Thunder by the Bay is celebrating its 29th year, and the 2027 lineup is bringing serious rock pedigree to the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Cheap Trick headlines Friday, February 19th, Bret Michaels takes the stage Saturday the 20th, and the Marshall Tucker Band closes out the weekend on Sunday the 21st. Three nights, three generations of rock fans, one Fairgrounds.
Beyond the main stage, the festival delivers more than 80 vendors, a car show, a motorcycle show, a motorcycle rodeo, championship wrestling, food vendors, interactive displays, a charity ride and on-site camping. General admission tickets are $15 through December, and children 12 and under are free. Organizers say they’re intentionally holding the price steady so local families can afford to come out. Prices do go up on January 1st, so early tickets are the smart move.
All of it supports a bigger mission. Thunder by the Bay is the largest annual fundraiser for Suncoast Charities for Children, which has raised roughly $3.3 million for local agencies since the event began. Proceeds fund critical programs and services for more than 10,000 children, teens and adults in the community with physical or cognitive challenges. The James M. Doss Charitable Foundation has also pledged a $50,000 matching grant for donations made before the festival, doubling the impact of early giving.
Which headliner are you most excited to see at the Fairgrounds in February?
