FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2024 CONTACTS: Ray Sarracino, Jackie Parker, Miriam Dotson 239-338-3500
What’s New from Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods Dazzling holiday events welcome visitors
LEE COUNTY, Florida (U.S.A.) – It’s one of the most beautiful times of year to visit the Fort Myers area. Every neighborhood, attraction and accommodation sparkles with the joy that the season brings. A packed schedule of holiday events is waiting!
Holiday events Note: Please confirm all events as changes are possible
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 Now 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” Stroll past decorated windows of First Street now through Dec. 31 fmwcc.net/house
Bonita Springs Holiday Stroll Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 2025 Riverside Park cityofbonitasprings.org
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
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
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
Burroughs Home Holiday Festival, downtown Fort Myers Noon-6 p.m., Dec. 21 Fort Myers historic home is decorated in its holiday finest with tours, food trucks, Santa and activities. Admission to home is free. Visit facebook.com/burroughshome.fortmyers for details and listings for self-guided and docent-guided tours this month.
Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Christmas Eve Express, Fort Myers Dec. 23-24 semgulf.com/events
Plan ahead Wellness in Nature at “Ding” Save the dates for a four-day weekend focusing on the get-outdoors nature cure. Wellness in Nature at “Ding” at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island Jan. 23 through 26.
The free event kicks off on Jan. 23, with keynote lecturer Aimee Copeland of Atlanta who will talk about her personal story and her foundation focused on the importance of accessible recreation spaces and opportunities. On Jan. 25, a Wellness in Nature Fest including open-air live music, eco-creation stations, yoga, refreshments and other mind-body activities. Jan. 26 will include Walk for Wellness: Learn the Basics of Energy Medicine.
The refuge has hosted Wellness in Nature events for three years, starting in 2021 with the unveiling of the self-guided Mindfulness Trail at the Bailey Tract, the first of its kind in the nearly 570 national wildlife refuges across the U.S. Activities are planned with the purpose of getting people outdoors to better their health and well-being. dingwellness.com
The Savannah Bananas are coming The Savannah Bananas are headed to Southwest Florida. Lee County has been selected to host the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour at JetBlue Park, Feb. 14-16, with two night games and one day game.
The Savannah Bananas are known for their unique, family-affordable brand of baseball and fun. Tickets to their games are considered some of the hardest to get in sports and there is often a waiting list to purchase them. Tickets are a flat rate of $35 each and free for “little bananas” ages 3 and under. Check out details and ticket information along with a form to sign up for the ticket lottery list at thesavannahbananas.com
Accommodations news New accommodations open TownePlace Suites by Marriott Fort Myers Gulf Coast, has opened a 126-suite property at I-75 and the Alico exit. marriott.com/en-us/hotels/rswsp-towneplace-suites-fort-myers-gulf-coast/overview
Comfort Suites/Mainstay Extended Stay in Fort Myers has recently opened off I-75 on Luckett Road. choicehotels.com/florida/fort-myers/mainstay-hotels
The Gasparilla Inn on Boca Grande is scheduled to reopen on Dec. 12. https://the-gasparilla-inn.com
Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel Island is currently accepting reservations for stays beginning this winter. Daycation resort passes are available for a limited time. Turtles Tiki Bar, Shima Sushi Bar and Sea Breeze Bar are open. Visit sundialresort.com/play/sundial-daycation for the latest details and reservations information.
Glamping at Koreshan State Park in Estero It’s camping that everyone can enjoy in air-conditioned tents at this state park along the Estero River. Explore the Koreshan Unity Settlement. Kayak, canoe, paddle board. And dogs are welcome. ftmyers.tlglamping.com
Attractions news Wildlife Drive reopens at J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island Along with the reopening, Tarpon Bay Explorers announces that bike rentals and tram tours have returned as options for exploring the drive. tarponbayexplorers.com
Manatee Park offers free Sunday garden tours, Fort Myers Manatee Park, a seasonal location for viewing non-captive Florida manatees, offers visitors a peak at these gentle creatures. When the manatees visit the park in search of warm water during the cooler days in winter (December through March), they are attracted by the warm water from the nearby Florida Power and Light Power Plant that is created as a byproduct of cooling off its equipment.
