THE VILLAGES — Costco has been long absent from North Central Florida. Its closest location, for the past few years, has been in Clermont, and a new store that just opened in Daytona Beach late last year.

Soon, we will have one closer, in Sumter County, near northern Lake County and southern Marion County.

The bulk-savings superstore is officially going up in The Villages at the Buffalo Ridge Shopping Plaza on Wedgewood Lane (by the Hobby Lobby and KFC on County Road 466, unincorporated Sumter County, between Oxford and Wildwood).

Costco bought 19 acres to develop a 162,000-square-foot warehouse store, according to a press statement by Villages Director of Commercial Development Geno Jarquin.

What foods should you buy at Costco?

Their first cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil has gotten several recommendations, including a nod from Eating Well's food editor, who also recommends Costco's nuts, potstickers and frozen fish.

How is the Costco company doing profit-wise?

Costco's first location opened in 1976 in San Diego as a Price Club. In 1993, Price Club merged with Costco Wholesale. There are currently around 617 warehouses in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

The company has locations in Canada (109), Mexico (41), Japan (36) the U.K. (29), Korea (19), Australia (15), Taiwan (14), China (7), Spain (5), France (2) and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden.

Costco will surpass 900 locations worldwide with the opening of several new warehouses in early March.

As it expands, Costco is seeing an increase in net sales, up 8.2% to $113.55 billion for the first 22 weeks of its fiscal year, which began Sept. 2, 2024.

Comparable U.S. sales rose 9.2% in the four-week period ending Feb. 2, the company announced last month.

When is The Villages' Costco opening?

No opening date has been announced for the new location in The Villages, but various sources say later this year.

How much is a Costco membership?

Now through Monday, March 31, you can get an annual Gold Star Costco membership on Groupon for $65 and receive a $20 free digital Costco Shop Card to use on future purchases at any Costco location or online. You can also get the Costco Executive Membership Package for $130 and receive a $40 Costco Shop Card.

The special Groupon offer is valid for new members or previous Costco cardholders whose membership has been expired for at least 18 months.

The Villages High School faces Andrew Jackson High School in the 2025 FHSAA Class 3A boys basketball semifinals on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET in Lakeland, Florida. Here’s how you can watch the game on NFHS Network.

Watch: The Villages vs. Andrew Jackson LIVE STREAM

How can I watch The Villages vs. Andrew Jackson? Fans can subscribe to NFHS Sports Network, a nationwide streaming platform for more than 9,000 high school sports. You can find the list of available schools here.

How much does an NFHS subscription cost? Is there a free trial to NFHS Network? An annual subscription costs $79.99, or you can pay monthly for $11.99 per month.

Can you watch NFHS on your phone or TV? NFHS Network is available on smart TVs like Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Google Chromecast, as well as on iOS and Android smartphones.

Top 25 rankings (MaxPreps)

1. Columbus (Florida)

2. Harvard-Westlake (California)

3. Calgary Christian Academy (Florida)

4. Brennan (Texas)

5. Roosevelt (California)

6. Hoover (Alabama)

7. Andrew Jackson (Arizona)

8. Allen (Texas)

9. Fishers (Indiana)

10. Gonzaga (D.C.)

11. Grayson (Georgia)

12. John Marshall (Virginia)

13. Wheeler (Georgia)

14. St. Joseph (California)

15. Paul VI (Virginia)

16. DeMatha (Maryland)

17. Kenwood (Illinois)

18. Reidsville (North Carolina)

19. Highland (Virginia)

20. Oak Park (Missouri)

21. Huntsville (Alabama)

22. Lake Ridge (Texas)

23. Christ School (North Carolina)

24. Notre Dame (California)

25. Vashon (Missouri)

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust.

The All-New Spectacle Features Jaw-Dropping Acts, High-Flying Stunts & Outrageous Comedy

March 27 – April 6, 2025 | Millennium Park, The Villages, FL

This article was contributed by Salto Entertainment.

Brace yourselves, Villagers! – For the first time, Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium and Drink-Ory Garden is bringing its one of a kind spectacle to the Villages! The boutique big top lands in Millenium Park March 27 – April 6, promising an unusual night filled with laughs, peculiar acrobats, and surprises that will have you questioning what you thought was “entertainment.”

The experience begins in the Drink-Ory Garden which unlocks its gates an hour before the show kicks off. Here, guests are summoned to indulge in Dr. Elixir’s potent potions, enticing elixirs, and savory snacks prior to the show commencing. It’s not just a prelude; it’s a tantalizing taste designed to prep you for the intoxicating journey awaiting you under the big top.

Once you step into the temperature-tamed Peculiarium, prepare to be pleasantly appalled! The crowd is set to gasp, howl, and burst into fits of laughter, delighting in jaw-dropping feats and absurd comedy where predictability takes a vacation. The show, ever the shape-shifter, reinvents itself each year. So, whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or a first-timer, it’s a perpetual new experience.

“This show isn’t just an escape; it’s an all-out overload on the senses,” teases Allison Blei, co-producer. “It’s an intoxicating mix of laughter and jaw-dropping astonishment that gets under your skin, leaving a lasting impression and images you simply can’t forget! Patrons tell us they’ve laughed until they cried, and many leave with sore cheeks (the ones on their face) from laughing so hard!”

