The Sarasota Boat Races - Powerboat Grand Prix AND
The Suncoast Summer Festival!

Sarasota Offshore Boat Racing
September 13 - 15, 2024
Powerboat P1 is heading to Sarasota later than normal on September 13th - 15th for the next round of the 2024 APBA National and UIM World Championships.
Saturday and Sunday over 50 race teams will compete for the checkered flag with Class 1 teams reaching speeds of up to 160 mph.

Suncoast Summer Festival
June 21 - July 4, 2024

September 
Offshore racing takes place off Lido Key September 14 - 15, 2024 
Best Viewing of Sarasota Boat Races is off Lido Beach
Suncoast Summer Festival Events Schedule Below
(* Event schedules subject to change without prior notice due to event planners, weather, etc.)

The first Sarasota Boat Races, called the Suncoast Offshore Racing Grand Prix, took place in 1984 and have become an annual event for thrill seekers and offshore boat racing enthusiasts. Now called the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. 2024 marks its 40th Anniversary.  More details on the race here.

Smoke on the Water...off Sarasota's Lido Beach. There's also the Suncoast Summer Festival with a number of fun activities for charities.

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Suncoast Summer Festival Events

• June 21, 2024: Don't miss the 7th Annual Bob Rizi Memorial Golf Classic at The Meadows Country Club! This iconic golf tournament benefits Suncoast Charities for Children and fills up fast. The Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow, Sarasota, FL.
• June 26, 2024: It's private and by invitation only, the Friendliest Catch Fishing Tournament for the physically and mentally challenged sponsored by Suncoast Charities for Children.
• June 28 - 29, 2024: One of the events at the newly named Suncoast Summer Fest, formerly known as the Offshore Racing Festival, is The “Waves & Wheels" Party. Start your holiday weekend off right at the “Disco & Dice” Party on Friday, June 28 at the Sarasota Event Center (600 N. Beneva Rd). Your ticket includes casino-style gaming ($1,000 free play included), two drink tickets, meal voucher, raffles and your favorite disco hits! Be sure to dress in your best Disco outfit and be ready to get groovy as prizes will be awarded to the best outfit and disco moves! The next day drive your car, boat, or motorcycle during our Fun Run where you will roll the dice at the last stop to earn points. The run starts at Marina Jack, with official stops accessible by land or sea, ending at Tarpon Bay where participants will receive a meal voucher. Points will be tallied at the last stop and prizes awarded to the top five winners!
• July 4, 2024:  Suncoast Summer Festival's Fireworks over Sarasota Bay, Island Park, Bayfront, Marina Jack's Downtown Sarasota, FL. Free. 9 p.m. (Thankfully, because of the gracious support of Marina Jack, the 2024 July 4th Bayfront Fireworks will happen. However, future fireworks in July are in jeopardy. Lana Jackson, Marina Jack’s General Manager, highlights the importance of broader community support to keep this beloved tradition alive for future generations. In 2023, total expenses to safely produce the event totaled $37,700, which included a 20-minute fireworks display. “Before the event in 2023, only $14,000 in public and private sponsorships were secured which would have resulted in a loss to the charity,” said Jackson. “Thanks to an anonymous donor coming forward at the last minute, all the necessary expenses were covered including a donation of $7,000 to Suncoast Charities for Children.)

Suncoast Offshore Boat Racing Events

• Friday, September 13, 2024: Part of the Sarasota Offshore Boat Racing Powerboat P1 weekend will be the Pit Party from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. in the Van Wezel parking lot featuring Nashville recording artist Andy Velo, vendors, food trucks, and plenty of powerboats on display for the general public to enjoy. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall parking lot. 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 
• Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15  over 50 race teams will compete for the checkered flag with Class 1 teams reaching speeds of up to 160 mph off Lido Beach, Sarasota, FL. Saturday Races: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Opening ceremony 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Sunday races: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 15 Awards Ceremony, 5 p.m.  Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall parking lot. 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL  *In case of inclement weather, the Awards Ceremony will be held inside the Bayfront Community Center (803 N. Tamiami Trail). *This event is free to the public.
• Sarasota is the fourth event in this year’s P1 Offshore series following races held in Cocoa Beach, FL, Lake of the Ozarks, MO and Sheboygan, WI. Additional races following Sarasota include St. Petersburg,
  FL (Oct. 18-20)
• Race fans wanting a premium spot to watch the races can purchase tickets to an elevated VIP Viewing experience on Lido Beach, directly across from the Start/Finish Line. This year’s VIP viewing experience offers upgraded amenities for guests, a LIVE stream of all the racing action, expanded seating options, and enhanced dining and beverage selections with a cashless experience making purchases on the beach a breeze. Corporate hospitality tents will also be available. New this year is a Class 1 Experience that will provide race fans with a true behind-the-scenes tour of the biggest and fastest powerboats on the water. It includes private access to parties, events, private tours, team meet & greet opportunities, and ultra-premium race viewing on both race days.