Visitors may also enjoy a free garden tour of the Manatee Park butterfly garden and habitats at 9 a.m. every Sunday through March 2025. The tour includes walking the ADA accessible paths through the restored native plant habitats and butterfly gardens. A volunteer naturalist will lead the tour and participants will learn about the park’s history, its butterfly gardens and the native flora and fauna that reside in some of Florida’s habitats. The tour is free with paid parking. leegov.com/parks/parks/manateepark
Leoma Lovegrove Gallery opens, downtown Fort Myers Popular Matlacha artist, Leoma Lovegrove, has opened her new gallery and studio on Dean Street. Check details and plan a visit: leomalovegrove.store
Brightwater Lagoon opens in North Fort Myers The five acre, water attraction will have a soft opening now through the end of December. A floating obstacle course, waterslide and are more are part of the fun at this tropical oasis. Check details at metrolagoons.com/lagoon/brightwater
Sanibel Island’s newest resident: a giant Pacific octopus What has eight arms, three hearts and blue blood? And calls the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium its new home? The newest resident, a giant Pacific octopus, is a popular addition to the Sanibel Island museum. And he’s already feeling right at home.
Keeper Chats are presented daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. during which aquarists share fun facts about the octopuses and other marine life. Visit shellmuseum.org for information and make plans to visit the new star attraction.
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village opens The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open each Tuesday through Saturday and a special $10 adult admission available through Jan. 4, 2025.
Founded in 1984, the Village welcomes visitors during its 40th year of preserving, sharing, and celebrating Sanibel’s history. The tour experience includes an orientation video and historic buildings displaying numerous artifacts. The story of Sanibel Island is told from the Calusa and Spanish eras to the early pioneer families who settled on the island in the 1800s. Nine historic buildings were moved from their original sites and each has been restored. sanibelmuseum.org
Take a look around with area webcams: Check out what’s happening around the area with live webcam views. Zoom in to spot native butterfly species in Cape Coral. Do some birdwatching from an observation tower at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Explore botanical gardens and wildlife at Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs. Discover North Shore Park on the river’s edge in North Fort Myers and catch views of downtown Fort Myers and the Caloosahatchee Bridge. Find these and more with easy navigation instructions at visitfortmyers.com/webcams
And enjoy our recently added webcams at Fort Myers Beach Town Square, Sanibel Lighthouse Park, Lovers Key Discovery Center and Prairie Pines Preserve in North Fort Myers.
Visit six Florida state parks in Lee County. Each one is a treasure to explore. Gasparilla Island State Park, Boca Grande The centerpiece of Gasparilla is the restored Port Boca Grande Lighthouse built in 1890. It houses a museum that is open to the public. Swimming, snorkeling, fishing and viewing nature are popular activities along with shelling beautiful beaches. Beach wheelchairs are available. Details: visitfortmyers.com/beaches/gasparilla-island-state-park
Koreshan State Park, Estero The Koreshan Unity Settlement, a nationally registered historic district, offers an opportunity to learn about these interesting and idealistic pioneers. Guided tours are available throughout the year of the landscaped grounds and 11 restored buildings. Nature trails meander along the Estero River for fishing, boating, canoeing. The campground's 60 secluded sites have water, power hook-ups. Twelve sites by the Estero River are designated tent camping. ADA campsites are available. Glamping is available in luxury safari tents. Details: visitfortmyers.com/listing/koreshan-state-park/42037
