What To Do the week of March 13-19, 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!

Spring Training Schedule

Boston Red Sox home games at JetBlue Fenway South
Wednesday, March 15 – vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Friday, March 17 – vs. Atlanta Braves
Saturday, March 18 – vs. Baltimore Orioles

1:05 p.m. start time. JetBlue Fenway South, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, mlb.com/redsox/schedule

Minnesota Twins home games at Lee County Sports Complex / Hammond Stadium

Monday, March 13 – vs. New York Yankees
Tuesday, March 14 – vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 
Thursday, March 16 – vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Friday, March 17 – vs. Baltimore Orioles
Sunday, March 19 - vs. Atlanta Braves

1:05 p.m. start time. Lee County Sports Complex / Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, mlb.com/twins/schedule

Monday, March 13

Lecture and Lunch with author B. A. Shapiro, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers
Enjoy a lunch, lecture and book signing with bestselling author B.A. Shapiro. Her initial works were published as Barbara Shapiro and include, "Metropolis," "The Collector's Apprentice" and "The Muralist." Noon-2 p.m. Monday. $45 general admission, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers, 239-333-1933, sbdac.com

Tuesday, March 14

Songwriters on the Plaza, Fort Myers Regional Library, Fort Myers
David Hintz, Robert Bidney and Bob Williams take the outdoor stage in this concert series featuring original music by local artists. The Fort Myers Regional Library has joined with the Americana Community Music Association to provide free monthly concerts. 6 p.m. Tuesday. Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers, 239-691-4069, americanacma.org

Wednesday, March 15

Planetarium Premiere, Calusa Nature Center, Fort Myers
Experience an early viewing of the planetarium show, "Impact! Encounters with Comets, Meteors and Asteroids." 7 p.m. Wednesday. $15. Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers, calusanature.org

Thursday, March 16

St. Patty's Cornhole Tournament, Scotty's Bierwerks, Cape Coral
Wear your green for this St. Patrick's Day themed cornhole tournament. Bring your team of 2 or just watch the fun with drinks and food trucks. 5-8 p.m. Thursday. Free. Scotty's Bierworks, 901 East Industrial Circle, Cape Coral, 239-888-5482, eventbrite.com

Friday, March 17

St. Patrick's Day Block Party, Downtown Fort Myers
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in historic downtown Fort Myers with featured musicians, food and drink specials from various businesses, shops and a full day of festivities. 2-8 p.m. Friday. Downtown Fort Myers, First St., Fort Myers, myriverdistrict.com

Saturday, March 18

Gator Fest, Southern Fresh Farms, Fort Myers
Enjoy gator exhibits, food, vegetable market, drinks and a hay bale throwing contest. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Southern Fresh Farms, 8500 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-633-7705, southernfreshfarms.com

Saturday, March 18

Sunset Celebration Concert, Times Square, Fort Myers Beach
Enjoy the sunset on Fort Myers Beach while listening to local musicians. Food, drinks and vendors will also be available. 5-8 p.m. Saturday. Times Square, 830 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach,  facebook.com/beachtalkradio

Saturday, March 18 - Sunday, March 19

Women's Inshore Fishing Class & Seminar, Bass Pro Shops, Fort Myers
Learn how to fish for inshore species plus practice hands-on fishing skills. Hear from experienced captains, try knot tying, casting and more. No equipment necessary. Registration required. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $89, Bass Pro Shops, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers, ladiesletsgofishing.com

Sunday, March 19

Bonita Springs Concert Band, Riverside Park, Bonita Springs
Bring your friends and family to this outdoor concert featuring guest vocalist Heather Ivy. The Bonita Springs Concert Band performs a mix of classical, pop, jazz and more. 2 p.m. Sunday. Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs, The concert will be livestreamed at facebook.com/bonitaspringsconcertband

Ongoing events

Adventures in Paradise Cruises and Tours, Fort Myers
Enjoy nightly sunset dolphin and wildlife cruises narrated by a marine biologist. Watch dolphins play and spot various species of birds as you cruise the waters of San Carlos Bay. Sunset cruise is 90 minutes, 5 p.m. nightly. Adventures in Paradise, 14341 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers, 239-472-8443, adventuresinparadiseinc.com

Lakes Park Miniature Train, Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers
Celebrate the reopening of Lakes Regional Park following Hurricane Ian. The park offers biking and walking trails, a children's garden, paddle boats, sand volleyball courts and daily miniature train rides at the Railroad Museum of Southwest Florida. $5 ages 6 and older. Train rides offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. daily; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends; park hours 7 a.m.-dusk. Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, 239-267-1905, leeparks.org

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

Guided Walks, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers
This preserve is over 3,500 acres of wetland ecosystem with a boardwalk trail, butterfly garden and interpretive center. The fully accessible boardwalk is elevated and 1.2 miles long with five observation decks. Guided walks along the boardwalk are offered daily at 9:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Total guided walk is 3/4 of a mile and takes about 45 minutes. Registration opens 30 minutes prior to the walk at the boardwalk entrance. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-533-7555, leegov.com

Yoga at the Westin, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, Cape Coral
Release tension, stretch the body and relax the mind with waterfront views. 8-9 a.m. Saturdays. $10, proceeds benefit the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, 5951 Silver King Blvd., Cape Coral, marriot.com/thewestincapecoralresortatmarinavillage

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. Haunted History tour available Wednesday and Saturday at 8 p.m. True Tours, 2200 First St., Fort Myers, 239-945-0405, truetours.net

Performing arts and exhibits

Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers

• Beginner Bonsai Workshop, March 14
• Brushes and Brews - A Bob Ross Style Tribute to Ireland, March 16
• Performance: The Hatmaker's Wife, March 16-18
• The Art of Qigong Exercise, March 17
• Songwriters in the Round with Charlie McCoy, Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield, March 19

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

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers

• "The Golf Comic," March 18-19
• "Doublewide Texas," through April 9
• "Jersey Boys," through April 9

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

Centers for the Arts, Bonita Springs

• Film for Film Lovers: "Die Unbeugsamen," March 13
• Lunch & Lecture: The Art of Travel, March 15
• Bruce in the USA, March 17

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

Gulf Coast Symphony, Fort Myers

• "Gypsy," through March 17-18

Gulf Coast Symphony, 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers, 239-277-1700, gulfcoastsymphony.org

IMAG History & Science Center, Fort Myers

• King Tut Exhibit, through March 31

IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, 239-243-0043, theimag.org

Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Fort Myers

• "Two for Flinchin'," through March 26

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

Players Circle Theater, North Fort Myers

• "The Cocktail Hour," March 14-April 2

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

• Wine & Paint, March 15
• Art and Poetry, March 16
• Exhibit: Her Story, through March 24
• Exhibit: Salvaged Sunshine, through March 24

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

The Belle Theatre, Cape Coral

• "Next to Normal," through March 19

The Belle Theatre, 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd. Unit 135, Cape Coral, 239-323-5533, thebelletheatre.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