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What’s New in September from Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods
It’s a busy month with the arrival of fall, groundbreaking for the new Fort Myers Beach Pier, sizzling dining deals and Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.
Don’t miss
It’s almost here! Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Now entering its 12th year, the festival returns Sept. 18-27, bringing more than 60 BMI award-winning and emerging singer-songwriters to Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. With more than 80 performances over 10 days, readers recently voted Island Hopper one of the Top 5 music festivals in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
From downtown hotspots in Fort Myers' historic River District to tiki bars along the beaches and islands, it’s a rare chance to enjoy intimate shows where the talented performers not only share their songs, but also the stories behind them. Catch live performances at four locations around the Fort Myers area: Captiva Island, Sept. 18-20; Cape Coral, Sept. 21-22; Downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 23-24; Fort Myers Beach, Sept. 25-27.
The lineup includes platinum-selling duo and BMI singer-songwriters LOCASH. They will headline Island Hopper Songwriter Fest in the “Stars on the River” concert on Sept. 23, at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in downtown Fort Myers.
LOCASH and Michael Ray are part of an exciting lineup including Edwin McCain, who will be headlining Island Hopper’s “Westin Unplugged” Monday, Sept. 21, at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village.
While most shows are free, the LOCASH, Michael Ray and Edwin McCain performances, along with a few other experiences, will be ticketed. These include the ACMA Showcase at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers, sunset cruises on Fort Myers Beach and Cape Coral, and dinner experiences at Gather in Cape Coral and Luminary Hotel & Co. in downtown Fort Myers.
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is presented by BMI, iHeartRadio’s Cat Country 107.1, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods. Visit IslandHopperFest.com. Follow the festival hashtag #islandhopperfest as well as Instagram and Facebook.
Attractions news
New, bigger and stronger: Fort Myers Beach Pier breaks ground
The iconic Fort Myers Beach Pier is returning after Hurricane Ian destroyed it four years ago. The project marks another major step in the island's recovery and is expected to be completed in summer 2027.
The $14.4 million project will extend the pier to roughly 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, or more than 70% longer and 50% wider than the original pier. It will incorporate reinforced concrete piles, a concrete deck, aluminum railings, an entry gate and three shade structures, establishing the pier as a durable community landmark. go.leefl.gov/FMBPierProject.
Family Fun: Become Nature Navigators
Explore sandy beaches, shady trails, wildlife encounters and hands-on activities with the Summer Nature Navigators Pass.
The Summer Nature Navigators Pass lets you choose your adventure from educational beach walks to wildlife cruises. The free digital pass is filled with exciting eco-adventures. Check in at each location to earn points and redeem for great prizes, including a grand prize of day passes to Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina and more.
Start planning with a visit to visitfortmyers.com/summer-nature-navigators for details and receive your digital pass.
Explore Sanibel Island's Wild Mile Pass 2.0
Explore some of Sanibel Island's popular natural attractions while earning points and prizes through April 1 with this mobile-exclusive pass that includes:
Download the pass and immerse yourself in the island’s legendary conservation story. Here you can take a deep dive into its reputation as a Seashell Capital of the World, hike miles of island forest and wetlands, visit an animal hospital to learn about the island’s diverse wildlife or explore one of the nation’s most fascinating national wildlife refuges.
How it works:
- Visit any location in the pass and earn points when you check in.
- Special monthly events give you the chance to accumulate even more points.
- Redeem points for prizes.
- Check in to 14 locations and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a grand prize that includes giveaways from your favorite Sanibel Island stores and restaurants.
Sign-up is easy and free. Check details at visitfortmyers.com/digital-passes/sanibel-wild-mile.
Explore and win prizes with Parks, Points & Perks
Discover some of the top parks, beaches, preserves and recreation centers, all while earning points for exciting rewards. This free pass gives you the chance to explore new spots you might never have visited, plus enjoy popular locations across our islands, beaches and neighborhoods. Check out new ways to explore the area and earn prizes through April 24.
Go to visitfortmyers.com/ParksPass to check out locations and to sign up. The pass will be delivered to your phone via text and email, then you’re ready to go!
Select your location, plan a visit and start having fun.
- Visit any location in the pass and earn 20 points when you check in.
- Special monthly events give you the chance to add up even more points.
- Earn rewards like a drawstring backpack and unlock choices for memberships, parking passes or recreation center access.
- Check in at 20 locations on the pass and you will be entered for a chance to win a grand prize, a two-night stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops and a Family Fun Day at Lakes Park.
