Red, White and Brew draws crowd

The Cape Coral Kiwanis Club hosted Red, White and Brew in downtown Cape Coral today.

The event featured 15 bars with domestic beer samples and appetizers to get the pre-Fourth of July party started. Trolley service was provided by the Kiwanis as well.

Sam Huber, Kiwanis president, said 400 tickets were sold in advance and he expected 750 to be sold by end of the night.

Beer fans sampled Magic Hat No. 9, Landshark, and Drifter Pale Ale along with major domestics. Appetizers ranged from pizza and chicken pasta salad to sushi and Thai spring rolls.

Kerri Brennan, a Cape Coral resident said this was her first time at an event like this and she loved it.

"We get to meet a lot of people and we get to try places" that haven't been tried before, Brennan said.

Kurt Earlywine, a partner in the Royal Key restaurant, said he is proud to be a part of the event.

"Watching people walk through the door, they're smiling," Earlywine said. "They're having a good time and we're happy to be a part of that."

All proceeds benefitted the Kiwanis Club's backpack program. It's a program that sends backpacks home with needy school children. Delivered on Friday, each backpack supplies a child's family with food for the weekend. The program feeds about 1,000 kids. Huber said he hopes the event raises $10,000; the program needs $100,000 annually.

"It's the perfect opportunity to get out and about, support local groups and support the Kiwanis," said Bryant Eckman, a Cape Coral resident. "$15 for the ticket is money well spent because it goes back into a good program."

The Kiwanis Club also will be serving up beer from Wine & Roses restaurant, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway, during Red, White and Boom festivities on Monday. Those proceeds also will benefit the backpack program.

"Grab a beer and support the Kiwanis," Huber said.