Concert to inform on autism this Sunday
A major festival in Fort Myers will kick off with a pre-event concert on Fort Myers Beach this weekend.
An autism awareness concert scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24, from noon to 10 p.m., will be part of the Surf and Song Festival Concert Series. Hosted by Nervous Nellies Crazy Waterfront Eatery, the event will feature Geek Skwad, No Way Jose, Eventide, Downbeat Brigade, Diane Russell Band and The Oysters.
“There will be a stage set up on the left side of the Town fountain in the public area, and there will be some vendors near Nervous Nellies,” said Nervous Nellies Owner Rob DeGennaro. “We’ll also have a band behind Nervous Nellies and a band upstairs at Uglies Waterside. We’ll have three bands playing at any given time. Happy hour will be served, and we’ll have free hors d’oeuvres served at Uglies where we’ll have a silent auction.”
The concert is an informative prelude to Surf and Song Festival 2011, which is expected to be a major musical celebration featuring a two-day festival in downtown Fort Myers on Jan. 14 and 15. That festival will be highlighted by 80 bands on 15 stages including national acts on the main stage in Centennial Park.
“This will be a nice, fun family event,” said DeGennaro of the Sunday event. “Brad Beasley from Beasley Broadcasting is spearheading this whole thing. They’ll be bringing down live remotes from their two radio stations -B103.9 and 99X. They’ll be handing out some free giveaways.”
DeGennaro point out that there will be free dockage at the marina and encourages people to come by boat. NFL games and MLB playoff games will be televised at Nervous Nellies as well.
Bacardi Rum and Finlandia vodka will be the main sponsors. More handouts are expected from the two companies. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Southwest Florida Autism Center Initiative, according to DeGennaro.
“I think autism needs attention, and the money is important because there is not much out there for research,” he said. “It’s not as much raising money at this event as it is an information/awareness to the problem. The actual fundraiser will be at the Surf and Song Festival 2011.”
For more information, contact Fritz Caraher at 728-1677.
For more information on the January festival, read about it in the Off-island Activities section on page 28 of this issue.