Mound Key Archaeological State Park, Estero Native Americans known as the Calusa were a non-agricultural hunting and gathering chiefdom that dominated the waters of Southwest Florida. Located in Estero Bay, the park is accessible only by boat and there are no facilities. Interpretive displays along the trail crossing the island help visitors discover the history of the island. Check details and boat launch locations: floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/mound-key-archaeological-state-park
Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach Once a collection of secluded barrier islands, Lovers Key is a destination for wildlife viewing and outdoor recreation. The two-mile stretch of beach is popular for shelling, picnicking, fishing, and swimming. The Welcome and Discovery Center is an educational hub for curious park goers to learn more about the ecosystems, history, and recreational opportunities available at the park. Check for times, current openings and activities: visitfortmyers.com/beaches/lovers-key-state-park
Cayo Costa State Park, Cayo Costa Accessible only by boat or kayak, this former fishing ground of the Calusa features nine miles of undeveloped, pristine shoreline for swimming, snorkeling, shelling, fishing and birdwatching. Shorebirds are numerous, and you may also spot manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles offshore. Details: visitfortmyers.com/beaches/cayo-costa-state-park
Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Estero Enjoy miles of hiking trails through the preserve and viewing the variety of wildlife and native vegetation that the park protects. The bay is home to the bald eagle, gopher tortoise and fiddler crab and more. The trails are rugged and seasonally flood in some areas. Sturdy footwear, insect repellent, sunscreen and plenty of water are recommended. The preserve is accessible from two land locations: the Winkler Point entrance at 17981 Winkler Road in Fort Myers and the Estero River Scrub entrance at 4940 Broadway Ave. W. in Estero. Details: visitfortmyers.com/listing/estero-bay-preserve-state-park/39904
Neighborhood Mural Program Highlighting what makes each area of the destination special, visitors are enjoying the experience of a neighborhood mural program. The placemaking initiative by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau is done in partnership with the Fort Myers Mural Society. The project gives visitors a chance to interact with the murals’ designs by taking and sharing photos.
The locations of this latest mural project include:
- The side of Eagle’s Nest Restaurant on Pine Island
- A double mural on both sides of the entrance doors into the North Fort Myers Recreation Center
- Lakes Park in Fort Myers for a series of murals in the children’s garden
- The side of the Community Redevelopment Agency building at 1231 Lafayette St., Cape Coral
- The side of the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce building on Sanibel Island
Learn more about the mural program in the Fort Myers area: visitfortmyers.com/murals
Calusa Blueway Challenge Take the Calusa Blueway Challenge and celebrate 20 years of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail by checking in at locations along the trail for a chance to win prizes. Earn points as you paddle and check in at attractions, restaurants, parks and nature spots along the trail. Paddle on your own, experience a guided tour, shop at a local business or grab a bite to eat as you explore the 200-mile marked trail that meanders through the back-bay estuaries, rivers, and shorelines of Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods. Complete a certain number of check-ins on the pass to be entered to win a Body Glove iSUP Performer 11’ or a two-night stay at Tarpon Lodge. Details and sign up: visitfortmyers.com/CalusaBluewayChallenge
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
Coming this month: Speakeasy to open in downtown Fort Myers Shhhhh. There’s a secret in downtown Fort Myers. And it plans to open sometime this month. Escondido (means “hidden”) Lounge, a two story, hidden bar/lounge/speakeasy inspired by the elegance and intrigue of Prohibition-era speakeasies, blends the rich history of the 1920s with a modern, upscale twist.
