-minute concert. The crowd sang along to a selection of favorites from “Come Monday” to “Margaritaville.” He even serenaded resident Judy Thomas with “Brown Eyed Girl.”
There also are some popular neighborhood bands at Latitude Margaritaville that include professional resident musicians and talented amateurs. “This is a lifelong dream for the guys who have never been in bands,” says Brent Hastings, leader of the Coral Reef Corner Band at Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach. “The joy is watching people develop musically.”
When it gets right down to it, it really doesn’t matter whether you are a listener, a dancer or a player of tunes, every day delivers plenty of high notes and fun at Latitude Margaritaville!