Accommodations news
Looking ahead at planned openings
- Captiva Island Inn, opening 2026
- Lake Shadroe Resort & Marina, Cape Coral, early 2027
- TownePlace Suites Cape Coral North, mid 2027
- Hampton Inn & Suites at Bell Tower, Fort Myers, early 2027
- Cambria Hotels, Fort Myers, late 2027
- Hampton Inn Gulf Coast Town Center, late 2027
Dining & entertainment news
Sizzle dining this month
Sizzle Dining continues through September, offering fixed-price, multicourse menus at participating Southwest Florida restaurants. The event benefits Blessings in a Backpack, which provides weekend meals for elementary school students during the school year.
Pick your restaurant, check out the menus and make a reservation at sizzledining.org.
Classes for aspiring chocolatiers and chocolate lovers
Norman Love Confections is bringing back one of its most requested experiences as chocolate-making classes return with new sessions scheduled through October, offering guests a behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn the craftsmanship behind the company's signature handcrafted chocolates. Classes are open to guests ages 18 and older and will be held Sept. 12 and 26, and Oct. 10 at Norman Love Confections' chocolate factory in Fort Myers. Each three-hour class begins at 2 p.m. and costs $125 per guest. Class sizes are limited and advance registration is required at normanloveconfections.com/pages/Cooking-Classes.
Three area restaurants included in MICHELIN Guide Florida
The Fort Myers-area culinary scene has earned statewide recognition with three local restaurants included in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Florida.
Check them out on your next visit: Liberty, Fort Myers; The Bohemian, Bonita Springs and Canary Club, Bonita Springs (also awarded a Bib Gourmand distinction for good quality, good value cooking).
Festivals and events
South Seas Captiva Island Triathlon
Sept. 27
TriSignup.com/Race/FL/CaptivaIsland/CaptivaIslandTriathlon
Beat the Heat Beach Walks
with Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
Sept. 8 and 24; Oct. 6 and 22
Gulfside City Park, Sanibel Island
shellmuseum.org/learn-and-experience/field-education
Lovers Key State Park free programs
Sept. 11, 19, 26
Check topics and sign up at loverskey.eventbrite.com
Walks with CREW
Walks and programs this month at CREW (Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Land & Water Trust). crewtrust.eventbrite.com
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Sept. 18-27
island-hopperfest.com
“Scarecrows in the Park” at Lakes Park Fall Festival, Fort Myers
Oct. 9-31
lakespark.org
41st Cape Coral Oktoberfest
Oct. 17-19 and 24-26
German-American Social Club
gasc-capecoral.com/oktoberfest
Art in the Wild
Oct. 20-22
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
dingdarlingsociety.org/art-in-the-wild
Edison and Ford Winter Estates Fall Festival
Oct. 31
edisonfordwinterestates.org
“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society
REVIVE! Trash to Fashion: Couture Collection Show
Nov. 4
Sundial Beach Resort and Spa, Sanibel Island
dingdarlingsociety.org/revive
Sanibel Island Writers Conference
Nov. 5-7
BIG ARTS and Sanibel Public Library
fgcu.edu/siwc
36th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach
Nov. 19-23
fmbsandsculpting.com
Edison and Ford Winter Estates Garden Festival
Nov. 21
edisonfordwinterestates.org
Fort Myers Tip-Off
Palm Division
Nov. 23 and 25
Beach Division
Nov. 24 & 26
Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers
fortmyerstipoff.com
Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off
Island and Shell Divisions
Nov. 27-28
Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers
womensfortmyerstipoff.com
Holiday events
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” Main Theatre
Nov. 20-Dec. 30
broadwaypalm.com
“The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical,” Off-Broadway Palm Theatre
Nov. 26-Dec. 30
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Children’s Theatre
Dec. 1-24
Holiday Nights, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
Nov. 27-Jan. 3, 2027
edisonfordwinterestates.org
Florida Repertory Theatre, downtown Fort Myers
“Plaid Tidings”
Dec.1- Jan. 3, 2027
Artstage Studio Theatre
floridarep.org
Sanibel/Captiva Islands Holiday Luminary Stroll
Dec. 4 on Sanibel Island; Dec. 5 on Captiva Island
sanibel-captiva.org
38th Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Dec. 5
fortmyersbeach.org
Cape Coral Holiday Boat-a-Long and Christmas Movie
Dec. 19
Four Freedoms Park
tinyurl.com/capecoralboatalong
Adventures in Paradise Santa’s Dolphin and Wildlife Cruises and Christmas Eve Sunset Cruise
Dec. 24
adventureinparadiseinc.com/cruises/holiday-cruises
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, please contact Jackie Parker, communications manager, at jparker2@leegov.com.
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.
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