• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Spirit of America
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Spirit of America
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Thunder By The Bay roars through Downtown Sarasota

The 18th annual motorcycle festival filled the streets with concerts and bike shows.


  • By Amanda Morales
  • | 7:48 a.m. January 11, 2016
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • Share

Vehicles with two wheels ruled the streets the weekend of Jan. 9 for the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay motorcycle festival. 

Motorcycle enthusiasts donned their best leather jackets and vests to take in two day worth of concerts. Main Street was lined with parked motorcycles from Lemon Avenue to Gulfstream Avenue for the festival. Vendors offered accessories from motorcycle bags to custom leather goods, clothing food. 

Guests gathered at the south end of the festival for free concerts all day long. Participants who have been working on their hogs took part in a 17-class bike show that also included three-wheel motorcycles. 

Bob Bonella makes his way down Main Street during the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Bob Bonella makes his way down Main Street during the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Trophies for the bike show at the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Trophies for the bike show at the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Bob and Cha cha Bonella
Bob and Cha cha Bonella
Chance
Chance "The Biker Dog" proves it not only takes the right wardrobe but also attitude to be a biker.
Valeri Boggs, Marion Cleveland, Krys Dudeck and Chance
Valeri Boggs, Marion Cleveland, Krys Dudeck and Chance "The Biker Dog"
Eileen Ceded known as
Eileen Ceded known as "The Slipper Lady" embroiders a logo to the back of a custom leather jacket.
This hot bike was one of the entries for the bike show Sunday, Jan. 10 at the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
This hot bike was one of the entries for the bike show Sunday, Jan. 10 at the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Families enjoyed the day browsing motorcycles in Downtown Sarasota for the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Families enjoyed the day browsing motorcycles in Downtown Sarasota for the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Sue May tries to wrangle her rebel bulldogs Dexter and Otis for a photo.
Sue May tries to wrangle her rebel bulldogs Dexter and Otis for a photo.
Jerry Riggs of the Bobby Friss Band performs Sunday afternoon at the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay
Jerry Riggs of the Bobby Friss Band performs Sunday afternoon at the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay
Bikes on display showoff the owner's personality.
Bikes on display showoff the owner's personality.
Crowds packed Main Street for the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
Crowds packed Main Street for the 18th annual Thunder By The Bay.
The rearview mirror on Steve Whitmer's 2002 Indian Chief motorcycle entry for the bike show.
The rearview mirror on Steve Whitmer's 2002 Indian Chief motorcycle entry for the bike show.

 

Latest News

The 1,475 square foot Udermann house has been partially raised using about 50 hydraulic jacks in The Village in Longboat Key. It currently sits 4 and a half feet up and will eventually be raised to 12 feet.
  • July 4, 2026
Town may encourage home raising through code amendment
State Rep. James Buchanan was one of the driving forces behind a one-year accommodation in a state tax bill that requires either county governments to cover any fees associated with collecting voter-approved school taxes or to waive those fees.
  • July 4, 2026
Buchanan proposal on school-tax fees now law
A rendering of the Fruitville Road elevation of the 1899 Fruitville project.
  • July 3, 2026
1899 Fruitville apartment development advances
Changes to the city of Sarasota's public parking program mean longer enforcement hours and higher fines.
  • July 2, 2026
City parking changes are now in effect

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

  • July 3, 2026
Voices of America: What will America look like in another 250 years?
  • July 2, 2026
Voices of America: What do you like best about America?
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche presents Officer William "Tripp" Schwenk with his framed badge during his June 26 retirement ceremony.
  • July 2, 2026
Retired Sarasota police officer enjoyed a medal-worthy career
Sarasota History Center Manager Josh Goodman is an avid historian who loves checking out maps of the region in the 1700s.
  • July 2, 2026
The land almost no one wanted
Kids share their perspectives on the Fourth of July
  • July 2, 2026
Kids share their perspectives on the Fourth of July
  • July 2, 2026
So, you want to be a citizen?

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free