Typical speakeasy, if there is such a thing, there is no sign. Located in the Richards Building on Hendry Street, entrance is through Taco Works. Walk through the cooler door (really) and, voila, you are there! A piano is suspended overhead on a glass platform and a red, six-foot chandelier casts a glow over the room. That’s just the beginning. Expect signature cocktails, piano bar and chef’s creations. Check it out. escondidolounge.com
And the same concept is planned for an opening in Cape Coral in early 2025.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) news New air service at RSW Breeze Airways
- New Haven, Connecticut (HVN), weekly starting Dec. 10
- South Bend, Indiana (SBN), weekly, starting Feb. 5, 2025
- Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM) weekly, starting Feb. 14, 2025
Frontier Airlines
- Chicago-O’Hare (Ord), weekly, starting Dec. 17
JetBlue Airways
- Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT) weekly, starting Jan. 23, 2025
Spirit Airlines
- Charlotte (CLT), daily, limited service from March 5-April 8, 2025
For more information, visit flyrsw.com
2025 annual festivals and events Fort Myers Seafood and Music Festival, downtown Fort Myers Jan. 3-5, 2025 paragonfestivals.com/festival/fort-myers-seafood-music-festival
20th annual J.N. “Ding” Darling Winter Lecture series, Sanibel Island Begins Jan. 9 with Clyde and Niki Butcher and continues into March 2025 dingdarlingsociety.org/lecture-series
40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival and Market Place Jan. 11-12, 2025 capecoralartfestival.com
34th Tour De Cape in Cape Coral Jan. 17-19, 2025 Rotary Park tourdecape.net
Wellness in Nature at “Ding” on Sanibel Island Jan. 23-26, 2025 J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge dingwellness.com
ArtFest Fort Myers, downtown Fort Myers Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2025 artfestfortmyers.com
Bonita Springs Seafood and Music Festival Feb. 7-9, 2025 28001 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs paragonfestivals.com/festival/bonita-springs-seafood-music-festival
The Savannah Bananas 2025 World Tour Feb. 14-16, 2025 JetBlue Park, Fort Myers thesavannahbananas.com
Babcock Ranch Seafood and Music Festival Feb. 14-16, 2025 42850 Crescent Loop in Babcock Ranch paragonfestivals.com/festival/babcock-ranch-seafood-music-festival
87th Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, Fort Myers Feb. 15, 2025 edisonfestival.org
23rd annual Burrowing Owl Festival, Cape Coral Feb. 22, 2025 Rotary Park Environmental Center Rotary Park ccfriendsofwildlife.org/burrowing-owl-festival-2
Southwest Florida Ag Expo Feb. 27-March 9, 2025 Lee County Civic Center Complex swflagexpo.com
Spring training Boston Red Sox Feb. 21-March 23, 2025 mlb.com/redsox/spring-training JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
Minnesota Twins mlb.com/twins/spring-training Feb. 22-March 25, 2025 Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
26th annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Fort Myers March 1, 2025 Fort Myers Regional Library, downtown Fort Myers readfest.org
CROW Taste of the Islands, Sanibel Island March 1, 2025, event at Sanibel City Hall Feb. 21-28, 2025, at participating island restaurants tasteoftheislands.org
Sanibel Shell Show, Fort Myers March 6-8, 2025 Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort sanibelshellclub.com/6306-2
Concerts in the Park, Cape Coral March 6 and 22, April 3, 2025 Check website for locations capeconcerts.com
88th annual Sanibel Shell Festival, Sanibel Island March 7, 2025 Community House tinyurl.com/shellfest88
Fort Myers Beach annual Lion’s Club Shrimp Festival March 8-9, 2025 fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com
Fort Myers River Festival, downtown Fort Myers March 21-23, 2025 paragonfestivals.com/festival/fort-myers-river-music-festival
ECHO Global Food and Farm Festival, North Fort Myers March 2025 echonet.org/events/global-food-and-farm-festival
Florida Lighthouse Day April 2025 Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum and Gasparilla Island Lighthouse bocagrandehappenings.org/events/its-florida-lighthouse-day
10th annual Bonita Springs Film Festival April 17, 2025 Prado Stadium bonitaspringsfilmfestival.org
36th annual “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival, Fort Myers April 26, 2025 Lakes Park dingdarlingday.com
13th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, Sanibel Island May 9, 2025 dingdarlingsociety.org/tarpon-tournament
World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament, Boca Grande May 14-15, 2025 Facebook: bgacc
15th annual Fort Myers Film Festival May 14-18, 2025 fortmyersfilmfestival.com
Alliance for the Arts, Fringe Fort Myers May 29-June 1, 2025 artinlee.org/experience/fringe
National Seashell Day June 20, 2025 visitfortmyers.com/national-seashell-day
MangoMania July 2025 pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/mangomania
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest Sept. 19-28, 2025 island-hopperfest.com
FITMIX FEST, downtown Fort Myers September 2025 fitmixfest.com
Sanibel Island Writers Conference November 2025 Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers fgcu.edu/siwc
BIG ARTS 2024 Film Festival, Sanibel Island November 2025 bigarts.org/event/inaugural-fall-film-festival
35th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach November 2025 fmbsandsculpting.com
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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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