Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival Rebrands As Summer Fest

SARASOTA, FL — One of Sarasota’s biggest annual events has been rebranded. The iconic Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival is now known as the Suncoast Summer Fest, according to a news release from Suncoast Charities for Children, the event’s longtime organizer.

The traditional Grand Prix Race, presented by Visit Sarasota County, will be organized by Powerboat P1 this year, SCC said. Powerboat and AquaX personal watercraft races will take place June 26 and 27 off Lido Beach.

In addition to the Grand Prix Race, SCC will host various fundraising events, including the Waves & Wheels Festival Kickoff Party, the Red, White & Blue Motorcycle Poker Chip Run, a Boats on the Block Downtown Block Party and the Suncoast Summer Fest Boat Fun Run. More information about these events will be released at a later date.

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“Rebranding into a summer festival enables the charity to focus on its mission to raise money for six area nonprofit agencies,” Lucy Nicandri, SCC executive director, said. “Suncoast Summer Fest will not only provide a better infrastructure to sustain our fundraising efforts in the future, but also allow us the ability to include new events and partnerships.”

Each year, funds raised by SCC through the event are granted to the Suncoast Foundation to provide support to six area nonprofit agencies that serve more than 8,000 children, teens and adults with special needs. The nonprofits that benefit from these funds include the Sarasota Special Olympics, Loveland Center, Children First, The Haven, The Florida Center for Early Childhood and Venice Challenger Baseball.

Learn more about the Suncoast Summer Fest here.