10 Days at The Bay begins Oct. 14, marking grand opening of Phase 1 of park on Sarasota’s waterfront

Wide variety of free activities, including concerts, planned for the public

On Friday, Oct. 14, the Bay Park Conservancy will kick off 10 Days at The Bay, the grand opening celebration of Phase 1 of The Bay Park on the City of Sarasota’s waterfront.

With the facility having been designed to be “one park for all,” as the nonprofit Conservancy points out, the 10 Days at The Bay celebration “will provide free, exciting, and diverse programming for the entire community to enjoy,” a news release says.

Highlights of the opening weekend will be a free homecoming concert by We The Kings, “a globally-renowned band from Bradenton”; a family fun day extravaganza called Have a Ball at The Bay; a food festival in partnership with The Sarasota-Manatee Originals; and a free waterfront concert featuring The Long Run, “America’s best Eagles tribute band,” the release adds.

The second weekend will include 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 the University of South Florida; an Oktoberfest celebration; and a finale waterfront concert featuring Grammy-nominated Etana “and local favorite, Jah Movement,” the release points out.

The entire celebration will feature “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,” the release says. Throughout the 10 days, a number of local performing arts organizations will make an appearance, including the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, the Sarasota Orchestra and the Sarasota Youth Opera, the release notes.

“The Bay represents a world class park on Sarasota Bay, offering a gathering place that will bring our community together and provide one park for all,” says AG Lafley, founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy, in the release. “This Grand Opening is like no other — completely open and accessible, free and welcoming to everyone in our community. Ten Days at The Bay provides unlimited opportunities for guests to experience and enjoy the breadth of what the park offers,” Lafley added in the release.

The first phase of the park, which has been in construction since 2019, includes about 14 acres “of revitalized greenspace, a larger-than-life Ibis playground, Common Ground lawns, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway, an outdoor Reading Room,” an Americans with Disabilities (ADA) accessible paddle launch, restored and preserved mangroves and shorelines, and “spectacular sunset views, the release points out.

Concessions at The Nest will be operated by Venice Pier Group.

For more information about 10 Days at The Bay, visit the website at www.10DaysatTheBay.org.