The 31st Annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival revs up this weekend, beginning nine days of events and outings, from late night parties to family get-togethers and, of course, hours of high-powered watercraft caroming across the waves for that finish line. Organized and produced by Suncoast Charities for Children, this year’s roster boasts not only the return of seven classes of powerboats, but the new addition of jet ski racers from P1 Aqua X USA and open canopy racing boats from P1 Superstock USA. Also for the first time, the powerboat invitational will be aired in a primetime special by CBS Sports Network.

“Like any special event, we have to take it one year at a time,” said festival director Lucy Nicandri, who this year brought Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix and Powerboat P1 USA in on the enterprise, parting ways with Super Boat International and making way for change. “You can’t keep doing things the same way and expect to grow. This year’s sanctioning gave us an opportunity to grow and expand.”

And to get Sarasota in the mood, the coming week is chock full of festivities, beginning this weekend with the Grand Prix Golf Classic at The Meadows Country Club on Saturday. Registration begins at 7am. Sunday brings a car show on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, the “Finz Finds” motorcycle freedom ride launching from Sarasota Ford and an all-day nautical “Fun Run” on Sarasota Bay, where all watercraft are welcome, followed by live music, awards and a raffle at Marina Jack.

After recuperating through Monday, the festivities will recommence with an official kickoff party and fundraiser Tuesday at the Sarasota Yacht Club and an outing Wednesday for the physically and mentally challenged.

The racers announce their presence next Thursday and Friday with meet’n’greets at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Hyatt Regency Sarasota, but fans will have to make the hard choice on Saturday – from noon on in Centennial Park the teams and their watercraft of choice will be on display, but over off Lido Beach the powerboats are being race-tested throughout the afternoon. Either way, end the night with a downtown block party on Sarasota’s Main Street with vendors and food and music till midnight.

Then, when you think you’ve celebrated about as much as you can, then the races begin with two full days July 4-5. With 90 racers already pre-registering 30 powerboats and 60 jet skis, a revamped race schedule separating racers by class for the sake of spectator clarity and a new awards ceremony open to the public on the beach behind the Sandcastle Resort, organizers, audiences and racers alike are champing at the nautical bit.

"After racing Aqua X for over 20 years all over the world, I am excited to finally be racing in my hometown of Sarasota," said racer Eric Lagopoulos, with Lee Baker from Lycamobile Offshore Race Team adding, "We won our first offshore boat race here in 2000. Sarasota is the place to be -  it's the Superbowl of powerboat racing."