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The Need for speed…The real stars of the Suncoast Race, of course, are the offshore racing boats, some of which reach speeds of over 100 mph on the straight-aways of this six and a half mile long race course off Lido Key Beach.

This Offshore Boat Racing Spectacle is absolutely free to attend and open to the public...you won't find any ticket sellers and ticket takers here!

There has even been a "Miss Super Boat Grand Prix” Bikini Contest as part of the Grand Prix Fan Fest in the past. The contest has been an "on again, off again" event with the festival and may return in the future. We keep the page on line as a tribute to the past with hopes that it returns in the future.

The Sarasota Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix Boat Races, now moved to September. and the Suncoast Summer Festival, when held together were two one of the biggest and most high profile annual events on my Sarasota Events Calendar.

Feel the Power...And while offshore boat racing is underway it seems there is another race going on overhead, as numerous helicopters swoop over the offshore racing boats, keeping a watchful eye out for marine animals, as well as an eye on the boats and drivers, with emergency divers and medical staff aboard the copters for quick medical response in case of a mishap on the water.

A view to a thrill…The best place to view the sites of the Sarasota Boat Races, The Suncoast Offshore Racing Grand Prix, is from Lido Key Beach, as the race course runs from New Pass (north of Lido Key/south of Longboat Key) to Big Pass (south of Lido Key/north of Siesta Key). Lined up along Lido Public Beach, you’ll be able to see every bit of offshore power boat racing at it’s finest.

Hear the Roar...Offshore power boat racing is an awesome spectacle to witness and the Sarasota Boat Races can attract crowds numbering 50,000 along Lido Beach. While crowds may be large (as well as enthusiastically estimated!) it is spread out, friendly and quite comfortable, especially in the 90-plus degree heat. And with the water right in front of you, many spectators choose to kill two birds with one stone by staying cool in the water while watching the offshore races from…offshore!

It’s a festive atmosphere up and down Lido Beach from as early as 5 a.m. - 6 a.m. when the most die-hard of the fans arrive early for good parking spots and to stake out their position on the beach for what they think will be the best vantage point to see the offshore racing boats. 

But, despite the crowds, there are plenty of places on the beach or in the water from which to get a great view of the race.

The beach is filled with brightly colored umbrellas and picnic shades, along with offshore boat racing fans that bring grills that fill the beach side with the aromas of hamburgers, hot dogs and other barbecue grilled treats.

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Here's a short video about the Sarasota Boat Races:

(Speakers on!)

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It all resembles a giant tailgate style party with friendly fans, food, fun and the fastest offshore racing boats on water!

Tips: While parking along Ben Franklin Drive (the beach side street) and at the Lido Beach Public parking lot fills up early and fast, there is still plenty of parking at the free lots around St. Armand’s circle. And it's a close enough walk to the Sarasota Boat Races on Lido Key Beach. If you do park at one of St. Armand’s free parking lots, be prepared for a walk to the beach, and at the end of June/early July it can be a really hot walk, although it’s only a few blocks.

Alternate Idea: (The first year I attended the Sarasota Boat Races a friend and I put our two bikes on a bike carrier on his SUV, parked on the other side of St. Armand's Circle and bicycled to the beach. But we traveled lightly, without coolers and conveniences! Although one could always ride with a backpack on or carry a small portable cooler along.)

More Tips: Bring a cooler (on wheels, if you’ll be walking a few blocks) with food and drinks, a sun umbrella and beach chairs, lots of sunscreen and a hat to protect your head and face from the sun’s direct rays and a camera and/or binoculars so you can get an even better view of the Suncoast offshore racers. Clothing: Wear light-weight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothes or a swimsuit and t-shirt.

Remember: this is Florida in late June and early July. It’s sunny. It’s hot. I’ve seen reports of peoples’ hair catching on fire, although I’ve been unable to personally confirm those reports! Take appropriate precautions for you and your family as far as the heat and sun go.

By the way, over the years, proceeds from the Sarasota Boat Races Offshore Racing Grand Prix Festival have provided over $20 million dollars for the construction of facilities serving physically and mentally challenged individuals. That’s a good thing!

More on the Sarasota P1 Offshore Grand Prix

More on the Suncoast Summer Fest.

Directions: To get to Lido Key Beach from Sarasota take Rt. 41 through the bay front/downtown area to the John Ringling Bridge. Go over the bridge (southwest) to St. Armand’s Circle and bear to the left around the Circle (west) toward Lido Key Beach. Turn left (south) on to Ben Franklin Drive and look for parking spots on the street or at the Lido Key Beach public parking lot, south on Ben Franklin Drive. If no parking is available, double back to St. Armand’s Key and look for free parking lots around the rear of the shops on St Armand’s Circle (look for the free parking signs around the Circle).

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