We all need a little R&R
For Southwest Florida — and, indeed, the country — it’s been a rollercoaster ride the last few weeks. The economic twists, turns and stomach-dropping plummets aren’t likely going to be much better tomorrow — or even next month.
Combined with the stress of the bleak economic picture here in the Cape, we all need a breather, if only for a few hours. Cape Coral has a couple of great take-a-break options in the offing.
The first is this weekend as the Sons of Italy, Charles J. Bonaparte, Lodge #2504, steps off its annual Columbus Day Parade with an added twist, an Italian Food Fest.
The event, co-ordinated with the help of the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency and the city of Cape Coral’s Parks and Recreation Department, promises plenty of floats, lots of great food and live entertainment, all wrapped in the city’s signature parade/block party format.
These events always draw a good crowd to the Cape’s downtown and it’s likely this year will be no exception as the parade and entertainment are free. The promise of real Italian food at a reasonable price? Well, that’s just mama’s sauce on the pasta.
The food fest kicks off early at 4 p.m., with the parade down Southeast 47th Terrace starting promptly at 5 p.m.
Bring a lawn chair, grab a spot for the hometown procession, take a deep breath and then enjoy the fest with its wealth of offerings. You’ll remember why you moved to Cape Coral.
Beginning Friday, Cape residents will have an additional opportunity to escape with another festival full of ethnic flair as the German-American Club again kicks off two three-day weekends of Oktoberfest.
The annual festival draws about 30,000 annually with its draw of beer, brats, and polka music.
The German-American Club’s Oktoberfest is touted as one of the largest festivals of its kind in the state. Volunteers decked out in lederhosen and other traditional garb will serve up all kinds of German fare while under the “big tent,” authentic music will lend a festive note to what is one of the Cape’s best-attended events.
The 23rd annual Oktoberfest, to be held at German-American Social Club, 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road, begins on Friday, Oct. 17, from 4 -10 p.m, and continues Saturday, Oct. 18, noon-10 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. The festival picks up again on Friday, Oct. 24, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 25, noon-10 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
AOL’s Digital City missed listing the Cape’s Oktoberfest among its 10 best countrywide but if the number of attendees doing the Chicken Dance or stepping to the polka in years past are any indication, AOL missed the boat on this one.
At any rate, as stress-breakers go, the German-American Club’s Oktoberfest is a break and a half. Did we mention brats and beer?
Three weekends. Three opportunities. We’ll see you there.
— Breeze editorial