Bay Fest invites the community to the coast to learn about conservation efforts

Salt and freshwater mix in partially enclosed coastal bodies, forming estuaries. Counted among the world's most productive ecosystems, they include Sarasota Bay. 

The community, including kids and families, had a chance to learn about caring for estuaries while enjoying the sights of a real estuary, during Bay Fest, held at The Bay park on March 1. The experience included live music, kayak tours, food trucks and other offerings.

The event, a partnership between Sarasota County and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, began in 2023 but was canceled in 2024 due to Hurricane Helene.

"We're really trying to connect people to direct stewardship initiatives they can engage in, so we have anything from cleanups to vertical oyster gardens," said Megan Barry, public outreach manager for the program. "We're teaching kids about keeping the waterways clean, so we're really trying to tie health the health of an estuary directly to what people do and how they engage with the estuary."

Attendee Kyle Kelleman came to check out the event because his friend Alec Wilhelm works as a landscape technician at The Bay. He quickly found himself enjoying the experience. 

"Once I came out here, it was actually fantastic," he said. "They've got a lot of stuff going on with the whole marine life, and the weather's beautiful, and you can walk all the way down to the water and enjoy that, so it's just a good time for a family-fun event."