The Bay celebrates 'One Park FOUR All' with 70+ free events
Sept. 16, 2026
Month-long 4th Anniversary Community Celebration reflects the many ways people throughout the community have made The Bay their own -- and the possibilities still ahead.
SARASOTA, FL – September 8, 2026 – Four years and more than 1.2 million visits after The Bay opened along Sarasota Bay, people throughout the community have made the park their own -- turning the promise of One Park for All into part of everyday life. The park will mark four years with 70+ FREE events during the month-long One Park FOUR All 4th Anniversary Community Celebration, October 1–November 1.
When The Bay opened in October 2022, it did so with a promise: One Park for All -- open and accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of the community, now and for generations to come.
Four years later, people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are making that promise a reality in countless ways. Some helped imagine the park, champion it, fund it, design it, build it, care for it or bring experiences to it. Others come to walk, exercise, bring the family, meet a friend, watch the sunset, discover something new or simply enjoy being in this blue-and-green oasis.
Along the way, The Bay has become more than a park. It has become part of everyday life -- a place beyond home and work where people come because they want to, not because they have to.
“The best measure of The Bay is how people use it,” says AG Lafley, Founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. “More than 1.2 million visits in four years show that people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds have made the park part of their lives -- in different ways and for different reasons. This anniversary celebrates how far One Park for All has come -- and the possibilities still ahead as more of the 53-acre vision is realized.”
Six Signature Events Anchor the Month-Long Celebration
Salsa & Sunsets Community Celebration
Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Celebrate the 4th Anniversary with a toast, live music and a Latino-inspired dance party.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday, Oct. 9 | 9:00 –11:00 p.m.
The annual cult-classic tradition returns under the stars.
Park-toberfest
Sunday, Oct. 11 | 5:00 –7:00 p.m.
An Oktoberfest celebration -- The Bay style -- with live music, a Steinhoisting contest, chicken dancing and German-inspired fare.
Boo! at The Bay Family Halloween
Saturday, Oct. 17 | 5:00–7:45 p.m.
A not-so-scary evening of costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, a family movie and Halloween fun.
Taste of The Bay Food Festival
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Presented by Sarasota-Manatee Originals and featuring signature dishes from locally owned restaurants.
Best of The Bay Music Fest
Sunday, Nov. 1 | 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
An all-day music festival filled with some of the best talent from throughout the region and other special surprises.
Beyond the six Signature Events, the month-long celebration includes dozens of additional FREE experiences -- from live music, movies, dance and Opera at The Bay; to fitness, family activities, guided kayak tours and more.
The One Park FOUR All | 4th Anniversary Community Celebration of The Bay is made possible by generous Friends of The Bay: Bank of America, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Teri Hansen, Haskell, Ian Black Real Estate, Jon F. Swift Construction, Kimley-Horn, Michael & Terri Klauber, Cathy Layton & Pete Russell, Leading To Win, Michael Saunders & Company, Observer Media Group, Palm Printing, REI Cooperative Action Fund, Royal Tee’s, Sarasota Private Trust Company, Shumaker, Sweet Sparkman, Jim & Susan Travers, and Williams Parker.
View the full schedule of 4th Anniversary events.
For the complete schedule of upcoming FREE events at The Bay, visit TheBaySarasota.org/Calendar.
About The Bay
The Bay is a 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 conserves, preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay from what was mostly parking lot into a blue and green oasis – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience and enjoy a wide range of park uses, free programs and events.
The first 10-acre phase of the park opened in October 2022. Design and development of Phase 2, the next 14-acre $65 million development, is fully funded and underway with expected completion in 2027. The completed park in total will cost an estimated $200 million and will take approximately 8-10 years to complete over four or more phases.
About The Bay Park Conservancy
The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC) is a 501c3 non-profit responsible for designing and implementing the Master Plan approved by the Sarasota City Commission to conserve, preserve, restore and transform 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 and enjoy a wide range of park uses, free programs and events. The BPC entered into a long-term partnership with the City to help fund, develop, operate, maintain and program the park for the benefit of the community now, and for generations to come.
For more information about The Bay and The Bay Park Conservancy, visit TheBaySarasota.org, subscribe to The Bay newsletter, and follow The Bay on Facebook and Instagram.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Sydney Baulier | Communications@BayParkConservancy.org