Bayside Park Concert Series expands to Fridays

Aug 25, 2025 By Nathan Mayberg 2 min read

The Bayside Park Concert Series expands to Fridays beginning Aug. 29 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fort Myers Beach with the band Smack Daddy.

The Bayside Park Concert Series has been such a success for downtown Fort Myers Beach businesses that the business community is partnering to grow the series by having two days of music at the Old San Carlos Boulevard park.

The series will now have a show every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The first show will be Friday, Aug. 29 with the group Smack Daddy.

The Sunday shows will continue each week from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This week’s Sunday show will feature the band Grand Slam. Bayside Veterans Park is located off San Carlos Boulevard between Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant and Nervous Nellies.

Peter Ennis, a partner in the downtown Fort Myers Beach businesses Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Wahoo Willies Tiki Bar & Grill and Smoking Oyster Brewery, has been involved in organizing the shows.

“The Sunday concert series has been great to bring the locals and tourists together to enjoy a free concert on the back bay,” Ennis said. Ennis said the concerts boost business for all the restaurants nearby.

The park is centrally located downtown, just a short walk from Times Square and Lynn Hall Memorial Park.

The concert series is a partnership with the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Fort Myers Beach, Gulf Coast Business Bank, the Alex King Group and King Family Foundation.

Ennis said the aim of the series is to bring together locals and tourists to the area.

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said “anything the island can come up with that will draw additional folks onto the beach is a good thing. Especially this time of year.”

Liszak said the tourism business throughout Florida has been down and tourism from Canada is also down this year.

“We need to encourage activities that will entice guests onto the island, hopefully to spend a night or two, but if not, at least to grab a bite to eat, listen to some music and grab some down time,” Liszak said. “Shout out to the businesses that are working together to make this happen and thank you to all that come out to sponsor and enjoy the shows.”