By Lulu

For 26 years Suncoast Charities for Children has thrown a great motorcycle & music festival in Sarasota. In the history of the festival, Lucy says they never have had to cancel two headliners! This year ironically the rain gods shut the concert down early, and it happened during Stormbringer’s performance on stage. The skies opened and safety concerns forced the cancellation of Grand Funk Railroad with Sunday being a total washout. BUT that didn’t stop the charity fundraising from being a success, thanks to those who braved the weather, a $25,000 donation match from the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation, and other festival events, still managed to raise $150,000. In 2023 they raised $350,000 so it was a disappointment for the charity staff and volunteers who put their hearts and souls into this event. Total net revenue raised over the past 26 years, under the leadership of Lucy Nicandri, has been a whopping $27.5 Million. One project from the funds raised this year will be a brand-new playground for at risk children with special needs at Children First in Venice, FL. The festival features 3 days of live music at the fairgrounds, vendors, bike shows, a sound off, VIP tent and charity auction, wrestling and much more. We did get a great night of Molly Hatchet on Friday with the largest crowd I have seen on a Friday. Let’s make Thunder by the Bay in 2025 their biggest event ever!!! The dates are February 14-16th! Their website is suncoastcharitiesforchildren.org