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Those looking for a fun Sunday afternoon out 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.
On March 30 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 14th annual BBQ, Bands & Brew fundraiser.
Southwest Florida's top pitmasters will compete for the title of "Best BBQ in Town," accompanied by a lineup of live performances, numerous vendors and fun-filled activities for all ages, including a bolstered children's play area with face-painting, games and more.
"Everybody is just ecstatic,"said Lee BIA Builders Care Executive Director Leigh Cloud of the organization's largest annual event. "We've put a lot of work and time into this. We have three fabulous bands playing this year. We've got some new barbecue truck vendors this year, so I think there's going to be some fierce competition. We're always excited about this… but at the end of the day, it's for the community to know who we are and what our mission is, which is to provide emergency construction services to Lee County homeowners that are elderly or disabled."
Proceeds from the event support Builders Care's 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 $5 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 $880,000 in support of Lee BIA Builders Care.
"When we raise that money, and we see what it is and then we look at the applications from the people that need help and we're able to go out and look at the home… and then take care of those folks, that's what it's all about," Cloud said. "That's why this is so exciting for us, because we know what we're going to be able to do, and the people we're going to help."
The talented pitmasters will be accompanied by a lineup of live performances from Soapy Tuna, Riverside and headliner Ben Allen Band, as well as numerous vendors and fun-filled activities for all ages.
Riverside performs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., Soapy Tuna hits the stage from 1:15 to 2:30, and Ben Allen Band plays from 3 to 6.
The event will be emceed by Big Mama.
Participating food vendors include Big Smoke BBQ & Catering, Herb's BBQ and Rubs, The Brunchy Bunch, Gator Creek BBQ Company, Love Boat Ice Cream, Not Your Mama's Kitchen, Smokin' Crow's BBQ, Taterz, and That BBQ Place.
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.
"They love the idea that they are helping us raise money to put back into the county," she said. "They also love the competition, and they want to win. They're all pretty pumped about the competition this year."
Food will be judged by local celebrities including Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson.
"The venue is absolutely spectacular," Cloud said of the event that usually sees more than 3,000 attendees. "Our trucks are names some people have heard of before, so there's going to be some great barbecue."
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.
"It's going back to our neighbors and stays in the county," Cloud said.
BBQ, Bands & Brew tickets for adults are $15 at the gate. Admission is free for children 12 and under.
Caloosa Sound Amphitheater is at 2101 Edwards Drive in Fort Myers. To purchase tickets and learn more about remaining sponsorship opportunities, visit www.leebuilderscare.com/bbq-bands-brew/.