Road Rally, Backyard BBQ and fireworks on the Fourth
Sanibel’s longest-running Fourth of July event – The San-Cap Optimist Club Road Rally – celebrates 30 years of fun for teams and families as they puzzle out the clues while following a prescribed driving course around the island.
Prizes will be awarded for time, mileage and for the most correct answers to the quiz about things seen along the route. A “50/50” raffle will also be available.
Choose your team (a driver, navigator and spotters are usual), fill in the entry form available from Bailey’s General Store, The Sanibel Cafe or Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank (and at the starting line). Mail it, together with this year’s special entry fee of $30, to San-Cap Optimist Club, P.O. Box 1370, Sanibel, FL 33957.
Entry fees include Car, Driver, Navigator, Unlimited Crew and an official Road Rally T-Shirt. Additional T-shirts will be available for $15 each.
This year, the rally begins in Timbers Restaurant parking lot (a half-block north of Bailey’s on Tarpon Bay Road) at noon, and also ends there for the “afterglow” party. Staggered starting times will be preassigned by the Rally Master. See the entry form for more details or call Dani Howard at 472-0836.
Sponsorships are available for tax-free donations of $100 or more. Each sponsor gets publicity and a placard on one of the rally vehicles. Call Dani Howard at 472-0836 to arrange sponsorships. All proceeds from the Road Rally provide funds for the local Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club’s college scholarships.
BCMA to host Backyard BBQ
The Bailey’s Center Merchants’ Association (BCMA) will host a fun, family 4th of July Backyard BBQ on Saturday, July 4. The event will be held immediately following the parade from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bailey’s Center, located on the corner of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road.
The event will include food, beverages, live music, door prizes, mule and wagon rides, pictures with Uncle Sam, a dunk tank and waterslide, car bashing and other activities for children and adults.
The 13 merchants who are members of the BCMA include Bailey’s General Store, Bailey’s True Value Hardware, Biddles Bucket, The Grog Shop, Nick’s Place, Hillgate Communications, Island Dry Cleaners, Island Cinema, Sanibel Barber Shop, Sanibel Beauty Salon, Sanibel Shell Station, Select Vacation Properties and Video Scene.
Fireworks begin at dusk
Sanibel Island’s annual fireworks display will begin at dusk on Saturday, July 4. The city’s fireworks are traditionally launched from the northern terminus of Bailey Road.
Earlier this year, Sanibel City Council accepted a donation of $13,200 from Royal Shell Vacations and Royal Shell Properties to underwrite the City’s annual 2009 Independence Day Fireworks display.
While accepting the donation, Mayor Mick Denham stated “On behalf of the residents of Sanibel, we express our gratitude to the generosity and civic spirit of the Royal Shell organization. This contribution is especially noteworthy during the current economic climate. All Sanibel taxpayers benefit from this gift.”
Donald DeLuca, Broker, Vice President and General Counsel of The Royal Shell Companies, stated, “Royal Shell Preferred Properties and Royal Shell Vacations are excited to be able to underwrite the City’s annual patriotic firework display. There is no greater tribute to our national patriotism than Independence Day. We are thrilled to be part of Sanibel’s annual celebration.”