The Sarasota Bay Water Festival set for Saturday, November 17 at Ken Thompson Park is accepting applications from prospective exhibitors. The event celebrates the importance of Sarasota Bay to the region’s environment, economy and quality of life. Prospective exhibitors should complete the online application form posted on the Exhibitors page at http://sarasotabaywaterfestival.com. The deadline for applications is October 1 and interested businesses, non-profits, private clubs, and other groups are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

The theme of the festival is Enjoy the Bay and activities are being organized around three areas: Bay Recreation, Bay Creative Arts, and Bay Science & Education. Festival highlights include a Creative Arts Tent showcasing a dozen of the area’s top wildlife photographers, live music on the main stage, local food vendors, the I Love Sarasota Bay Photo Contest, and many exhibits and activities promoting all forms of boating, fishing, paddle board sports, scuba diving, birding, and other fun activities associated with Sarasota Bay.

Florida’s first “iceberg” will be unveiled thanks to the creativity of Rick Herzog, a Sculpting Professor at New College of Florida. The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Water Ski Show Team will perform at 4pm. Event guests can also gain free admission to the popular Mote Aquarium which is open from 10am to 5pm. Admission requires obtaining a stamp at the event so please come early if you want to include an afternoon visit to Mote Aquarium.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is the host sponsor and Triple 3 Marketing (T3M) is managing the festival. SBEP is one of the 28 National Estuary Programs in the U.S. and a long term advocate of a healthy Sarasota Bay with its major partners and many allied organizations. T3M is the same leadership team that produced the E-Fest Green Living Music & Arts Festival in 2007 and 2008.

Festival sponsors include City of Sarasota, Solar Direct, Manatee County, Whole Foods Market, Sarasota County, Economy Tackle, Janicki Environmental, Inc., Town of Longboat Key, HDR Engineering, Inc., Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, City of Bradenton, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Stantec, Caldwell Trust Company, Visit Sarasota County, New College of Florida, Scheda Ecological Associates, Inc., WSRQ Talk Radio, 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.

Festival organizers are seeking additional sponsors from the private and public sector. Some of the sponsor contributions will support SBEP education and volunteer programs benefiting Sarasota Bay. Details about sponsorship are posted on the event website.