The opening weekend brings over 30 free events including concerts by renowned performers, family fun days, a fun run & walk, a food festival and more to Sarasota’s newest bayfront park.
SARASOTA, Fla. – October 10, 2022 – The Bay Park will officially open on Friday, October 14, kicking off 10 Days at The Bay, a free ten-day grand opening.
The entire community is invited to attend and experience the opening of Sarasota’s newest gathering place along Sarasota Bay. A signature public park designed to be “one park for all,” The Bay’s 10 Days at The Bay schedule of events will provide free, exciting, and diverse programming for the entire community to enjoy.
The Grand Opening begins on Friday, October 14, and runs through Sunday, October 23.
Highlights of the opening weekend include:
- A family-friendly Sunrise Fun Run & Walk (Saturday, October 15)
- A family fun day in the park called Have a Ball at The Bay (Saturday, October 15)
- A homecoming concert by We The Kings, a globally-renowned band originally from Bradenton (Saturday, October 15)
- The Taste of The Bay food festival in partnership with the Sarasota-Manatee Originals (Sunday, October 16)
- A bayside concert featuring The Long Run, America’s best Eagles tribute band (Sunday, October 16)
- A showcase of CoreSRQ’s best fitness classes (Saturday, October 15)
- Zumba, daily yoga, walking tours, Ride & Paddle kayak tours and rentals (daily)
A full schedule of free events will continue through the following week including: daily yoga, fitness classes, and nature walks, live musical performances every evening around sunset, as well as Salsa dancing and Zumba.
The second weekend includes a RADD Night of music, art and food; Boo! at The Bay Halloween festivities; a Multicultural Festival in partnership with UnidosNow, the City of Sarasota and University of South Florida; an Oktoberfest celebration; and wraps up with a waterfront concert featuring two-time grammy-nominated Etana and local favorite, Jah Movement.
Throughout the ten days, a number of local performing arts organizations will make an appearance including Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota Orchestra, and the Sarasota Youth Opera.
“10 Days at The Bay provides unlimited opportunities for guests to experience and enjoy the breadth of what the park has to offer,” says AG Lafley, Founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. “After the challenges of the past couple of weeks, we hope that The Bay offers a place where family, friends and neighbors can get outside, experience the natural beauty of the park, and gather together as one community.”
The park, which has been in development since 2019, includes more than 14 acres of revitalized greenspace, a larger-than-life Ibis playground, Common Ground lawns, a Fountain Garden, multiple walkways, an outdoor Reading Room, an ADA-accessible paddle launch, restored and preserved mangroves and shorelines, and spectacular sunset views.
10 Days at The Bay is sponsored by One Park Sarasota, Jody Beresford and Bob Mayer, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the City of Sarasota, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, DreamLarge, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Michael and Terri Klauber, AG Lafley, Cathy Layton and Pete Russell, UnidosNow, the Van Wezel Foundation, and generous Friends of The Bay.
For more information about 10 Days at The Bay, visit the website at www.10DaysatTheBay.org. For more information about The Bay and The Bay Park Conservancy, visit www.thebaysarasota.org
About The Bay
The Bay is a new, signature, public park along Sarasota Bay. Designed to be “one park for all,” The Bay is open and accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of the community, now and for generations to come.
The Bay preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience a wide range of park uses, free programs and events.
The park will cost about $150 million and will take between 7-10 years, over 3 or more phases to complete. The Blue Pagoda serves as a welcome center for visitors and an on-site office for The Bay Park Conservancy. For more information or general inquiries about this initiative, please visit www.thebaysarasota.org or call 941-203-5316.
About The Bay’s Grand Opening
10 Days at The Bay is a ten-day grand opening celebration in recognition of the opening of Phase 1 of The Bay Park.
The celebration runs from October 14-23, and includes more than 90 FREE events – something for everyone to enjoy – including family fun days, food and cultural festivals, headlining musical acts by We The Kings and Etana, Boo! at The Bay Halloween, Sarasota’s first Parktoberfest and more.
The entire celebration is intertwined with everyday programming including: daily guided kayak tours in partnership with Ride and Paddle, fitness classes provided by CoreSRQ, free yoga taught by local yogis, guided nature walks, and live music every day around sunset. Throughout the ten days, a number of local performing arts organizations will make an appearance including Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Youth Opera, and more. Learn more at www.10DaysAtTheBay.org
About The Bay Park Conservancy
The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC) was formed as a 501c3 not-for-profit organization in 2019 to implement the master plan approved by the Sarasota City Commission to conserve 53 acres of public land for a signature park on Sarasota Bay. The BPC entered a long-term partnership with the City and will fund, develop, operate, and sustain the park for the benefit of the community, now, and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.thebaysarasota.org.