FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2015) – The Junior League of Fort Myers, Inc. is extending the deadline for restaurants to sign up for its 33rd Annual Taste of the Town.

Thirty-five restaurants have already signed up for this year’s event, which will once again be held at JetBlue Park, the Boston Red Sox’s 106-acre Spring Training and Player Development Complex located at 11500 Fenway South Drive in Fort Myers, on Sunday, Nov. 1.

The Junior League’s Taste of the Town is Southwest Florida’s original “taste” event and one of the largest outdoor food and entertainment festivals. The 2014 event attracted nearly 15,000 attendees.

Funds from this one-day annual event benefit the JLFM, whose volunteer mission provides thousands of dollars annually in volunteer services and donations to programs supporting women and children in the region including the Junior League’s national program Kids in the Kitchen to help fight childhood obesity, the ongoing work with at-risk girls in the juvenile justice system, as well as work throughout the community in partnership with many organizations through the JLFM’s Helping Hands program, which provides volunteer woman-power to organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Abuse Counseling & Treatment Shelter, Early Learning Coalition, the Supporting Independent Young Adults organization and many more. 

Last year’s event raised the second highest tally in the history of the event, bringing in $133,000.

According to JLFM Taste of the Town Chairs Karen Hutto and Shirley Snyder McLaren, interested restaurants and vendors have until Thursday, Oct. 1 to reserve a spot at this year’s event by calling 239-277-1197 or emailing totrestaurants@jlfm.org. Space is limited.

Restaurants that have already committed for the 2015 event include Artisan Gelato by Norman Love, Bahama Breeze – GMRI, Inc., Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Bice Grand Café, Bubble Room, Burger 21, BurgerQue, Cabana’s Beach Bar & Grille, Connor’s Steak & Seafood, Cru, Dixie Fish Co., Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Edible Arrangements, Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, Ft. Myers Ale House, Gulf Coast Fudge Co., Iguana Mia, Kona Ice, LongHorn Steakhouse, Marker 92, Matanzas on the Bay, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill & Bar, Pho Vinh, Pinchers Crab Shack, Reuben’s Smokehouse & Catering, Rosalia & Ashley’s Zeppoles, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Stevie Tomato’s Sports Page, Ted’s Montana Grill, Texas Tony’s BBQ Shack and The Melting Pot.

Scanlon Auto Group is the title sponsor for the Taste of the Town for 2015 and 2016 in honor of the JLFM’s 50th anniversary.

A member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., the Junior League of Fort Myers, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The JLFM is also a granting organization, providing mini-grants to organizations through out Southwest Florida’s five-county area to programs that create better life outcomes for our area’s youth. JLFM memberships are open to all women aged 21 and older of all races, religions and national origin who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism. For more information, call 239-277-1197 or visit www.jlfm.org.

For more information about the annual Taste of the Town, call 239-277-1197 or email tasteofthetown@jlfm.org. For ongoing updates on Taste of the Town, visit www.jlfmtaste.com.