Taste, Tunes & More today at Tarpon Point Marina
The second annual Taste, Tunes & More will feature live music, food, vendors and activities for the entire family to enjoy this weekend at Tarpon Point Marina.
Coordinator Carlos Navedo said the event last year benefited the Animal Refuge Center. The event attracted more than 3,200 people, which resulted in a great “bit of funds for them” of more than $40,000, he said.
“The committee was so happy and so glad about the turnout they decided to do it a second year,” he said.
This year the event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southwest Florida and the Craig T. Fuller Iwo Jima Memorial Restoration Fund.
“This year’s event will help and restore a memorial that means so much to Americans,” Navedo said, along with being able to benefit children.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southwest Florida West Coast Operations Manager Judith Yevick said they grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical illnesses. The children have to be at least 2 and a half and they can not have reached their 18th birthday at the time of their referral.
“All the money raised will help grant the wish of local children,” she said about Taste Tunes & More.
Yevick said the average cost of a wish is $5,000 because the immediate family is included.
There are 15 children at different stages of the wish process right now in Cape Coral. A total of 65 wishes are waiting to be granted for children in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties.
“The No. 1 wish is to meet the big mouse at his residence…to go to Disney,” she said, which includes a seven-day, six- night, special treatment trip.
In 28 years, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted 8,000 wishes. Last year a wish was granted every 16 hours for a total of 544 wishes.
“We change lives one wish at a time,” Yevick said. “The wishes are limited only by their imagination.”
Taste, Tunes & More will be held on March 12 from 1-7 p.m.
“We are looking forward to having a great turnout,” Navedo said.
He said they have some great ’50s and ’70s rock bands and some great blues music this year, which includes nationally known bands New York Front and Deb & the Dynamics, along with regional talent HeadCount and Low Rent.
New York Front is a “great blues band that came down from New York to play for our event,” Navedo said.
Food will be catered in from Resort at Marina Village, Hooters, Boar’s Head, Gourmet on the Way’s and more. Soft drinks, beer and a Margarita Station will also be offered during the event. Tickets for beverage and food will be sold for a $1 per ticket.
“We will have a slew of food vendors,” he explained.
In addition, more than 100 collectable cars will be present at the marina from Old Skool Roadshow and Corvettes on the Gulf. Navedo said Cali Motorsports will have a million dollar Bentley on display at the show as well.
There will be face painting, bounce houses and a rock climbing wall for the children, along with hot air balloons.
He explained that they are asking for a $10 donation from those who can and for those who cannot, there will be no charge.