Bash on the Bay brings new Labor Day tradition to Fort Myers Beach

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — A new Labor Day tradition made its debut on Fort Myers Beach this weekend, bringing live music, food, drinks and crowds to Matanzas on the Bay.

The first annual Bash on the Bay runs Saturday through Monday, with entertainment, vendors, a beer garden, contests and other waterfront activities.

For attendee Rick Cecil, the appeal was simple.

“Loving it. Great weather, great people, a lot of music, a lot of good drinks,” Cecil said. “The vibe is pretty hot out here.”

But organizers say the festival is also about something bigger, continuing to bring people back to Fort Myers Beach after years of storms and rebuilding.

“After all the storms that we've had, it's been a real challenge to get people to come back on the island,” said Sean Sipe, director of special events at Matanzas on the Bay. “But we're partnering with a lot of people that we enjoy working with. They enjoy working with us, and it's everything we can do to bring people back onto Fort Myers Beach.”

Local business owners say events like Bash on the Bay are another sign of progress for an island still working through its recovery.

“I mean, everything's gonna come back much better, even though it's taking a little bit of time,” said Peter Ennis, a partner at Snug Harbor, Wahoo Willie’s and SOB. “It's coming back for sure.”

Ennis said the timing is especially important because the end of summer can be a slower stretch for beach businesses.

“Really, it gets us excited because we bring more people in, we get to kind of show off our restaurants, and also get to pat our staff on the back bringing some customers in, to help share getting them through the summer,” Ennis said.

Bash on the Bay is planned as an annual event and also kicks off a busy September for Fort Myers Beach.

Roar Offshore returns Sept. 11-13 with three days of powerboat racing and events. Later in the month, the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest runs Sept. 18-27 across Southwest Florida, with its Fort Myers Beach portion scheduled for Sept. 25-27.

For Cecil, seeing people back on the island was part of the experience.

“A lot of people are coming out, spending money, Labor Day weekend, just trying to enjoy it, bring the beach back,” he said.

Bash on the Bay continues through Labor Day Monday at Matanzas on the Bay.