The 36th annual Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade is set for 6-9 p.m. Dec. 7.
Holiday season begins with packed schedule of events
This is one of the most beautiful times of the year to be a part of the Fort Myers area. Every neighborhood, attraction and accommodation sparkles with the joy that the season brings. Get your calendar out now and begin planning so you don’t miss our traditional events and a few new ones.
Lee County Parks & Recreation holiday events Cocoa with Claus, North Fort Myers Recreation Center, North Fort Myers 6-8 p.m., Dec. 13 Celebrate with Mr. Claus and his crew with cookie decorating, hot cocoa and a photo. Free.
Holiday Express Train, Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 6.- 9 p.m., Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13 through Dec. 30 Ride on the Holiday Express as the Train Village route transforms into a dazzling display of holiday decorations and lighting. Free for ages 1-5 and $6 for ages 6 and up. Closed Christmas Day. leeparks.org/lakespark
Winter Wonderland, Veterans Park, Lehigh Acres 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Dec. 14 Holiday crafts, letters to Santa, photo booths, reindeer games and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos. Each child will receive a gift. Hot chocolate, cookie treats and a tree lighting will end the celebration. Admission is $5 per child ages 1-11. Pre-register at leeparks.org/register.
Events throughout Lee County Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers Main Theatre: “A Christmas Carol, the Musical,” through Dec. 25 Off Broadway Palm: “Another Night Before Christmas,” through Dec. 25 Children’s Theatre: “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” Dec. 3-24 broadwaypalm.com
49th Annual Holiday Nights Celebration, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers Through Dec. 23, Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2025 edisonfordwinterestates.org
Holiday House Christmas Stroll, downtown Fort Myers “Christmas Stories through the Eyes of a Child” Continuing through Dec. 31 fmwcc.net/house
Holiday in the Park, downtown Bonita Springs Dec. 3 cityofbonitasprings.org
Festival of Trees, downtown Fort Myers Dec. 5-8 Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center fortmyersfestivaloftrees.com
Holiday Luminary Stroll on Sanibel and Captiva islands Dec. 6-7 Sanibel (Dec. 6) and Captiva (Dec. 7) islands 13-month celebration of Sanibel’s 50th anniversary sanibel-captiva.org/50th-anniversary
Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 7 Check website for viewing locations fortmyersbeach.org/events/christmas-boat-parade-2024
Boca Grande Christmas Tree Lighting Dec. 8 bocagrandewomansclub.org/events/boca-grande-annual-christmas-tree-lighting
Southwest Florida Symphony Holiday Pops program Dec. 9 at Shell Point’s Tribby Arts Center, Fort Myers Dec. 11 at Faith Presbyterian Church, Cape Coral swflso.org/concerts
Arts Bonita, Nashville Christmas: The Ultimate Holiday Concert, Bonita Springs Dec. 12 Performing Arts Center, Moe Auditorium & Film Center, Bonita Springs artsbonita.org/single-event/nashville-christmas-martin
Bonita Springs Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 14 Baywater Boat Club tinyurl.com/bonitaboat
Cape Coral Holiday Boat-a-Long and Christmas Movie Dec. 21 Four Freedoms Park tinyurl.com/capecoralboatalong
Santa’s Dolphin and Wildlife and Christmas Eve Sunset Cruise Adventures in Paradise Dec. 24 (check times) adventureinparadiseinc.com/cruises/holiday-cruises
Support local As you work to finish your holiday shopping list, please remember to shop local. Visiting our shops, attractions and restaurants, along with supporting our artists and their galleries, offers lots of unique gift ideas. It makes us all part of the growth of our community and enriches our unique neighborhoods. Maybe a gift card to a favorite restaurant, tickets to a local theatre or a favorite shop or a membership for a museum or an attraction.
From all of us here at the VCB, we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and thank you for all you do to make our destination a very special place.
|