“Last season was nothing short of spectacular, with nearly every performance selling out,” shared Ivan España, co-producer of the show. “This year marks our eighth season since debuting in 2018, and our tour continues to grow with exciting new locations—including The Villages! Our mission is to create an extraordinary and unforgettable experience each year, one that leaves guests astonished, entertained, and laughing long after the show ends. Seeing the joy and energy that fill our tent night after night is truly the greatest reward.”

But that’s not all—the performances aren’t just about entertainment. Mr. Swindle passionately backs the community as his performances have raised over $120,000 (freshly laundered) for for Various clubs throughout the state.

Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium, produced by Salto Entertainment, is a unique and unforgettable event for grownups. Performances will take place under the productions custom big top at Millenium Park. Tickets for Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium are on sale now and available at www.MrSwindles.com or by calling 941-445-7309. For groups of 10 or more, contact sales@mrswindles.com or 941-445-7309. Must be 18+ to attend.

Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium is an original production by Salto Entertainment of Englewood, Florida, an entertainment group with decades of live entertainment production experience. Salto’s award-winning productions have provided unforgettable experiences in 49 U.S. states and internationally in Canada, Mexico, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Denmark, Monte Carlo and elsewhere. Salto Entertainment is owned and operated by Allison Blei and Ivan España, whose family was inducted into the Circus “Ring of Fame” in Sarasota’s St. Armand’s Circle, marking their significant contributions to the art and culture of the circus among incredible icons, including P.T. Barnum and the Ringling brothers.

“The Bubble” is a documentary about The Villages from writer/director Valerie Blankenbyl that was released in 2021.

I was able to see it when it was featured at the 2021 Sarasota Film Festival. In part because the film's director and production companies are based in Europe, it has not been widely shown here in the U.S., until now!

Vice Media Group posted it as part of “The Short List”, a collection of some of the world’s best documentaries, curated by VICE founder Suroosh Alvi.

You can watch the full-length documentary right here:

This documentary is quite different from the other recent film about The Villages, “Some Kind of Heaven“.

In my review of The Bubble over on my website about The Villages, I wrote:

Where “Some Kind of Heaven” fell short for a lot of viewers was the fact that it focused on a handful of characters that I think most people would struggle to call “typical Villagers”. Instead of focusing so much on the lives of the characters in the film, “The Bubble” focuses more on the concept of The Villages, and the impacts it has on the people, the economy, and the environment both inside and outside the community.

In my opinion, the best part of the video above is the interview with the director at the end of the film, so be sure to stay for that.

While the film's name is similar to that of my website and book about The Villages, Inside the Bubble, it also shares the same name as a 2013 documentary about Celebration, the town built by Disney located near Walt Disney World in the Orlando area.

“The Bubble” is definitely not a commercial for The Villages. The film sheds light on issues such as political divisiveness, control of the developer, environmental concerns like excessive water use and sinkholes, as well as the seemingly endless growth the community is experiencing.

Most of these topics are not news to residents of The Villages or people who have done even a little bit of research about the community, but they can be off-putting to some.

Luckily there are a lot of other great Florida communities to consider.

Here's a more in-depth look at what the film covers:

The Villages presents itself as a utopian vision of retirement – imagine a college campus for the elderly, complete with golf courses, town squares, and endless activities. Residents describe a lifestyle that seems to defy traditional notions of aging. Many claim the community “adds ten years to your life,” with opportunities for everything from belly dancing to pickleball, and golf cart parades to evening concerts.

However, Blankenbill's documentary reveals a more nuanced reality. The Villages operates as a powerful private enterprise, controlled by a single family who owns not just the development but many of the businesses within it. The community has its own media outlets – newspaper, radio station, and television channel – leading to questions about information control and community isolation.

The documentary raises important questions about sustainability and community impact. Local residents outside The Villages express concerns about:

Perhaps most compelling is how The Villages reflects broader societal questions about aging in America. The community represents both an escape from and a response to ageism, creating a space where seniors can remain active and engaged. Yet it also raises questions about age segregation and its effects on broader social fabric.

As America's population continues to age, The Villages offers both inspiration and warning about potential futures of retirement living. While it provides an attractive solution for many retirees, the documentary encourages viewers to consider the broader implications of age-segregated communities and their impact on society as a whole.

After you watch the video, let me know what you thought of it in the comments down below!

What is the best internet provider in The Villages?

The Villages residents have several solid internet service providers to choose from, though not every option delivers equal value. CNET's experts have evaluated the available providers based on coverage areas, performance, pricing and customer satisfaction to help you pick the best one for your needs. Looking for the fastest speeds or the cheapest internet plan in town? We've got you covered.Xfinity is CNET's top pick for the best internet provider in The Villages. It covers most of the area and offers fast, affordable plans with no contract requirements. Quantum Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are solid alternatives if Xfinity isn't available at your address. Ookla reports a median download speed of 334 megabits per second in The Villages, so you can expect to get decent speeds in the area. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Xfinity also offers the best value, providing the cheapest and fastest service options. For just $35 per month, you can enjoy speeds up to 150Mbps. If you need even more speed, its 2Gbps plan, priced at $95 per month, is the fastest available in The Villages.

Best internet in The Villages

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in The Villages

The best internet deals and top promotions in The Villages depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

The Villages internet providers, such as Xfinity, Spectrum and Zito Media, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Quantum Fiber, T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.

Take our quiz

How Fast Should Your Home Internet Be?

Answer 3 easy questions to discover our recommended speed for your household.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in The Villages

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

Though the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.