provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is sponsoring this year’s Luminary Festival, a Dec. 5 holiday open house at the Sanibel Historic Museum & Village and evening strolls along candlelit main roads on Sanibel and Captiva. The restaurant donated $1,000 to the annual event, now in its 39th year.
“The Luminary Festival has special meaning for our community, and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Katy Forret, general manager of Doc Ford’s Sanibel location and chairperson of the SanCap Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the festival. “We are happy to help the community celebrate the beginning of the holiday season on the islands.”
Festivities begin with the village open house from 3 to 5 p.m., featuring Sanibel Cracker-inspired Christmas displays, cookies and punch, a gift shop and a performance by the BIG ARTS Chorus. Local author Betty Anholt will also discuss her book, “Sanibel’s Story: Voices and Images from Calusa to Incorporation.”
The festival continues with the Luminary Holiday Stroll Friday on Sanibel and Saturday, Dec. 6, on Captiva, offering visits and photos with Santa Claus, a live nativity scene, music and activities for the entire family from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Chamber merchants also participate, showcasing decorated storefronts and hosting holiday celebrations.
Founded on Sanibel in 2003 by HM Restaurant Group, a 2025 Gulfshore Business best place to work, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille has a long history of supporting local organizations and nonprofits on the island. The restaurant recently sponsored Wines in the Wild benefiting the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and supports SanCap Cares and FISH of SANCAP.
With additional locations on Fort Myers Beach, Jungle Terrace in St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Pier, award-winning Doc Ford’s has donated over $133,000 to children’s hospitals in Fort Myers and St. Petersburg and raises money for water quality initiatives through the sale of specialty cocktails. Since 2012, the annual “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised over $1.57 million for conservation and water-quality research at Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The 14th annual tournament is May 15, 2026.
Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Sanibel restaurant was voted best seafood restaurant and best family dining during the 2025 Best of The Islands awards.
Owned and operated by HM Restaurant Group, Doc Ford’s offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Beloved for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatán shrimp served daily, the restaurant is highly regarded by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant. Doc Ford’s is a perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner. The St. Petersburg Pier location was named the nation’s No. 1 restaurant for Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
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