Big Turnout Expected for Second Sarasota Bay Water Festival on Saturday

SARASOTA – The Sarasota Bay Water Festival returns this Saturday, November 2 at Ken Thompson Park in Sarasota. This special event will feature live music; a dynamic Art Zone; food trucks and local restaurants; a beer and wine garden; the bay's first ever Dragon Boat Races, vintage and new boats; fishing clinic and dip netting for kids; and 82 exhibits promoting boating, fishing, kayaking, paddleboard sports, scuba diving, eco-tourism, conservation, wildlife protection, and bay-friendly living. A free water taxi will be available to guests.

Enjoy live music from noon until 7 p.m. with award-winning guitarist Ben Hammond, Democracy, Hymn for Her, Come Back Alice, and Luke Andrews. Hammond is from Maine and Sarasota and recently completed a tour of New Zealand. He was voted Best of the Suncoast in 2010 in Sarasota Ticket.

Democracy is one of the region's most popular Reggae and R&B bands led by Oswald "Ham" Caines. His band members include vocalist Damie Caines, guitarist Richy Kicklighter and drummer Ritchie Benjamin. Hymn for Her is from Philadelphia; the talented couple plays a mix of backwoods county blues with a dose of desert rock.

SBEP will host four panel discussions at the Water Festival November 2 at Ken Thompson Park. Visitors are encouraged to ask the panel members questions and make comments regarding the various topics. SBEP is the Presenting Sponsor and HDR, Inc. is the Host Sponsor for 2013.

The inaugural festival in 2012 drew 3,000 visitors and this year's event is expected to draw even more. The expo runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music from noon to 7 p.m. Ken Thompson Park is located at 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236.

That evening Sarasota Architectural Salvage will host an after-party to help support Suncoast Waterkeeper. Attendees can spend the day at the Sarasota Bay Water Festival, then head to Sarasota Architectural Salvage for some more fun and music by Hymn for Her, Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters for an entire day supporting the Bay. Baja Boys Grill will have a food truck and beer will be provided by Sweetwater Brewing Company and is included with the $10 donation at the door.