What To Do the week of Jan. 2-8, 2023

Each Monday, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) lets you know What To Do in Fort Myers and surrounding neighborhoods.

Let us know: Events, along with high-res images, can be submitted for consideration by emailing Miriam Dotson, VCB communications manager. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday before the week of publication. Thank you!

Industry partners: Please be advised the QR code flyer below has been updated and will need to be reprinted for your display.

Monday, Jan. 2

Special Start Combo Class, Shangri-La Springs, Bonita Springs
Start the new year with a combination of JourneyDance and Yoga in the beautiful outdoor Shangri-La Springs surroundings. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday. $20 suggested donation. Shangri-La Springs, 27750 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, 239-949-0749, shangrilasprings.com

Tuesday, Jan. 3

Citizen Science-Gopher Tortoises, Koreshan State Park, Estero
An advanced Florida master naturalist will talk about gopher tortoises and how you can help with monitoring their burrows. 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Free with paid park entry. Koreshan State Park, 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero, reservations can be made at eventbrite.com

Wednesday, Jan. 4

Refuge Cleanup, J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island
Join a refuge ranger and work together to clean up debris left behind from Hurricane Ian. This event is part of the refuge's Wellness Wednesday as you will talk about the benefits of being active and spending time in nature. The refuge will provide gloves, bags and grabbers. 9 a.m.-noon. Wednesday. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, 239-218-9270, eventbrite.com

Thursday, Jan. 5 - Sunday, Jan. 8

Fort Myers Boat Show, Centennial Park/Caloosa Sound Convention Center, Downtown Fort Myers
The 50th annual Fort Myers Boat Show returns! Set along the Caloosahatchee River, exhibits wind along the river, through Centennial Park and the Caloosa Sound Convention Center. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $18, Entrance at Bay and Heitman streets, Fort Myers, goboatingflorida.com

Friday, Jan. 6

Art Walk, Downtown Fort Myers
The River District comes alive on the first Friday of the month. Streets are lined with works by local and regional artists. 6-10 p.m. Friday. River District Alliance, 2247 First St., Fort Myers, 239-313-5129, myriverdistrict.com

Saturday, Jan. 7

Redefining Autism Speaker Series, Christ Community Church, Fort Myers 
Family Initiative continues its "Redefining Autism" speaker series with a presentation by renowned autism activist, Dr. Temple Grandin. 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Registration not required. Christ Community Church, 40500 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, fi-florida.org

Saturday, Jan. 7

Downtown Landmarks Walking Tour, Liles Hotel History Center, Bonita Springs 
Walk through historic downtown with your local guides and listen to the stories of early Bonita Springs. Sites include the Imperial River, Riverside Park, the Historical Society's 1915 McSwain home and more. Total walk distance is about 1 mile and tour duration is two hours. 10 a.m. Saturday. $25. Meet at the Liles Hotel in Riverside Park, 27300 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, 239-992-6997, bonitaspringshistoricalsociety.org

Sunday, Jan. 8

Community Concerts: New York Philharmonic Quartet, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Fort Myers
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association presents the New York Philharmonic Quartet with Drew Peterson. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Ticket prices vary. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com

Ongoing events

ECHO Global Farm Tours, North Fort Myers
Experience farming and gardening at its most creative, with unique demonstrations, plants and techniques being used to help farming families around the world. ECHO is also home to one of the largest collections of tropical food plants in the U.S. Guided walking tours are 90 minutes, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. ECHO Global Farm, 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers, 239-543-3246, echonet.org

Butterfly House tours, Monday, Friday and Saturday, Cape Coral
The Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House is home to many native Florida butterfly species, including the zebra longwing, the state butterfly. Guides explain the different butterflies, their caterpillars and host plants. Donations are accepted. 10:30 a.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday. Rotary Park, 1340-1372 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral, 239-549-4606, ccfriendsofwildlife.org/tom-allen-memorial-butterfly-garden

True Tours, River District History Tours, Fort Myers
This Fort Myers walking tour educates and entertains with narratives of local history and acquaints you with the colorful personalities of founders of Fort Myers. Tour at 10:30 a.m. each first and third Saturday of the month.True Tours, 2200 First St., Fort Myers, 239-945-0405, truetours.net

Performing arts and exhibits

Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers

• Mosaic Mania, Jan. 3
• Exhibit: Changing Direction - National Association of Women Artists, Jan. 3-26
• Citrus Circus: Into the Fruit Bowl, Jan. 7

Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-939-2787, artinlee.org

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers

• "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Jan. 6-Feb.11

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-278-4422, broadwaypalm.com 

Centers for the Arts, Bonita Springs

• Demonstration: Daily Painting, Embrace the Practice, Jan. 3
• Open Mic Bonita, Jan. 5
• Odyssey Road: A Tribute to Journey, Jan. 6

Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, 239-495-8989, artcenterbonita.org/performances

Cultural Park Theater, Cape Coral

• "Atlantic City Blues Brothers Tribute," Jan. 6-8

Cultural Park Theater, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral, 239-772-5862, culturalparktheater.com

Florida Rep, downtown Fort Myers

• "Freud's Last Session," through Jan. 15

Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., Fort Myers, 239-332-4488, floridarep.org

Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Fort Myers

• "Two for Flinchin,' " through March 26
• New Year's Eve Gala, Dec. 31

Murder Mystery Dinner Train, 2805 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-275-8487, semgulf.com

Players Circle Theater, North Fort Myers

• "Admissions," through Jan. 22

Players Circle Theater at the Shell Factory, 16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers, 239-800-3292, playerscircletheater.com

Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, downtown Fort Myers

• Latin dance with Angela, Jan. 4
• Exhibit: Paint Slinger, Jan. 6-25
• Exhibit: shhh ... quiet, Jan. 6-25
• Outdoor concert: The Big Bad Wolves, Jan. 6

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers, 239-333-1933, sbdac.com

The Laboratory Theater of Florida, downtown Fort Myers

• "Sistas: The Musical," through Jan. 14

The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., Fort Myers, 239-218-0481, laboratorytheaterflorida.com

Podcasts

Shellcast, the award-winning podcast of the Lee County VCB

Listen in, soak up some virtual sun and hear what makes Southwest Florida so special. Shellcast is available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded and at VisitFortMyers.com/shellcast

The Sanibel Captiva Guide Podcast

Sanibel residents Nick and Lori Adams, and son Max, interview the people who make Sanibel and Captiva special. They celebrate the history and experiences of the islands. thesancapguide.com/category/podcast

Otocast audio guide features Fort Myers historic sites

Available in the App Store and Google Play, Otocast features a tour of more than 30 historic sites in Fort Myers. otocast.com