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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