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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2023
CONTACTS: Ray Sarracino, Jackie Parker, Miriam Dotson 239-338-3500
What’s New from Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods
LEE COUNTY, Florida (U.S.A.) – The calendar is filled with holiday events, a new golf course opens in Bonita Springs and Margaritaville Beach Resort welcomes guests to Fort Myers Beach this month.
Holiday events
Florida Repertory Theatre, downtown Fort Myers
“A Sherlock Carol” at the historic Arcade Theatre
Through Dec. 17
floridarep.org/show/a-sherlock-carol
Broadway Palm holiday shows, Fort Myers
Main theatre through Dec. 25: “Elf, the Musical”
Off-Broadway Palm Dec. 23-Dec. 25: “A Doublewide Texas Christmas”
broadwaypalm.com
48th annual Historic Holiday Nights Celebration
Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
Through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26-31
edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/48th-annual-historic-holiday-nights-celebration
“I’ll be Home for Christmas” Stroll 20 holiday windows in downtown Fort Myers
First Street
Through Jan. 2
explorefortmyers.com
Lee County Black History Society 11th annual Holiday in the Park, Fort Myers
Dec. 1 Movie in the Park
Dec. 2 Holiday in the Park
Roberto Clemente Park, 1936 Henderson Ave., Fort Myers
leecountyblackhistorysociety.org/events
Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade
6 p.m. Dec. 2
Leaves from Salty Sam’s Marina, Fort Myers Beach
fortmyersbeach.org/events/christmas-boat-parade
Wine and Wonder Uncorked at Wonder Gardens, Bonita Springs
5:30 p.m. Dec. 2
Stroll and wine tasting in the gardens.
wondergardens.org/wine
Festival of Trees, downtown Fort Myers
Through Dec. 3
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
fortmyersfestivaloftrees.com
Deck the Halls, Gulf Coast Symphony, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Fort Myers
7 p.m. Dec. 3
bbmannpah.com/events/detail/deck-the-halls-1
Holiday in the Park, downtown Bonita Springs
4:30-8:30 Dec. 5
cityofbonitasprings.org/news/what_s_new/holiday_in_the_park_2023
Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club annual Christmas Tree Festival
Fort Myers Beach Library
Dec. 8-9
fmb-wc.org
Bonita Springs Christmas Boat Parade
5:30 p.m. Dec. 9
Beginning at BayWater Boat Club
bonitaspringshistory.org/happenings/bonita-springs-christmas-boat-parade
Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Holiday Pops with guest artist Andrew Lipke
7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Fort Myers High School; 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs; 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Village Church in Shell Point.
swflso.org
Breakfast and photos with Santa at the Shell Factory, North Fort Myers
9-11 a.m. Dec. 10: pancake breakfast with Santa at Tommy’s Eats & Spirits. Reservations: 239-995-2141
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 11, 17, 23: photos with Santa in the Christmas House. Bring your camera.
shellfactory.com
“The Nutcracker,” Gulfshore Ballet, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Fort Myers
Presented by Gulfshore Symphony
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16
bbmannpah.com/events/detail/nutcracker-with-gulfshore-ballet
Cape Coral Boat-A-Long and holiday fun
4-9 p.m. Dec. 16, at Four Freedoms Park, Cape Coral
tinyurl.com/4upxmdyz
Santa’s Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise with Adventures in Paradise
9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Dec. 24
adventureinparadiseinc.com/cruises/holiday-cruises
Celebrate the New Year: Downtown Fort Myers Countdown
6 p.m. until after midnight Dec. 31
Ball drop, fireworks and entertainment
explorefortmyers.com
Downtown Cape Coral New Year’s Eve Celebration
6 p.m. until after midnight Dec. 31
Fireworks, entertainment, ball drop
capeconcerts.com/copy-of-concert-series-1
Accommodations news
Margaritaville Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach opens this month
With swaying palm trees, pristine sandy beaches and a relaxed, island atmosphere, the 254-room Margaritaville Beach Resort is taking reservations for stays this month. Guests arriving in time for the holidays will be among the first to explore the beauty of this beachfront resort.
The resort sits on 7.25 acres along Fort Myers Beach with direct beach access and views of the Gulf of Mexico. The property includes six restaurants as well as the 43,000-square-foot Sunset Terrace that are open to the public. For reservations and details: margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-beach-resort-fort-myers-beach
Hampton Inn Fort Myers Downtown is accepting reservations for arrivals beginning Jan. 11, 2024. hilton.com/en/hotels/rswfrhx-hampton-inn-fort-myers-downtown
Latest update: 73.3 % of the guest rooms (10,423) in Lee County have opened with more to come in the weeks and months ahead.
Golf news
Saltleaf Golf Preserve opens in Bonita Springs
Saltleaf Golf Preserve, the 18-hole renovated course, previously known as Raptor Bay Golf Club, has opened to golfers. The $25 million renovation is part of London Bay Development Group’s project near the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs.
On what was formerly Raptor Bay’s 55-acre back nine, Naples-based London Bay is building two 22-story condominiums buildings, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay and Saltleaf Marina.
Raymond Floyd, a four-time major winner on the PGA Tour and golf course designer, came out of retirement to redesign the course he built 22 years ago. The length of the course grew from 6,400 yards to 7,075 and from par 71 to 72. The course has seven tee boxes, creating different lengths for each hole. Saltleaf took hole No. 10 from Raptor Bay and turned it into a nine-hole short course where the dress code is casual the course is fun. Both courses are open to the public. saltleafgolf.com
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) news
New air service at RSW
Lynx Air:
Toronto (YYZ), weekly, starting Dec. 1
Spirit Airlines
Nashville (BNA), weekly, starting Dec. 4
San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), four flights per week starting Dec. 15
JetBlue Airways:
Worcester (ORH), weekly starting Jan. 4, 2024.
