Celebrate the Bay! 10 Days at The Bay, a ten-day Grand Opening celebration

October 2022—For years, the community gathered together to imagine the possibilities of what a new signature public park in Sarasota could look like. Now, those aspirations are becoming a reality. After years of dedicated efforts, a new 53-acre public park called The Bay is finally opening in Sarasota – and with a bang.

10 Days. Limitless Experiences.

A bayfront public park designed to be “one park for all,” The Bay’s 10 Days at The Bay celebration will provide free, exciting, and diverse programming for the entire community to enjoy. 

Running from October 14-23, 10 Days at The Bay  includes more than 90 FREE events – including family fun days, food and cultural festivals, headlining musical acts by We The Kings and Etana, and signature events such as Boo! at The Bay Halloween, Sarasota’s first Parktoberfest and more.

The entire celebration is intertwined with everyday programming – daily guided kayak tours, fitness classes, daily yoga taught by local yogis, guided nature walks, and live music every day around sunset. 

Experience The Bay Your Way

The whole community is invited to experience the magic of The Bay – whether by playing on the pair of larger-than-life Ibis that make up The Bay’s new playspace (recently names Sara & Zota by way of public contest), strolling through shady oak trees, or paddling through the restored bayou.

The celebration is categorized into what the public can experience at The Bay, today and every day – health and wellness, live musical performances, family-friendly activities, events that explore the natural beauty of the park, food and drinks, and special experiences. 

If you’re interested in getting healthy and fit, lounging around and listening to live music, taking the kids to a family-friendly experience, or just want to spend an evening surrounded by spectacular sunsets—there’s always something for everyone to experience at The Bay. 

Opening Weekend Signature Events (October 14 – 16)

The first Saturday of the Grand Opening (October 15) marks the first of The Bay’s ten signature events.  Start your Saturday off on the right foot by joining the Sunrise Fun Run & Walk, or burn some energy off at Have a Ball at The Bay Day, a family-centric day of games and activities featuring an array of ball sports. The same evening is headlined by We The Kings, an alternative-rock band originally from Bradenton that has gone on to global success.

On Sunday, October 16, toast to the opening weekend with Taste of The Bay, an outdoor food festival showcasing locally-owned and operated restaurants. With foods priced to entice, foodies can sample stunning signature dishes from the latest, greatest and most exciting Sarasota restaurants.

Round out the weekend with a bayfront concert featuring The Long Run – known as the best Eagles tribute band in the US!  You won’t hear a tribute to the Eagles this great till “Hell Freezes Over,” so bring the entire family to listen to this free concert right along the cool breezes of Sarasota Bay.

Closing Weekend Signature Events (October 20 – 23)

The closing weekend kicks off on Thursday, October 20 with a RADD Night of music, food and art, and continues on Friday, October 21 with Boo! at The Bay – a not-so-scary evening filled with trick or treating, free pumpkin pickings, food truck feasts, spooky walking tours, a family movie and more. 

On the second Saturday (October 22) experience a tapestry of local cultures through a Multicultural Festival, or celebrate Parktoberfest with beers at The Bay! Close out 10 Days at The Bay on Sunday, October 23 with a final headlining performance by Ariella, local-favorite Jah Movement, and Grammy-nominated artist Etana.

One Park for All

More than just events, The Bay’s Grand Opening marks a transformational shift in the community and the creation of a new bayfront gathering place… one that is open, accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of Sarasota. 

The park, which has been in construction since 2019,  is opening with more than 15 acres of revitalized greenspace, a larger-than-life Ibis playground, Common Ground lawns, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway, an outdoor Reading Room, an ADA-accessible paddle launch, restored and preserved mangroves and shorelines, and spectacular sunset views. 

At the heart of The Bay’s plan is environmental and ecological responsibility. By planting native flora and treating virtually every drop of the more than 70 million gallons of polluted stormwater that flows through the site directly into Sarasota Bay, the site is being restored, preserved and protected for the use of generations to come – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience a wide range of park uses, free programs and events.

Join us from October 14th-October 23rd when the entire community will gather together to celebrate Sarasota’s first signature park.

10 Days at The Bay is sponsored by One Park Sarasota, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the City of Sarasota, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, DreamLarge, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Jody Beresford and Bob Mayer, UnidosNow, the Van Wezel Foundation, and generous Friends of The Bay, including Scene Magazine.

For more information about 10 Days at The Bay and event registration, visit www.10DaysatTheBay.org.