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Tons of festivals make for year-round fun in Cape Coral and surrounding southwest Florida areas. Here's some of the annual festivals and events:
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ANNUAL FESTIVALS & EVENTS
January:
CAPE CORAL ART FESTIVAL
Juried arts and crafts festival. Downtown Cape Coral.
EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Commemorates Edison's birthday - festive parade of lights through downtown Fort Myers, Mrs. Edison's hyms, craft shows.
Edison-Ford Estates
McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
LEE COUNTY HOME AND GARDEN SHOW
Harbourside Convention Hall, downtown Fort Myers
NAPLES DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL
National artists exhibits, food, and fun. 5th Avenue, Naples
February:
BURROWING OWL FESTIVAL
Rotary Park Environmental Center
5505 Rose Garden Rd, Cape Coral
239.574.6318
Educate citizens about Cape Coral's burrowing owls, children activities, live animals, exhibitor displays and great family fun.
GARTEN FEST
German American Social club.
2101 Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral
Celebration of German culture, food, and beer.
ARTFEST FORT MYERS
Juried fine art festival showcasing the work of 200 fine artists and craftsmen, food, entertainment, children's art yard and high school art competition. Virtually every media and form represented.
239.768.3602 www.ArtFestFortMyers.com
FLORIDA AND LEE COUNTY FAIR
Lee Civic Center
11831 Bayshore Rd, North Fort Myers
239.543.8368
Traditional agricultural fair, horticulture, farm animals, cattle auction, horse show, carnival rides, games, food.
SWAMP CABBAGE FESTIVAL
Barron Park, Labelle
863.675.2995
Celebrate historic swamp cabbage heritage with parade and food.
NAPLES NATIONAL ART FESTIVAL
Juried art festival. NaplesArt.org
March:
IRISH FESTIVAL, Cape Coral
St. Patrick's Day celebration - with dancers, bagpipers, music, food, fun. Cultural Park, 528 Cultural Park Blvd.
SOUNDS OF JAZZ FESTIVAL, Cape Coral
Live jazz concert at Jaycee Park on the Caloosahachie River - bring your chair or blanket. At the end of Beach Parkway, off Del Prado Blvd. 239.573.3125
MATLACHA MARINERS SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, Pine Island
Seafood festival hosted by the Matlacha Mariners, local charitable organization focused on raising funds for local needs such as elementary school students. MatlachaMariners.org
April:
LEE ISLAND PIRATE DAYS, Fort Myers
April. Along the Caloosahatchee River at Centiennial Park, Fort Myers.
Great famiy pirate fun. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation.
239.481.7231 LeePirateFest.com
May:
DOGGIE WASH at Rotary Park, Cape Coral
At Rotary Park. Brings people and pets together with the goal of finding homes for orphaned dogs and volunteers for the Humane Society of Lee County.
MATLACHA MULLET TOSS CHAMPIONSHIP, Matlacha Pine Island
Fantastically fun tongue-in-cheek competition to, you guessed it, toss mullets, a fish abundant in local waters. Hosted by local charitable organization Matlacha Mariners MatlachaMariners.org
June:
CALUSA BLUEWAY DDLING FESTIVAL
3-day international paddling festival centered in Matlacha and Pine Island, featuring all things kayak - races, classes, demos, booths, tours - great fun. www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com
CAPE CORAL CARDBOARD BOAT REGATTA, Cape Coral
Seahawk Park.
1030 NW 28th St, Cape Coral
239.945.1988 or capecoralregatta.com
Sponsored by Riverside Bank and Rotary Club International of Cape Coral. Great fun - anyone can enter - just build a cardboard boat and race it. Awards include "Most Spectacular Sinking"
BLUEGRASS FOR HOPE FAMILY FUNFEST, Fort Myers
Bluegrass festival, barbeque dinner, bounce houses and more. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Hope, servicing families enduring childhood cancer.
Alliance for the Arts complex. 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
866.443.HOPE www.HabitatforHope.com
TROPICAL TURTLE RACE, Cape Coral
Great tongue-in-cheek fun - revel in the spectacle of 10,000 rubber turtles racing along the "Mainstream River" at Sun Splash Family Water Park, Cape Coral. Benefits Lee Mental Health Children's Services. Turtle Adopt Line 239.791.1576 TurtleRace.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA GAY AND LESBIAN CHORUS PRIDE CONCERT
Lee County Alliance for the Arts
10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
and also at Cultural Park Theatre, 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral
239.691.2532
2D-3D ALL-FLORIDA JURIED EXHIBITION SHOW
200 pieces from artists all over Florida - this show is all about bold lines, bold designs, and bold colors. Organized by Lee County Alliance for the Arts
10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
239.939.2787 ArtinLee.org
July:
MANGOMANIA, Cape Coral
German American Club on Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral. Very popular festival featuring all things mango, fun music, Ms. Mango pageant, etc. www.MangoManiaFL.com
August:
OCTOBERFEST
German American Club
Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral
Florida's largest Octoberfest replete with bands from Germany, German food and, of course, German beer.
