Pumptober-Fest Oct. 5 at Bell Tower

Bell Tower in Fort Myers will host its second annual Pumptober-Fest on Oct. 5.
The family-friendly fall festival includes unlimited beer samplings, fresh food, carnival-style games and live entertainment.
The pumpkin-themed event supports the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation and spotlights a variety of popular craft beers, including several brewed in Southwest Florida. Pumpkin-flavored beer will be served from a nostalgically decorated “Pumpkinade Stand” at the event.
“We had such a tremendous response to our first Pumptober-Fest from sponsors, vendors, guests and tenants,” said Shannon Palzer, marketing manager for Bell Tower. “We’re hoping Pumptober-Fest becomes the one community event that signifies the official start to season in Southwest Florida.”
Pumptober-Fest will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Bell Tower, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. Admission for guests 21 and older is $35 in advance, or $40 at the door, and includes unlimited tastings of ales, lagers, pilsners and stouts served in keepsake mini-mugs. Guests also will receive pretzel necklaces.
Pumptober-Fest is hosted by Bell Tower in partnership with Suncoast Beverage and benefits the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which provides college scholarships, grants for teachers, entrepreneurial education, internships and mentoring.
The Electric Mud, a nationally touring rock band from Fort Myers, will be performing at Pumptober-Fest. Balloon artist and stilt walker Way Too Tall Torrie also will make an appearance.
The Electric Mud features Peter Kolter on guitar/vocals; Constantine Grim on guitar; Tommy Scott on bass; and Pierson Whicker on drums.
The Electric Mud call upon a punishing rhythm section and dizzying twin guitars alongside gritty, soulful vocals to remind audiences that rock and roll is a timeless, cosmic giant that never truly dies, it just slumbers and is reincarnated in new and exciting ways. With a foot firmly planted in the colossal sounds of the past pushing them off into the future, the sound developed has become a unique and unmistakable blend of heavy southern rock and roll delivered with a relentless precision and fury that leaves tube amps smoking and drum sets in pieces.
In sharing stages with the likes of Kings X and The Devon Allman band, touring around the region and besting competition from three different states at the Backwoods Riot Music festival to earn a weekend with the revered Matt Washburn at Ledbelly sound studio in Georgia, The Electric Mud have quickly earned the respect of their peers for their truly vintage modern approach to rock and roll, and the fanatical work ethic they apply to playing it.
To learn more about the band and their tour schedule, visit online at www.theelectricmud.com
Bell Tower is working with Suncoast Beverage to develop a tasting lineup of craft beers for Pumptober-Fest and will release a complete list of participating breweries prior to the event. Several restaurants will be offering samples of their fresh and innovative cuisine on a first-come, first-served basis, including mini cannoli from Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. Dave & Buster’s, World of Beer, Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill, Williams-Sonoma and Society are among the participants entered in a food tasting competition to award one participant with the title of “Bell Tower’s Best Mac and Cheese.” All food and dessert samples are included in the price of admission.
To purchase advance tickets, visit www.fortmyers.org/events
For more about Bell Tower, visit online at www.belltowerfl.com