Save the date! On Friday, Nov. 4, the Third Annual San-Cap Cracker Fest will return once again, held behind The Bait Box on Sanibel starting at 6:30 p.m.

The sponsors are on board, the menu is set and the band is ready to play for what has become one of the Island’s most popular events. The laid back atmosphere of the Cracker Fest celebrates our Florida cultural heritage while raising awareness and financial support for the Sanibel-Captiva chapter of START.

“Our primary objective this year will be to help launch our sustainable seafood program ‘Seafood Savvy,’ expand the Coastal Classroom project within Lee County schools and other programs that restore or preserve our marine environment,” explained Ralph Woodring, one of the driving forces behind the event and one of Sanibel’s original “Florida Crackers.”

Included in this year’s festivities will be an authentic Cracker feast of Dave’s wild pig, Ralph’s fried and smoked mullet, collard greens, grits, corn on the cob and, of course, Esperanza’s biscuits. A selection of beer and wine, along with iced tea, water and fruit cobbler will also be available.

In addition, silent and live auction featuring an array of one-of-a kind gifts will be offered and music by none other than South Florida’s own rockin’ country band, BlackWater.

We thank the following event sponsors for their generosity:

CRACKER LEVEL – Bailey’s General Store, The Bait Box and The Bean/Sanibel Square.

COW WHIP LEVEL – Big Red Q Quickprint, Dan Hahn Custom Builders, Jensen’s Twin Palms Resort & Marina, Lazy Flamingo; Lily & Co., Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Soon Come Landscaping and Shoreline Lumber.

COON DOG LEVEL – Affordable Irrigation, Aqua Swimwear, Billy’s Bikes, Dickey Brothers, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Gulf Coast Palm & Tree, J & J Paving, John Grey Painting, Nave Plumbing, Pfeifer Realty, Sanibel Air Conditioning, Sanibel Captiva Trust Co., Sanibel Island Fishing Club, Suncatcher’s Dream and Tarantino Carpentry.

Tickets are $75 per person and attendance to the San-Cap Cracker Fest is by reservation only. For more information or to receive an invitation, please contact event coordinator Carol Rothman at 239-699-3530, e-mail Crackerfest11@gmail.com or visit www.sancapcrackerfest.com.