CAPE INSHORE REDFISH CHALLENGE, Cape Coral
Cape Coral Yacht Club Community Park, 5819 Driftwood Pkwy
Organized by Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department. 239.573.3122
Anglers of all ages compete for cash prices, other activities such as dinners, meetings, auctions. Kid's Tourney too.
SPECIAL GOURMENT EVENING Fundraiser for Lee County Children's Hospital, Cap Coral
Celebrity chefs. RumRunners at Cape Harbour.
5848 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral
239.542.0200
ARTS FOR ACT FINE ART AUCTION
Harborside, downtown Fort Myers.
One of largest, splashiest, glamorous fundraisers.
SUMMER JAZZ ON THE GULF
Concert series at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Bring chairs or blankets. Trolly service to/from the resourt at 851 Gulf Shore Blvd N., Naples 239.261.2222
September:
COCONUT FESTIVAL, Cape Coral
SunSplash Family Water Park, Cape Coral. 239.573.3125
AQUARIUM ART EXHIBIT
At Cape Coral Arts Studio, 4533 Coronado Pkwy, Cape Coral.
Multimedia exhibition enhanced by special lighting and sound effects transforming the gallery into an underwater wonderland. 239.574.0802
McFLATS INVITATIONAL
Snook and redfish fishing tournament to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida. RumRunners at Cape Harbour, 5848 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral
239.822.2728 www.McFlatsInvitational.com
TA S HOP
Bus to various locations along Fort Myers Beach. Proceeds benefit The Ronald McDonald House and the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. www.FMBChamber.com
FORT MYERS BEACH PIRATE FESTIVAL
Pirates, music, tall tales, pub crawl, Capt Jack Sparrow and wench contests and more. Old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach 239.454.7500
CLYDE BUTCHER'S OPEN HOUSE AND SWAMP WALKS, Everglades
Big Cypress Gallery
52388 Tamiami Trail, Ochopee
US 41 on the edge of Everglades National Park, 47 miles from Naples.
239.695.2428 or 888.999.9113 www.clydebutcher.com
Swamp walks, live folk music, storytelling, Clyde Butcher photographs and demos, environmental exhibits. Proceeds to environmental groups.
FALL HOME & GARDEN SHOW
Harborside Event Center, downtown Fort Myers
1375 Monroe St, Fort Myers
239.466.6300
October:
November:
AMERICAN SANDSCULPTING FESTIVAL
Fort Myers Beach
239.454.7500
Sandsculptors from around the world descend on Fort Myers beach and create magical sandscapes.
ART ROYALE, Fort Myers
Alliance for the Arts premier art extravaganza - showcasing collaborative art mixing everything from visual arts, performance arts (dance, theatre, music), and electronic arts (digital, light, film). 239.939.2787 www.ArtRoyale2006.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MUSIC FEST, Pine Island
Great music festival hosted by local charitable organization Matlacha Mariners. MatlachaMariners.org
NAPLES RENAISSANCE FALL ART FESTIVAL, Naples
Organized by the Naples Art Association. Festival at 10th Street downtown Naples. NaplesArt.org
December:
FORT MYERS/CAPE CORAL INDIAN FESTIVAL, Cape Coral
Come experience the traditions and culture of the Native American people at the 2nd annual Ft. Myers/Cape Coral Indian Festival on Dec 12 and 13 at the Sun Splash Water Park, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd in Cape Coral. The event will take place from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. Find unique, hand made, one of kind Native American arts and crafts for your holiday gifts. There will be paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, beadwork, leather work , food and much more. The 2nd annual Cape Coral Indian Festival is honored to have Little Bigmountain from the Comanche/Mohawk nation with his dance troupe who will be performing traditional Native American drumming, singing and various styles of dance throughout the weekend. We are also excited to have Frank Standing Eagle, of Cherokee ancestry, who is a talented flutist and flute maker, performing throughout the weekend. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, $5.00 adult, $3.00 6-12, 5 and under are free. Bring your law chairs! Please join us for this truly unique event! For more information call 941-924-2784 or www.myspace.com/ftmyersindianfestival
BOAT-A-LONG WATER PARADE, Cape Coral
100'S of boaters and thousands of attendees enjoy festive evening of music, booths, visit from Santa, and of course, all the festively-lit and decorated boats in the water parade of lights.
Four Freedoms Park, 4818 Tarpon Court.
SUNSET CELEBRATION ON THE PIER, Cape Coral
Ongoing. 5-8pm first Wednesdays. Celebrate sunset at the pier and pavillion along with 50 arts and crafts vendors. Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Pkwy. 239.574.0806
KWANZAA CELEBRATION
The Quality Life Center
2310 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, Fort Myers
239.334.2797
ONGOING EVENTS:
BIKE NIGHT
Outdoors party for motorcycle afficionado downtown Cape Coral.
BIKE NIGHT
Outdoors party for motorcycle afficionado downtown Fort Myers. 239.332.6680
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