Thunder By The Bay revs up Sarasota Fairgrounds

The annual music and motorcycle festival took over fairgrounds Feb. 18-20.

  • By Harry Sayer
  • | 3:38 p.m. February 20, 2022
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • Share

The Thunder By The Bay music and motorcycle festival made a roaring return to Sarasota Fairgrounds, starting Feb. 18-20.

The weekend festival saw hundreds of motorcyclists and enthusiasts turning out to the fairgrounds for a weekend of music and machinery. 

Though Thunder By The Bay presented a fashion show the weekend before, the festival started in earnest with a kickoff party with Clydesdale horses trotting throughout the event space. Guests admired monster trucks and other imposing vehicles in the Thunder Alley area before walking into the fairgrounds to pick up food, check out accessories and gifts from vendors, and listen to live music. 

Saturday featured music from FireHouse, The Tobacco Rd Band, The Verge and the "Slippery When Wet" Bon Jovi tribute band. Attendees enjoyed a motorcycle tire blowout competition that had burning rubber kicking up a cloud near the music area. 

Proceeds from the event benefited Suncoast Charities for Children, which provides grants to nonprofits helping children and adults with special needs. 

Kari Maynard, Paisley Ramirez, Cory Aparicio, Elizabeth and Robert Ramirez
Kari Maynard, Paisley Ramirez, Cory Aparicio, Elizabeth and Robert Ramirez
Hundreds of motorcyclists parked their bikes.
Hundreds of motorcyclists parked their bikes.
Stephannie Mullinnix and Eli Davis have their likenesses drawn by Eric Kaczynski
Stephannie Mullinnix and Eli Davis have their likenesses drawn by Eric Kaczynski
Hundreds of people attended the festival.
Hundreds of people attended the festival.
Robert Kress
Robert Kress
A tire blowout competition kicks up a cloud.
A tire blowout competition kicks up a cloud.
Lee Donaldson wins Saturday's blowout competition.
Lee Donaldson wins Saturday's blowout competition.
Mary and Reggie Wilson with Karen Strickler
Mary and Reggie Wilson with Karen Strickler
Kelvin and Grace Rodriguez
Kelvin and Grace Rodriguez
Donna Schwab, Susie Smith, Wesley Jester, Jerrad Jester, Vicky Mack and Kacy Granneman
Donna Schwab, Susie Smith, Wesley Jester, Jerrad Jester, Vicky Mack and Kacy Granneman
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
Olivia, Autumn and Pepper Dorsey
Olivia, Autumn and Pepper Dorsey
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd Band keeps the audience rocking.
The Tobacco Rd Band keeps the audience rocking.
Astro the pit bull spars with Luna the corgi
Astro the pit bull spars with Luna the corgi
Randy Ervin and Susan Bilotti ride their custom bikes through Thunder By The Bay on Feb. 20, 2022.
Randy Ervin and Susan Bilotti ride their custom bikes through Thunder By The Bay on Feb. 20, 2022.
Photo by Harry Sayer
Joseph Washington, Butch Carter, Robert Vance, Marvin Sims, Nate Green and Brian Cliff from American Legion Post 331
Joseph Washington, Butch Carter, Robert Vance, Marvin Sims, Nate Green and Brian Cliff from American Legion Post 331
Brittany Cook, Stephanie Olson, Olivia William, Ivan Yarber and Seth Williams
Brittany Cook, Stephanie Olson, Olivia William, Ivan Yarber and Seth Williams
Jim Barnacz and Carla Bright
Jim Barnacz and Carla Bright
Little Bit the dog
Little Bit the dog

 

Latest News

Cyclists utilize the bike lanes on Gulf of Mexico Drive along the newly completed Country Club Shores turn lane project portion of the street. The 0.84-mile segment marks the first example of the town’s Complete Streets vision.
  • December 17, 2025
Longboat Key chips away at Complete Street(s) goal
Manatee County administrators address the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Dec. 8. From left to right: Deputy county administrators Corey Stutte, Bryan Parnell, Courtney De Pol and County Administrator Charlie Bishop.
  • December 17, 2025
Convention Center expansion tops 'state of Manatee County' presentation
A Goodwill bookstore and donation center will occupy the new outparcel building at 3160 Gulf of Mexico Drive by the end of the year.
  • December 16, 2025
Goodwill to open Dec. 18 on Longboat Key
Pator Caleb Free's daughter JoJo Free attends Risen Savior Academy.
  • December 16, 2025
Lutheran church brings more Christian education to Lakewood Ranch

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content