Local businesses were invited by the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce to “ignite” their establishments during the blistering summer months at the annual August Grill Out Night. The theme this year – Eat Around the World – was embraced by each of the 23 participants, who offered visitors assorted refreshments, activities, giveaways and specials.

The first stop for most of the estimated 800 people who attended was the Pelican Porch Visitors Center at the Sebastian Chamber office, to pick up a map of the participating businesses and what they were offering.

The chamber itself was a hubbub of activity inside and out, hosting 14 participants whose businesses were located too far away for people to comfortably walk.

At the front of the building, Nicholas Sanzone, SRACC tourism director, was busy grilling sausage and peppers to serve up to the hungry crowd.

Among the inside participants were members of the Vero Beach Art Club who offered assorted “food art” from various countries.

“We’re doing a lot more things because it’s the 90th anniversary of the club and Under the Oaks is turning 75 this year,” said Michelle Nevaeh, VBAC board president.

The Sebastian Police Department was one of several participants located in the chamber’s parking area, once again bringing along its C.O.P.E. (Community Oriented Policing Endeavor) Unit to dispense popcorn and snow cones, which were much appreciated in the heat.

“I think what worked well this year were the stickers. Those got people to go to all the locations,” said Sanzone. “It was a new thing we tried this year.”

He explained that at each site, representatives would confirm visits by affixing a stamp or sticker to the listing of the participants, what he called bingo cards. Once completed, they were submitted for entry into a raffle for a basket containing approximately $150 worth of items from businesses and the chamber itself.

“We had 66 people turn in their completed card. That’s 66 people who went through every location,” said Sanzone, adding that a woman from the Sebastian Lions Club won the raffle.

He said the businesses always appreciate the event as a way to meet face to face with people they might not regularly interact with or who may not ever have visited their location.

For example, he said, Miso Ramen & Poke Bar is a newer member and had never participated in Grill Out Night before.

“They gave it a shot and kind of got their feet wet a little bit. They were able to meet people that might not have been to their location before. The same is true for Spirit of Sebastian. They did a really great job promoting it, getting people out there, and really making it a lot of fun,” said Sanzone.

He was referencing the new sustainable living “Agrihood Community” being developed that went all out, enticing folks to their Heritage Hall for a rustic Florida Cracker style evening, complete with axe throwing, moonshine punch, refreshments and live music.

“People that might not have driven by there, saw it on the map and went to check it out. It’s a really beautiful community. And that’s one of the goals and commitments; to get people to see where these businesses are, visit them and then have a nice memory of it,” said Sanzone.

Looking forward, he said there are some interesting things on the horizon for the area serviced by the chamber, which includes Sebastian, Wabasso, Fellsmere and unincorporated areas of North Indian River County, as well as the South Brevard cities of Grant, Micco and Little Hollywood.

“There’s a surf park that they’re building in Fellsmere that we’re looking forward to. As a surfer, it’s pretty cool. We’re just seeing great community support for all the things that have been going on,” he said.

He noted that based on the county’s ‘heads on beds’ metric of visitors, they recently experienced one of the best years ever in terms of tourism in the area.

“The lagoon is looking as good as or better than it has in many years because of all the revitalization. So the combination of a healthy lagoon and a beautiful area to visit, and people are really excited to get out on the water and enjoy our little slice of paradise,” said Sanzone.

The Sebastian Chamber’s next big event is the Denim & Diamonds themed Lifestyle & Media Auction Round Up, 6 p.m. Sept. 18, at Capt. Hiram’s Resort Tiffany Room. For more information, visit SebastianChamber.com.