On the evening of May 3rd, 2023, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce hosted its 30th annual Islands Night at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
This year, the event took on special meaning as our island communities continue to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian.
Islands Night is all about celebrating the spirit of our community and bringing together local businesses and organizations. The evening started with a parade featuring a wide array of Sanibel and Captiva island businesses and ended with an exciting baseball game between the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and the Dunedin Blue Jays.
Continue reading below for additional information + to see the photo gallery…
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But that’s not all – this year’s Islands Night was extra special because the SanCap Chamber of Commerce (due to the effects of Hurricane Ian) combined the event with their Annual Meeting and presented their annual awards to Island individuals and businesses for the first time for the public.
And let’s not forget about the exceedingly fetching custom jerseys that the Mighty Mussels players were wearing! Sanibel artist Rachel Pierce designed a beautiful jersey featuring the iconic Sanibel Lighthouse, which still stands tall after Hurricane Ian, against a colorful swirl of sunset sky. The jerseys were auctioned off after the game, with proceeds going towards island civic organizations.
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“We are super stoked to bring on Sam Bailey’s Islands Night once again, despite the upheaval the island experienced this past year,” stated chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai . “Originally named for an island father, Islands Night remembers Sam Bailey, a sports star in his own right. As the late co-owner of the now fourth-generation Bailey’s Store on Sanibel, his name lives on as an island legend. We have every reason to celebrate together and honor our beloved lighthouse that still stands for island strength and stability. Thanks to Rachel and to all our sponsors.”
“No storm, not even a Category 5 hurricane like Ian, can destroy the spirit of this community,” stated Chris Peters, president of the Mighty Mussels. “The franchise has hosted Islands Night for 30 years, but this year’s event will be a true celebration of the people and places that make Southwest Florida such a great place to live.”
In all, Islands Night 2023 represented a festive way for our island communities to come together, support our local businesses, and enjoy a night of fun, camaraderie, and of course, baseball!
Click any image below for a larger view. Photos by Eric J. Taubert of Sanibel Barometer and Charlene M. Taubert of the Blue Dolphin on Sanibel.
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