SPECIAL MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS OF THE BAY
FRIENDS OF THE BAY 3 IS CONFIRMED!!! January 29th-31st, 2027!
There’s no need to hold anybody in suspense! After the INCREDIBLE turnout for Friends Of The Bay 2 this past weekend, despite historically cold weather in Fort Myers Beach, we know for sure that this tradition is in for the long haul!
Book a flight and some accommodations for Fort Myers for the Friends Of The Bay gathering! We know you will regret it if you don’t, because even though it’s a year off, we can make an educated guess on what January 29-31 will feel like in Ohio, and we are certain you’ll wish you were in Florida instead!
We’ll See All Our Friends Of The Bay In Fort Myers Beach, JAN. 29-31, 2027!
If you’re already planning to come to Friends Of The Bay, or if you’re just interested, keep an eye on this page for now, we will be adding links to Facebook event, as well as Eventbrite or something similar as the event draws nearer.
FRIENDS OF THE BAY 2 - Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2026
Mother Nature Was No Match For The Friends Of The Bay!
A historic cold snap descended on Fort Myers Beach, and indeed most of the eastern United States, right on our Friends of the Bay dates. Would the cold dampen attendance, or would the single-digit temps in Ohio bring even more people fleeing the freeze? We didn’t know what to expect. But what we got, was a Put-in-Bay fiesta for the ages! You all came out in huge numbers and made Friends Of The Bay 2 an event no one will forget anytime soon!
Everyone Rallied On Lighthouse Tiki Bar Friday Night
The putinbay.com team was a little apprehensive heading to the Lighthouse Tiki Bar, because we didn’t really know who would be willing to brave the (relative) cold to join us this weekend. Those fears were put to rest quickly by an AMAZING crowd at the Tiki Bar, reveling in the start of a weekend away from the mountains of snow in northern Ohio. We now knew we were going to have a great weekend!
Bob Gatewood Headlined An Incredible Margaritaville Saturday!
The man of the hour didn’t disappoint, as Bob Gatewood took stage for the main event of Friends Of The Bay, his set at Margaritaville Saturday afternoon. It was an amazing day of love and friendship and Put-in-Bay, and in a lot of cases getting to see some members of the PIB community who we haven’t seen since the ferries stopped running. A banner day with music, drinks, laughs and joy that won’t soon be forgotten!
Mike "Mad Dog" Adams Entertained on Beach Day
Late on in planning, we got a second great Put-in-Bay act on the Friends of the Bay schedule. Mike “Mad Dog” Adams performed at The Beach Bar, our location for Sunday’s beach day, playing for all the Friends of the Bay, thanks to Jimmy Bukketts! Who’s Jimmy Bukketts, you may be wondering. Well he’s a swell guy, a Friend of the page, a Friend of the Bay, who spends winter time down in Fort Myers Beach, and got Mad Dog to play on Sunday! It was a great Beach Day, a great Jimmy Bukkett’s Day, and a great Friends of the Bay!
We Are So Grateful To Everyone Who Braved The Weather!
We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who came out and had fun with us at Margaritaville, Lighthouse Tiki Bar and The Beach Bar. We said that this was a weekend about Getting Away, Getting Together, and Having Fun, and the slogan was “Weather Or Not, Here We Come,” and you didn’t disappoint. So thank you so very much!
FRIENDS OF THE BAY 3 - 2027 PLANNING INFO
About Margaritaville Fort Myers Beach
Latitude and longitude intersect on Fort Myers Beach to create the perfect beach escape. Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Matanzas Bay, this tropical retreat encourages you to live your most laid-back life to the fullest. Find the coolest shells in the sand, sip on frozen concoctions, explore aquatic adventures and revel in spectacular sunsets at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach. Enjoy exclusive access to Fins Up! Beach Club— our action-packed waterfront oasis— or chill out to the sounds of great music on the Sunset Terrace.
Things To Do In Fort Myers Beach
While there’s going to be Put-in-Bay fun to be had every minute of the Friends of the Bay excursion, we don’t want to monopolize all of your vacation! You’re adults, you’re in Fort Myers Beach! Spend as much time with us as you like, and when you want to do something on your own, check out these links to see some of what magnificent Fort Myers Beach has to offer!
Trip Advisor’s Things To Do In Fort Myers Beach
The Crazy Tourist’s 15 Best Things To Do In Fort Myers Beach
There Are Places To Stay For Any Budget!
THESE ARE ON THE BEACH, WALKING DISTANCE TO ALL THE FUN!!!!
