Those looking for a fun Saturday afternoon filled with good eats, live music, and adult beverages, all while raising money to support those in the community, can find it all and more at an annual event returning this weekend.<\/p>\n
On March 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers, Lee BIA Builders Care will host the 15th annual BBQ, Bands & Brew fundraiser.<\/p>\n
Southwest Florida\u2019s top pitmasters will compete for the title of \u201cBest BBQ in Town,\u201d accompanied by a lineup of live performances, numerous vendors and fun-filled activities for all ages, including a bolstered children\u2019s play area with face-painting, games and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are always excited about BBQ, Bands & Brew,\u201d said Lee BIA Builders Care Executive Director Leigh Cloud. \u201cIt is one of our biggest fundraisers. The money that we raise goes back into Lee County to help our elderly and our disabled that need help with replacing roofs, repairing roofs, hot water heaters, building wheelchair ramps, you name it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proceeds from the event support Builders Care\u2019s mission to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and\/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has helped more than 500 Lee County households and provided more than $6 million in emergency construction services and materials at no cost to families and local homeowners in need. Since its inception, BBQ, Bands & Brew has raised more than $900,000 in support of Lee BIA Builders Care.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not funded by the state, we\u2019re a 501(c)(3), so every dollar that we raise in any of our fundraisers, or donations made, it\u2019s huge,\u201d Cloud said. \u201cRight now we\u2019re helping a family that did not have water. Their well is dry and have been living without water for more than a year. It\u2019s costly to replace, but we put in a new well for them and they have running water now. We\u2019re also building a brand new home on a lot that Fort Myers gave Builder\u2019s Care. The home will be pretend to a Vietnam War veteran at the end of April at no cost to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The live performances lineup includes \u201cRiverside,\u201d \u201cDeb and the Dynamics,\u201d \u201cCrossfire Creek,\u201d and headliner \u201cHair Daze\u201d <\/p>\n
There will also be numerous vendors and fun-filled activities for all ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Riverside performs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Deb and the Dynamics hit the stage from 1:15 to 2:30, Crossfire Creed performs from 3 to 4:15, and Hair Daze plays from 4:45 to 6.\u00a0The event will be emceed by Big Mama.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be music played that people know all the words to,\u201d Cloud said. \u201cThere will be plenty of brew, and wine, and frozen drinks. There\u2019s also a children\u2019s section. It\u2019s just a good family-fun event for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participating food vendors include Big Smoke BBQ & Catering, Herb\u2019s BBQ and Rubs, Gator Creek BBQ Company, Brooke\u2019s Nugget Wagon, Love Boat Ice Cream, Styx, Not Your Mama\u2019s Kitchen, Smokin\u2019 Crow\u2019s BBQ, Taterz, and Kona Ice.<\/p>\n
Cloud said the participating food vendors love getting to show their skills, as well as be part of a day that helps give back to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing trophies this year, so that\u2019s a big thing. They\u2019re competing for bragging rights,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re pumped and ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Food will be judged by local celebrities into varying categories, and attendees will also get to cast their vote for their favorites.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can come and you can vote on your favorite selection,\u201d Cloud said. \u201cI think that\u2019s the one of the fun things about it is not only do we have the judges that get to taste all of the barbecue, but I think it\u2019s just a blast that the community is part of that competition as well for the people\u2019s choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee BIA Builders Care offers a full range of no-cost emergency construction services to improve the safety and health for needy seniors and disabled individuals of all ages by enlisting the expertise and donated services and materials of contractors, sub-contractors and businesses. Builders Care is funded through financial donations, grants and donated services and materials to provide emergency construction services to qualified homeowners throughout the community. Lee BIA Builders Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under the charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association.<\/p>\n
BBQ, Bands & Brew tickets for adults are $23 (including taxes and fees). Admission is free for children 12 and under. The event is cashless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Volunteers are still needed. Those interested can arrive at the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater the day before the event at 6 p.m. for instructions. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Caloosa Sound Amphitheater is at 2101 Edwards Drive in Fort Myers. To purchase tickets and learn more about remaining sponsorship opportunities, visit\u00a0leebuilderscare.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n