Special Events

The Thunder by the Bay Motorcycle Festival is held the first weekend in January, after New Year's Day, and attracts thousands of motorcycles enthusiasts from across the country. This annual three day festival features a fabulous "Born To Be Wild" Kickoff Party, "Bikes Bands and BBQ" event, a "Cruise for Cash" scenic ride, and Downtown Festival and Bike Show.  The entire weekend showcases live entertainment, great food, fun, and plenty of vendors. For details on this year's festival visit www.thunderbythebay.org.
 

The Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival begins the last weekend in June through the July 4th holiday. The festival features a kickoff party, golf tournament, fishing tournament, a downtown parade of boats, Powerboats By The Bay (featuring race teams on display, live entertainment, food, and vendors), fireworks, fun events for the entire family to enjoy, culminating with some of the fastest superboats in the world competing in the Grand Prix Race out in the Gulf of Mexico off of Lido Beach. For details on this year's festival visit www.suncoastoffshore.org
 

Celebrate July 4th at the Sarasota Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular! Bring a lawn chair and come down to Island Park to see one of the best fireworks displays Southwest Florida has to offer.
 

The Fisk and Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament is held in early November.  This year the event will be held on Monday November 8, 2010 at the Founders Golf Club with an auction and pre-tournament reception at the Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort the night before. http://www.fiskandfriends.org/

The Christmas Boat Parade of Lights is held the second Saturday in December on Sarasota Bay off of Island Park. Local power and sailboat owners decorate their boats with holiday lights and other Christmas decorations and compete for prizes in several categories. Download the poster. For details on this year's event visit www.sarasotachristmasboatparade.com
 

Support Suncoast Charities for Children by dining at any Columbia Restaurant or The Columbia Cafe during the entire month of September for lunch or dinner during the 14th Annual Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest program.