Margaritaville (Host Hotel) https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-beach-resort-fort-myers-beach
MARGARITAVILLE SPECIAL FRIENDS OF THE BAY PROMO LINK
Lani Kai https://lanikaiislandresort.com/
Lighthouse Resort (Friday Night Party) https://lighthouseislandresort.com/
Matanzas Inn https://matanzas.com/
Diamond Head https://www.diamondheadfl.com/
Pink Shell https://www.pinkshell.com/
Harbour House https://harbourhouseattheinn.com/
For Groups or other options use www.airbnb.com or www.vrbo.com
Chain Hotels Within 5 Miles Driving Distance With Reasonable Prices
Latitude 26 Resort https://www.latitude26resorts.com/
Hampton Inn https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/fmyhshx-hampton-suites-fort-myers-beach-sanibel-gateway/
Holiday Inn Express https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/fort-myers/fmypr/hoteldetail
La Quinta Inn https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/fort-myers-florida/la-quinta-inn-and-suites-ft-myers-sanibel-gateway/overview
Bob Gatewood Is Bringing The Put-in-Bay Spirit To Fort Myers
We’ve got none other than Put-in-Bay’s famous Bob Gatewood to lead the musical takeover of Fort Myers! For a few hours on Saturday at Margaritaville, Fort Myers will become ‘VERY South’ Bass Island, as Bob plays all of the hits that you know and love from Put-in-Bay, including his famous unofficial PIB anthem, Friends Of The Bay!
About Bob Gatewood:
Singer-songwriter Bob Gatewood has been a musical mainstay in Northeast Ohio for over 30 years. He spent his early years performing solo at local bars until 1985 when he formed the band Calabash. Bob and Calabash were favorites in the The Cleveland Flats, a historic district located along the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland. They played to packed houses, drawing a loyal following of college students, boaters, factory workers and people who loved partying to a lively blend of reggae, rock, and island music. Calabash alumni include Chad Szeliga of Breaking Benjamin, and 2009 Academy of Country Music Best Guitarist, Tom Bukovac. Calabash was crowned “the most-booked band on South Bass island!”
In 1992 Bob gained popularity with the release of his hit song “Friends-of-the-Bay,” (video) which became the official song of Put-in-Bay. The song is known for its upbeat, catchy melody and its lyrics that celebrate the natural beauty and community of Put-in-Bay and has been featured on several commercials. The song is featured on the 1996 Bob Gatewood and Calabash album, Flowerbed.
Visit him at bobgatewood.com
History Of Friends Of The Bay
As this event grows, we hope for this section to expand longer and longer, but for now, it’s a very short archive of older editions of Friends Of The Bay!
Friends Of The Bay I - Jan. 24-27, 2025
Put-in-Bay Took Over Fort Myers Beach For Friends Of The Bay!
Fort Myers Beach was South Put-in-Bay for the weekend as we flocked to Florida for Friends Of The Bay!
We were overwhelmed with the incredible turnout, and the amazing time that was had by all.
Read on to find out how it all went down, and why you should join for next year’s Friends Of The Bay celebration!
The Party Got Started At Lighthouse TikiBar
As people arrived in Fort Myers Beach and settled into their hotel rooms and vacation rentals, or the many business owners and Put-in-Bay employees that have their own places in the offseason in Fort Myers, they slowly started making their way to Lighthouse Tiki Bar for the evening!
Every hour a few more Friends Of The Bay trickled in, and before you knew it, Put-in-Bay had conquered the Tiki Bar!
We had an amazing night of fun and revelry, and got a little crazy! But not too crazy, because we all knew the best was yet to come for this Friends Of The Bay weekend!
Bob Gatewood Brought The House Down At Margaritaville!
The next day at Margaritaville was the heart of the event.
Bob Gatewood gave an incredible performance, playing Put-in-Bay classics for a huge crowd who loved every second of it!
We got a huge group photo of most, but not all of the Margaritaville crowd, an iconic shot of an incredible occasion!
We Spent Sunday On The Beach At Lani Kai
Sunday was a much more casual affair, as everyone got together at Lani Kai on the beach for fun and relaxation!
The weather was incredible after a couple of chilly days to start the weekend, so the gang was able to enjoy the beach in full!
Lani Kai was the perfect place to spend a casual Sunday with all our Friends Of The Bay!
Back To Margaritaville On Monday For A Pool Party And Farewells!
Now many people had to head back to real life and couldn’t stick around on Monday, but those who did headed back to Margaritaville for a Put-in-Bay Pool Day!
A great wrap-up to an amazing weekend!
We'll See Each Other Again Soon, AT PUT-IN-BAY!
There’s only one thing to do before we all get together again at Fort Myers Beach next January.
And that’s to get together at Put-in-Bay this summer! To start your search for a place to stay, check out Friends Of The Bay organizers’ Paul Jeris’ Island Club Rentals, Ed Fitzgerald’s Commodore Resort and Brad Ohlemacher’s Bird’s Nest Resort! If you need some other options check out our comprehensive Put-in-Bay lodging page!
A Getaway So Great, We're Going To Do It Every Year! Last Weekend In January!
Everyone who came to the event agreed, Friends Of The Bay should be more than just a one time thing!
The dates this year were already picked deliberately. Flights are inexpensive, post-holiday fatigue is going away, and it’s the perfect cold-weather break before the home stretch to spring.
So there isn’t much need to think this through much further, we’re locking it in! Friends Of The Bay will be the last weekend of January every year from now on!