Momentum Building for Sarasota Bay Water Festival

SAVE THE DATE! November 17th, 2012
The Sarasota Bay Water Festival will feature live music, photography & art contest and many displays promoting bay recreation, creative arts, science, and education.

SARASOTA – The inaugural Sarasota Bay Water Festival is set for Saturday, November 17 at Ken Thompson Park located near Mote Marine Laboratory. The free public event will celebrate the importance of Sarasota Bay to the region’s environment and economy; 25 organizations from the public and private sector are already involved as sponsors.

The theme is Enjoy the Bay and the event is organized around three areas: Bay Recreation, Bay Science & Education, and Bay Creative Arts. Highlights include a Creative Arts Tent showcasing some of the area’s top wildlife photographers, the Sarasota Bay Photography & Art Contest with three age divisions, and many displays promoting boating, fishing, paddle board sports, scuba diving, birding, and other fun activities. Event guests will help select the People’s Choice winners of the photography and art contest. Visitors will also be able to express their own passion about Sarasota Bay on a unique community mural.

Florida’s first “iceberg” will be unveiled thanks to the creativity of Rick Herzog, a Sculpting Professor at New College of Florida. The free event will also showcase live music, local food vendors, and a 4pm show by the award-winning Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Water Ski Show Team. Event guests can also gain free admission to the popular Mote Aquarium which is open from 10am to 5pm.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is the host sponsor and Triple 3 Marketing (T3M) is the event producer. SBEP is one of the 28 National Estuary Programs in the U.S. and a long term advocate of Sarasota Bay. T3M is the same leadership team that produced the E-Fest Green Living Music & Arts Festival in 2007 and 2008.

Early event sponsors include City of Sarasota, Solar Direct, Manatee County, Whole Foods Market, Sarasota County, Town of Longboat Key, HDR, City of Bradenton, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Mote Marine Laboratory, Caldwell Trust Company, New College of Florida, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Scheda Ecological Associates, Inc., Around the Bend Nature Tours, Save Our Seabirds, Reef Innovations, Inc., Sarasota Audubon, Nature’s Academy, Friends of Sarasota County Parks, Science and Environmental Council of Sarasota County, and the UF/IFAS Extension in both counties.

Event organizers are seeking additional sponsors. Some of the sponsor contributions will support SBEP education and volunteer programs benefiting Sarasota Bay.

“The Sarasota Bay Water Festival will expand awareness about local recreation opportunities and the ways we can all help restore and protect Sarasota Bay,” said Randy Moore, the event director. “It’s a fun way to connect with people who value the importance of Sarasota Bay to our environment, economy and quality of life.”

An exhibitor application form will be posted on the event website in mid August. Learn more at sarasotabaywaterfestival.com.