For more information, visit flyrsw.com
Attractions news
Sun Saver Passport: Dine, Play, Shop, Sip
This popular, digital savings pass provides instant access to a variety of deals and experiences from area attractions, restaurants and more across four categories – Dine, Play, Shop and Sip. Sign-up is simple and free. Passports are instantly delivered to phones via text and email. And there is an option for users to save the pass on their home screen for one-tap access. Sign up now to start saving. visitfortmyers.com/sun-saver-passport
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel Island
Visitors to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum will soon notice a new name and logo adorning the longstanding Sanibel Island attraction. In advance of its early 2024 reopening the Museum has announced a renaming to The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium. The change reflects reinstallation of its permanent exhibit spaces including the Living Gallery of aquariums and marine life and the shell exhibits of The Great Hall of Shells.
Restaurants/dining news
Fort Myers Brewing Company plans its annual Winterfest celebration Dec. 14-17. The event features four days of beer releases, food trucks, live music, a holiday night market featuring local handcrafted items, and a festive Movie in the Parking Lot screening of “The Grinch.” Its popular Keg Nog will be on tap along with a holiday-inspired imperial stout. Photos with Santa and the Grinch for attendees and their furry friends. FMBrew.com
Annual festivals and events
Sunrise Shell and Mollusk Stroll, Sanibel Island
Lighthouse Beach
Dec. 14, 2023, Jan. 26, Feb. 8 and March 10, 2024
With a marine biologist from the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
shellmuseum.org/sunrise-stroll
Clyde Butcher’s America’s Everglades Exhibit
Through Dec. 29
Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs
artcenterbonita.org/exhibitions
Daydreaming: Niki Butcher exhibit
Dec. 21-Feb. 25, 2024
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Refuge Center
clydebutcher.com/niki-photographs
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Distinguished Authors
Bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver
Jan. 11, 2024
Community House, Sanibel Island
dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/events
39th Annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, Cape Coral
Jan. 13-14, 2024
capecoralartfestival.com
Bonita Springs National Art Festival
Jan. 13-14, Feb. 10-11, March 2-3, 2024
artcenterbonita.org/artfest
Bacon Jam
Jan. 13, 2024
Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, downtown Fort Myers
bscevent.com/bacon-jam-fort-myers
"Ding" Darling Lecture Series, Sanibel Island
Jan.18 and 25, Feb. 1, March 7, 14 and 21, 2024
dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/lecture-series
Wellness in Nature at “Ding” Darling, Sanibel Island
Jan.18-21, 2024
dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/wellness
39th Annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, Cape Coral
Jan. 13-14, 2024
capecoralfestival.com
ArtFest Fort Myers, Downtown River District
Feb. 2-4, 2024
artfestfortmyers.com
21st annual Burrowing Owl Festival, Cape Coral
Feb. 24, 2024
Rotary Park
ccfriendsofwildlife.org/burrowing-owl-festival-2
Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, Fort Myers
Feb. 17, 2024
edisonfestival.org
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Distinguished Authors
Bestselling author, Carl Hiaasen
Feb. 29, 2024
Community House, Sanibel Island
dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/events
“Ding” Wild Days of Wellness
March 23-24, 2024
dingwellness.com
Spring training
Boston Red Sox
Feb. 23-March 26, 2024
mlb.com/redsox/schedule/2024-02
JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
Minnesota Twins
Feb. 23-March 26, 2024
mlb.com/twins/schedule/2024-02
Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
25th Annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Fort Myers
March 2, 2024
Fort Myers Regional Library, downtown Fort Myers
readfest.org
87th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival, Sanibel Island
March 7-9, 2024
Community House
sanibelcommunityhouse.net/event/87th-annual-sanibel-shell-festival/2024-03-08
Sanibel Shell Show, Fort Myers
March 8-9
Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort
sanibelshellclub.com/6306-2
ECHO Global Food and Farm Festival, North Fort Myers
March 12-16, 2024
echonet.org/events/global-food-and-towardwardl
Sounds of the Sand, Bell Tower, Fort Myers
March 23-23, 2024
To support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Refuge education efforts
dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/sounds-of-the-sand
34th Annual “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival
April 20, 2024
dingdarlingday.com
14th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival
May 22-26, 2024
fortmyersfilmfestival.com
12th Annual “Ding” Darling and Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament
May 10, 2024
dingdarlingtarpontourney.com
Fringe Fort Myers
June 6-9, 2024
artinlee.org/experience/fringe
National Seashell Day
June 21, 2024
visitfortmyers.com/national-seashell-day
MangoMania
July 2024
Pine Island
pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/mangomania
FITMIX FEST, downtown Fort Myers
Sept. 27-29, 2024
fitmixfest.com
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Sept. 20-29, 2024
island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge “Art in the Wild”
October 2024
dingartinthewild.com
Cape Coral Oktoberfest
October 2024
capecoraloktoberfest.com
Sanibel Island Writers Conference
November 2024
fgcu.edu/siwc
Holiday Luminary and kick-off to Sanibel Island 50th anniversary
Dec. 6-7, 2024
Sanibel and Captiva Islands
13-month celebration of Sanibel’s 50th anniversary
sanibel-island.sanibel-captiva.org
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods includes: Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Matlacha, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, North Fort Myers, Alva, Buckingham and Lehigh Acres. For more information, go to visitfortmyers.com..
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