Rare cars, bluegrass, carnival and sand sculpting headline this year’s Fun Fest at the Community House
A vehicle exhibit with a few surprises, sand sculpting, food, fun and music, all are on tap at the second annual Fun Fest at the Sanibel Community House.
The Jan. 25 event is also an important benefit for the Community House, a nucleus of the islands for a few generations. Sponsorships, tickets and other Fun Fest revenue help fund services, maintenance and programs at the Community House, said Teresa Riska-Hall, executive director and event coordinator.
“It’s a community friend-raiser,” she said, “but it’s also an opportunity (for us) to show people that we’re here…and an opportunity to give back.”
Fun Fest 2015 activities will include:
Cars Of The Island Stars: Sanibel’s small-town version of the elegant car shows held at Pebble Beach and Boca Raton. Displayed on Community Park lawn will be rare and beautiful motorcars owned by fellow islanders. Ranging from classics to modern exotics, these works of automotive art are usually hidden away in private garages, and this will be a rare opportunity to see them up close. Entries will be professionally judged and trophies will be awarded by the Sanibel Community House in partnership with the San Cap Motor Club. Organizers of this year’s car show are Jim McHale, Mike Stone and Scott Congress, car enthusiasts and members of the recently formed San Cap Motor Club.
Entries in this year’s car show include classics from the earliest days of automobile production, sleek sedans and coupes from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, and rock-&-roll era muscle cars from the 1960s and ’70s. Additional excitement will be provided by an impressive selection of modern-era exotic cars from makers like Aston-Martin, Corvette, Ferrari and Porsche.
Representing U.S. automakers will be the new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, a front engine, rear-wheel drive monster sedan featuring a 707 horsepower super-charged V-8 engine.
European vehicles will include the extremely rare 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, a high-tech, mid-engine, four-wheel drive hybrid, generating 887 horsepower from the combination of a gas-powered V-8 plus two electric motors. The Porsche has a starting price of nearly $850,000.
Sand Sculpture Contest: Teams representing local organizations, non-profits and neighborhood and youth groups compete for the most interesting sand sculpture. Its great fun for the teams who compete, and just as much fun for Fun Fest attendees who can watch the construction process, cheer on their friends, admire the workmanship and vote for their favorite entry. Prizes will be awarded for best designs and most popular.
Kids’ Carnival: Classic carnival games, an inflatable slide and obstacle course, magic acts, face painting, plus animal exhibits and demonstrations by C.R.O.W., the Lone Wolf Sanctuary, and John Storm World of Reptiles.
Live Bluegrass Music: Bugtussle Ramblers Band, a popular southwest Florida bluegrass ensemble, performing live on the Community House auditorium stage.
Food and beverage vendors on site, with beer and wine available by donation.