Put on your chaps and ride over to downtown Sarasota this weekend for the 15th annual Thunder By The Bay Motorcycle Festival. The three-day event begins with a "Born to be Wild" Kick Off Party 6:30 p.m.-midnight Jan. 4 at the Hyatt Regency, 1000 Blvd. of the Arts, featuring a 110th Harley Davidson Anniversary fashion show, cash food stations and bar and casino-style gaming. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The downtown festival is 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Jan. 5 featuring live music by the Lauren Mitchell Band, Damon Fowler, Kettle of Fish, Category Three and Highway to Hell. A special "Light Up The Night" LED Bike Show begins at 6 p.m. The second day of the downtown festival is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 6 featuring live music by Tangent, Bobby Friss and The Marshall Tucker Band at 4:30 p.m. The "Cruise for Cash" Scenic Beach Ride will be 11 a.m. with registration beginning at 9 a.m. at O'Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill, 5 Bayfront Drive, and a 15-class bikesShow along South Palm Avenue 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 6. For a full festival details and information, call 371-8820 or visit www.thunderbythebay.org.

-- Herald staff report