Singers to Vie to Become 2011 Brandon Idol: VIDEO

Organizer Dave Loebig of Seffner calls it "the most fun Brandon has all year."

To experience "the fun," residents are invited to attend the 10th annual Brandon Idol contest set for Saturday, April 30, where area vocalists will  vie to become Brandon's next idol.

"It's a bunch of fun. It's a bunch of great singers. And it's a bunch of great entertainment for charity," said Loebig. 

The contest takes place at the Brandon Elks Lodge, 800 Centennial Lodge Drive, off State Road 60 in Brandon. For the past two months, Brandon Idol hopefuls have been auditioning at various venues around Brandon. The result of those auditions, said Loebig, is an all-star lineup of local talent who will perform before a panel of judges Saturday night in the hopes of winning the grand prize of $500, the first time a cash prize has been awarded. 

The public can vote for the People's Choice award winner during the event, which will feature a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres and the comedy of Brandon Idol emcee Robert Horning.

This year's event will include return visits from past years' winners.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Brandon Family YMCA on Kingsway Road to help the YMCA offer financial assistance for children to attend summer day camp.

Tickets for the event are $30 and can be purchased at the Brandon Family YMCA, 3097 S. Kingsway Road, Seffner; Drug Screen Solutions, 220 W. Brandon Blvd., Suite 106, Brandon; and the Clubhouse Sports Cafe, 1265 Kingsway Road, Brandon. Group tables of eight are available for $250. Tables with front-row seating are $300. To reserve a table, visit http://momentumfestival.com/.

The Brandon Idol Contest was started in 2001 as a fundraiser for honorary mayor of Brandon candidate Arlene Waldron. 

Since then, it's expanded to include a Brandon Teen Idol contest, which this year will take place Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m. at the Brandon Elks Lodge. Tickets are $15 each for that event or $5 for anyone under 18 years of age. Reserved tables of eight are $125 each, or $175 for a premium table.

During the contest, Brandon area youth will compete to become the best teen singer in Brandon.  Teens will compete in two categories: a junior category for ages 10 to 13 and a senior category for ages 14 to 17.

In addition, organizers will host the second annual Mo Fest Brew Fest Sunday, May 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at Bootleggers Beer and Wine Home Brewing Supplies, 650 Oakfield Drive, Brandon. There will be five brewers demonstrating beer brewing as well as sampling of homemade wine and beer with a suggested donation of $5, with all proceeds going to the Brandon Family YMCA send-a-kid-to-camp campaign. Residents will learn how to pair food with wine and beer and will receive 10 percent off sales at Bootleggers. 

Beer brewed on May 1 will be used at a charity fundraiser six weeks later at O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Brandon.

Sponsors for the Idol contests and Mo Fest Brew Fest include Drug Screen Solutions, NowShopTheWorld.com, Pacesetter Media, the Law Offices of Laurie E. Ohall, Kevin D. Worbel, CPA, Osprey Observer, Carmichael Grafix, Bootleggers, Extravaganza Productions Inc., Magruder Agency Inc., Cards & Stuff, Home Helpers, Direct Link, Sam Ash Music Stores, Planet Smoothie, Marco's Pizza and The Clubhouse Sports Cafe.