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Families enjoy a fun Sarasota evening at Boo! at The Bay


  • By Ian Swaby
  • | 12:20 p.m. October 20, 2025
Leisa Wilhelm leads her boyfriend Austin Bronkhorst across the park.
Leisa Wilhelm leads her boyfriend Austin Bronkhorst across the park.
Photo by Ian Swaby
  • Sarasota
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As Robert Banta departed Boo! at The Bay the night of Oct. 18 with his wife Grace Banta, he was among the numerous attendees sporting a clever costume. 

With a bowler hat and a large artificial apple hanging in front of his face, he was costumed as the surrealist painting "The Son of Man" by René Magritte.

However, despite the large fruit that was in his field of vision, he still had plans to watch the sunset that evening. 

He said since the park was in development, a place to relax and watch the sunset, in addition to enjoying events, was what he had always wanted from the space. 

Amid the large turnout for Boo! at The Bay, he said he still hopes even more people discover the space, which he says does a "great job" with its events.

"It's still not known to enough people in the community," he said.

Families had the chance to enjoy activities including trick-or-treating, a "not-really haunted" decorated trail, and a showing of "A Minecraft Movie."

Pumpkins were offered to the first 1,800 kids, while teaching artists from Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation assisted kids in decorating their pumpkins. 

 
Grace Banta's husband Robert Banta came dressed as the painting
Grace Banta's husband Robert Banta came dressed as the painting "The Son of Man" by René Magritte.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sviatoslav Pavliuk, 9, accepts candy from Piper Borgia-Howard, 6.
Sviatoslav Pavliuk, 9, accepts candy from Piper Borgia-Howard, 6.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Anna Sinelnikov, 3, her father Dmitry Sinelnikov, and sister Mia Sinelnikov, 3, all dressed up together as Anna from
Anna Sinelnikov, 3, her father Dmitry Sinelnikov, and sister Mia Sinelnikov, 3, all dressed up together as Anna from "Frozen."
Photo by Ian Swaby
Charles Campbell, 6, watches
Charles Campbell, 6, watches "A Minecraft Movie."
Photo by Ian Swaby
The event featured a not-so-haunted decorated trail.
The event featured a not-so-haunted decorated trail.
Photo by Ian Swaby
With the energy of Bamm-Bamm Rubble, Sequoia Kemper, 6, jumps over his brother Bowen Kemper, 11, who is performing an operation with a Nerf gun in the park grass. Their father Kyle Kemper stands behind them.
With the energy of Bamm-Bamm Rubble, Sequoia Kemper, 6, jumps over his brother Bowen Kemper, 11, who is performing an operation with a Nerf gun in the park grass. Their father Kyle Kemper stands behind them.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sebastian Aust, 6, dressed as Mr. Monopoly, hands out Monopoly cards to Joyce Serrano and Ava Callejas, 6.
Sebastian Aust, 6, dressed as Mr. Monopoly, hands out Monopoly cards to Joyce Serrano and Ava Callejas, 6.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Avalyn Chavez, 4, and her sister Alexis Perez, 9, wore costumes from
Avalyn Chavez, 4, and her sister Alexis Perez, 9, wore costumes from "KPop Demon Hunters" and "Coraline."
Photo by Ian Swaby
Kai Lee, who is 7 months old, and his father Ian Lee, both came dressed as Beetlejuice.
Kai Lee, who is 7 months old, and his father Ian Lee, both came dressed as Beetlejuice.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Leisa Wilhelm leads her boyfriend Austin Bronkhorst across the park.
Leisa Wilhelm leads her boyfriend Austin Bronkhorst across the park.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Maverick Mathis, 1, heads down the trail with his family.
Maverick Mathis, 1, heads down the trail with his family.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Attendees had the chance to watch
Attendees had the chance to watch "A Minecraft Movie."
Photo by Ian Swaby
William Howarth, 7, his mother Ilysa Howarth, sister Huxley Howarth, 7 and father Jeremy Howarth stand on the trail.
William Howarth, 7, his mother Ilysa Howarth, sister Huxley Howarth, 7 and father Jeremy Howarth stand on the trail.
Photo by Ian Swaby
The event featured a not-so-haunted decorated trail.
The event featured a not-so-haunted decorated trail.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Beatrice Stathis, 8, and Lourdes Ceron, 8, decorate their pumpkins.
Beatrice Stathis, 8, and Lourdes Ceron, 8, decorate their pumpkins.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Kids had the opportunity to decorate their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.
Kids had the opportunity to decorate their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.
Photo by Ian Swaby
River McMichael, 5, looks over his treats as he watches
River McMichael, 5, looks over his treats as he watches "A Minecraft Movie."
Photo by Ian Swaby

 

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.

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