For the second year in a row, employees from Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille decorated a scarecrow for Lakes Park Scarecrows in the Park event. Team members from the Fort Myers Beach restaurant created a Monsters Inc.-themed scarecrow display where Sully, Mike Wazowski and Boo are enjoying smores by the fire. A Title Sponsor for this year’s event, Doc Ford’s will also donate food to the contest winners.
For this year’s theme, “The Great Outdoors,” teams were challenged with designing their scarecrows to depict the outdoors, such as an animal or an outdoor activity like camping or fishing. Voting for the People’s Choice award will continue until Oct. 27 and winners will be announced Monday, Oct. 28.
“The team really enjoys participating in this event each year,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. “Participating in these events has fostered team building within our organization and gives back to the community we serve at our establishments. We love expressing our creativity in a fun way that gives back to the community.”
Doc Ford’s team members frequently donate their time at Lakes Park, recently building and installing a miniature version of the Fort Myers Beach restaurant as part of the popular Lakes Park and Gulf Railroad train ride which winds around lakes and small villages. The team also helped install Halloween decorations at the park recently.
Scarecrows in the Park will be on display until Nov. 2 as part of Lakes Parks Fall Festival. Activities include a pumpkin patch, hayrides, inflatables, and concessions presented by Wheel Fun Rental and the Halloween Express train ride presented by the Southwest Florida Train Museum. The park is located at 7330 Gladiolus Dr. in Fort Myers.
Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with locations on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, the St. Petersburg Pier and Jungle Terrace in St. Petersburg.
Owned and operated by HM Restaurant Group, award-winning Doc Ford’s offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Beloved for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatan shrimp served daily, it’s highly regarded by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant. Established on Sanibel in 2003, Doc Ford’s is a perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner. The Pier restaurant was named the county’s No. 1 Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
Doc Ford’s also offers live music most nights at its Fort Myers Beach and St. Petersburg Pier locations.
Philanthropy and community outreach are engrained in HM Restaurant Group’s company philosophy. Proceeds from specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s raise money to support children’s hospitals and water quality issues. HM Restaurant Group also supports local nonprofits dedicated to conservation, community and the environment. The “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised nearly $1.3 million for Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge since 2012. The 13th annual tournament will be held May 9, 2025.
