Restaurants, vendors and volunteers being sought for annual Taste of the Beach
Fort Myers Beach restaurants, vendors and volunteers are being sought for the 24th annual Taste of the Beach.
Taste of the Beach will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5, on Old San Carlos Boulevard between Third and First Street.
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said they are looking for more restaurants, chamber members, to participate in the annual event.
“It is Taste of our Beach,” she said. “Restaurants are always welcome to join the Chamber. You have to be on the Beach to be a member.”
It is $225 for restaurants to participate with electricity and ice a little bit of an extra charge.
Liszak said they usually have between 15 to 20 restaurants take part, which makes it a nice competition.
Regular vendors are also being sought to showcase what they sell. It is $200 for a 10×10 space.
Those interested are encouraged to call the chamber at 239-454-7500. The cut off to register is the week before the May event.
In addition, the chamber also is in need of lots of volunteers. The two time slots are from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We definitely need some help in the afternoon. We are a little light on volunteers in the afternoon,” she said.
The volunteers will help with such jobs as taking tickets, selling tickets, checking IDs at the beer truck, helping sell water and soda at the chamber table and answering questions. Those interested should email events@fmbchamber.com.
Sponsorships also are still being sought.
“We have a couple opportunities available for folks that might like to sponsor the entertainment tents, or the beer garden, or one of the gate entrances. We have different levels and happy to have them participate in any way,” Liszak said.
The Taste of the Beach will feature the famous server competition where servers have to go through an obstacle course and deal with angry patrons.
This year the event will have a new and improved shaded beer garden, which will be located next to the second stage.
“Because it is Cinco de Mayo we are hoping to have a Mexican flare. We are working on some great entertainment this year. We are hoping to bring a band in this year, which is kind of exciting,” she said.
Advanced tickets are now on sale on the chamber’s website, www.fortmyersbeach.org. Admission is $5 for adults and children over 12 years old. Food tickets are $1 each.
The restaurants will offer samples of their signature dishes at a chance to win Taste of the Beach awards for Best Appetizer, Best Beef Entre, Best Seafood Entre, Best Chicken Entre, Best Dessert, Best Decorated Booth and People’s Choice.
Liszak said the folks from the Lee County Election’s office will be on hand providing attendees with the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice award.
“We hope that everybody comes out and brings their family and friends. It’s the end of the season big sigh when all the locals come out and have fun. It’s great for families, all kinds of extended families, even behaved puppies,” she said.