Put-in-Bay Invades Fort Myers Beach From January 29-February 1, 2026!
We’re just a few months away from the big Put-in-Bay field trip to Fort Myers Beach! Friends of the Bay from all over the country will be descending on the beach in Florida for a couple of great days of fun and friendship, and we want you to join us!
SPECIAL PROMO FOR ROOMS AT MARGARITAVILLE, LIMITED SUPPLY
:::::CLICK HERE::::: to access special room rates as a Friend Of The Bay! We only have a limited bloc of these rooms, but you’ll be saving around 30% off of the regular rate!
You’ll find other hotel and lodging options further down the page, but if you know you’re coming, and this promo is still available, it’s a no-brainer. You’ll be on site for most of what we have planned, at an awesome resort, at an awesome rate! Trust us, this is the way to go!
What's On The Friends Of The Bay Agenda?
There’s plenty left to be finalized, so keep an eye on this space in the coming months, but in the short term, you can get a general idea of what’s already confirmed and what’s a good, educated guess, for what our Friends of the Bay excursion will look like!
Friday, Jan. 29: Meet downtown at the Lighthouse Tiki Bar, next to Margaritaville at the Lighthouse Resort, and enjoy a beverage, or…3?
Saturday, Jan. 30: Bob Gatewood live at Margaritaville on the upper deck from 12-4pm. Group Photo at 2PM BE THERE!
Evening is free, for another beverage or…3?
Sunday, Jan. 31: Hang out at the beach, probably at Lani Kai, sun, friend, beach, boats, and another beverage or…3?
Monday, Feb. 1: Still negotiating with Margaritaville for a great deal on their fabulous pool bar area for an exclusive Put-in-Bay style pool party!
We’ll be spending some time night one at the Lighthouse Tiki Bar, and there is of course time built in to enjoy all of Fort Myers Beach, but it will be Margaritaville playing host to the lion’s share of the more organized events. Bob Gatewood will go on from noon to 4pm on Saturday, and we’re going to take a big group picture during his show at 2pm. And then we are hopeful to have a Put-in-Bay Pool Party at Margaritaville’s amazing pool bar on Monday.
So if you want to be at the heart of everything, Margaritaville is the place to stay! We’ve got a big section just a little down the page of all the places to stay, with links, and Margaritaville is top of the list! If it’s still available, you can :::::CLICK HERE::::: to access our special bloc of rooms at a huge discount rate, as much as 30% off, but quantity is limited!
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
We'll See All Our Friends Of The Bay In Fort Myers Beach, JAN. 29-FEB. 1, 2026!
So what are you waiting for? 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 we can make an educated guess on what January 29-February 1 will feel like in Ohio, and we are certain you’ll wish you were in Florida instead! We will have MUCH more to come, so bookmark this page for updates! And while you’re here, revisit last year’s inaugural Friends Of The Bay outing below!
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 are overwhelmed with the incredible turnout, and the amazing time that was had by all. We’re already counting down the days until Friends Of The Bay 2026!
Read on to find out how it all went down, and why you should join for next year’s Friends Of The Bay celebration!
If You Want To Be A Friend Of The Bay, You've Also Gotta Come To The Bay! Duh! Plan your trip with these links!
- 2025 Put-in-Bay Event Calendar!
- Put-in-Bay Golf Cart Rental
- Our Favorite Places To Eat At PIB
- Things To Do At Put-in-Bay
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!
Keep An Eye On This Space For Updates On The 2026 Edition! Jan. 29-Feb. 1 DATES ANNOUNCED!
We will update this page frequently as we begin to plan and prepare for the 2026 edition of our now annual event!
As always, we’re not going to just shoot for doing the same thing over and over again, but instead we’ll be looking to make it bigger and better! So we’ll still have some surprises in store for those who came last year!
So SAVE THE DATE! Friends Of The Bay II in Fort Myers Beach, FL, January 29th to February 1st, 2026!