The Bay Park Announces Free Month-Long Anniversary Celebration

September 6, 2024 | Sarasota

The Bay Park  announces “Two Terrific Years at The Bay” Second Anniversary Community Celebration – a month-long celebration offering nearly 70 FREE events that bring the best of The Bay to life and recognize the two-year milestone of the park.

Since the park opened in October 2022, The Bay has become a beloved and sustainable gathering place for the community. More than 570,000 people have visited this “One Park for All” to enjoy all it has to offer including more than 10 acres of revitalized greenspace, a tree-shaded Mangrove Bayou Walkway, a larger-than-life Ibis Playground, sprawling Common Ground lawns, restored and preserved mangroves and shorelines, the architecturally stunning Nest Café, The Oval mini-amphitheater with stadium-sized LED screens, an ADA-accessible paddle launch, and spectacular sunset views.

In recognition of the park’s Second Anniversary, a month-long community celebration will feature “the best of The Bay” and provide free, exciting, and diverse programming for the entire community to enjoy. The full schedule of events can be found online at TwoTerrificYears.org.

The celebration includes free bayfront concerts by headlining musical acts like:

• World-renowned Scottish soul and funk group, Average White Band, with opener Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe “Sistas in the Name of Soul” (Oct. 18)
• The Breakers: A Tribute to Tom Petty (Oct. 19)

Other Signature Events include fan favorites like: 

• 3rd annual Taste of The Bay food festival Presented by Sarasota-Manatee Originals (Oct. 20)
• Boo! at The Bay Family Halloween event (Oct. 25)
• Park-toberfest (Oct. 6)
• Bark-toberfest (Oct. 12)
• Second Anniversary Community Celebration (Oct. 16) celebrating all things TWO (twins, couples, 2-year olds)

This month-long celebration is infused with some of the best everyday free programming at The Bay including: guided kayak tours in partnership with Ride & Paddle, fitness classes provided by The Y, yoga led by the area’s favorite yogis, and music featuring some of the area’s favorite artists. 

New park event series with new community partners are also being launched during this Second Anniversary month – including “Plein Air Painting at The Bay” with partner Art Center Sarasota and “Moderns That Matter: Architecture Tour of The Bay” with partner Architecture Sarasota. 

“In the past two years, hundreds of thousands of park guests have discovered The Bay and been delighted by their experiences,” says AG Lafley, The Bay Park Conservancy CEO. “This Second Anniversary Community Celebration enables something for everyone and, as always at The Bay, is completely open and accessible, free and welcoming to all. Please join in the fun of this month-long celebration providing a range of experiences sure to surprise and delight, and showcasing what this signature public park offers the community every day.”

Other FREE activities happening across The Bay park 53-acre site during October include the Van Wezel’s final Friday Fest of the season featuring “Big Night Out,” a FREE Family Concert: Orchestra Games presented by Sarasota Orchestra at the Van Wezel, and Art Center Sarasota’s Opening Exhibition Reception.

Everyone is encouraged to bring family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, meet-up and other groups to attend any of the free events offered in the park. 

For more information and to register for the various “Two Terrific Years at The Bay” events, visit TwoTerrificYears.org. The community is also invited to subscribe to The Bay newsletter and follow The Bay on Facebook and Instagram.

“Two Terrific Years at The Bay” Second Anniversary Community Celebration is sponsored by generous Friends of The Bay including: Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Jody Beresford and Bob Mayer, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, DreamLarge, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Haskell, Ian Black Real Estate, Jon F. Swift Construction, Kimley-Horn, Michael & Terri Klauber, AG Lafley, Cathy Layton & Pete Russell, Leading To Win, Michael Saunders & Company, Observer Media Group, Sarasota Magazine, Felice Schulaner, Shumaker, Sweet Sparkman, and Jim and Susan Travers.

For more information about “Two Terrific Years at The Bay,” The Bay and The Bay Park Conservancy, visit TheBaySarasota.org, or contact Julia Groom at julia@dreamlarge.org or 941-786-8732.