South Cape Spooktacular to feature festivities for grownups
By JIM LINETTE
For four hours this Saturday night, the South Cape will look a bit spooky.
Halloween costumed guests participating in the South Cape Spooktacular Drink & Treat Trolley Run will be visiting 13 bars and restaurants for drink samples and a piece of candy. Participants are asked to purchase tickets (must be at least 21 years old) online in advance ($10) to ride trolleys between the establishments and take advantage of the drink sample and candy at each stop. Tickets will be $15 on the day of the event if any are left.
Participants are asked to check in starting at 6 p.m. at either Backstreets Sports Bar or Ralph’s Place. They can hop onboard the trolley starting at 7 p.m. Organizers remind participants to park their car at Club Square or Big John’s Plaza where they expect to finish because the trolleys stop running at 11 p.m.
“We don’t want anyone to be left stranded without a ride when the trolley stops,” said event coordinator David Delli Paoli for the South Cape Hospitality & Entertainment Association. “A unit at Big John’s will be set up with a haunted house. There also will be a photo booth. People have a chance to win a $500 cash prize when they submit their photos for the costume contest.”
South Cape Spooktacular is just one of a long list of special events hosted in South Cape by the hospitality group.
“We have events about every month, sometimes multiple events in one month,” said Paoli. “We have them to help drive traffic to the South Cape businesses. There are a lot of interesting businesses that many people might not know about.”
Participating locations include Backstreets Sports Bar; Cape Coral Brewing Company; Coconuts; Cruiser’s Lounge; Dixie Roadhouse; Monkey Bar & Steakhouse; Paradise Pizza; Rack’em Billiards; Ralph’s Place; Rockade; The Dek; Tiki Hut at Dolphin Key Resort; and Tubby’s City Hangout.
At check-in, ticketholders will be given a wristband and a Trick or Treat bag for the candy with extra goodies like gift cards and coupons inside donated by area businesses.
“People complain that there’s nothing to do in the Cape,” said Paoli. “Well, this is something for them to do. It’s a night to go out and have some fun and support the local businesses and help revitalize the South Cape.”
Paoli said most of the trolley events attract 500 to 1,000 participants, which Spooktacular is expected to attract as well. The funds raised are intended to assist South Cape businesses participate in the CRA’s Streetscape program.
“The money raised goes into a fund to build for the future,” said Paoli. “With Streetscape, the city funds 25 percent of the cost and the CRA funds 25 percent leaving 50 percent for the business. Most businesses don’t have $10,000 or more to shell out for a project, so this is a way to help them out.”
Trolley events like Spooktacular and other special events are beneficial to many businesses in South Cape. Establishments have reported an increase in sales by 20 to 30 percent on event nights.
Participants are able to linger at any establishment as long as they like, but most attend for the free drinks. Many of the stops provide live music and other specials to enjoy. They can hop on any of the trolleys making a continuous loop of the bars and restaurants at any time.
Tickets can be purchased online at south-cape-spooktacular.eventbrite.com