FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2012
Media Contact:
Randy Moore, Event Director
randy@triple3marketing.com
www.sarasotabaywaterfestival.com
SARASOTA BAY WATER FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
SARASOTA, FL – The Sarasota Bay Water Festival (SBWF) will focus on alternative
transportation, recycling and composting, and reducing single-use bottled water as some of the
key components of the festival sustainability plan. The free regional festival is set for 9am to 5pm
on Saturday, November 17 at Ken Thompson Park in Sarasota. The purpose of the festival is to
celebrate the importance of Sarasota Bay to the region’s environment and economy.
“Our vision is to minimize the overall carbon footprint of the festival while promoting alternative
transportation and reducing waste,” said Sherri Swanson, the sustainability manager. Sherri is
also one of the associate directors and she works for HDR Engineering, Inc.
Alternative transportation includes a water taxi service from Marina Jack to the dock area at the
Sarasota Sailing Squadron. The service is free thanks to Freedom Boat Club. Two boats will be
departing every 30-40 minutes from Marina Jack as of 9am on November 17. Folks using the
service can use the valet service at Marina Jack or public parking nearby. The boats are
commanded by Coast Guard certified boat captains.
Other forms of alternative transportation include carpooling, hourly stops by both SCAT (Route
18) and the LBK Trolley, a free bike valet, and a free kayak and canoe valet. Use of the valet
service requires that visitors receive a ticket from one of the festival volunteers. As an incentive
for carpooling, festival volunteers will present a free raffle ticket to any motor vehicle driver
arriving with at least four individuals in the vehicle. The grand prize drawing at 3pm on the live
music stage is a two night stay at the Longboat Key Resort & Club. Another raffle item is a
photograph by the noted nature photographer Clyde Butcher.
Waste Management, Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota are helping with trash removal
and recycling. The Agriculture & Extension Service with Manatee County will provide six Earth
Machines to capture organic waste. The Orange Blossom Community Garden will collect the biodegradable, organic waste at the end of the festival.
SBWF has partnered with a local Brita distributor to present the Brita Hydration Station offering
free water refills to visitors. The water station offers filtered and chilled water directly from the
municipal supply. Visitors are encouraged to bring their reusable water bottles to the festival.
Reusable bottles and bottled water will also be available and visitors can use these containers for
unlimited free water refills.
Please visit sarasotabaywaterfestival.com to learn more about the regional event including the
scheduled activities, live music lineup, and the participants in the Creative Arts Tent. Florida’s first
“iceberg” will be unveiled thanks to the creativity of Richard Herzog, a Sculpting Professor at New
College of Florida. The award-winning Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Water Ski Show Team will perform at
4pm. Guests can also visit the popular Mote Aquarium at no cost if they receive a special stamp
at the festival.
Triple 3 Marketing (T3M) is managing the festival and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP)
is the host sponsor. SBEP is one of the 28 National Estuary Programs in the U.S. T3M is the
same team that produced the E-Fest Green Living Music & Arts Festival in 2007 and 2008. More
than 65 organizations from the public and private sector are sponsors and exhibitors. Learn more
at sarasotabaywaterfestival.com.
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