What's new in December from The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
LEE COUNTY, Fla. (U.S.A.) – In addition to great, year-round weather, shell-drenched beaches and the sparkling Gulf of Mexico, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida continues to provide new experiences for returning guests and first-time visitors. For the latest vacation information, visit FortMyers-Sanibel.com
Don’t miss!
First SW Florida Band Jam-boree makes historic debut at Dunbar High School, Dec. 4-5
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau is partnering with the SW Florida Band Jam-boree, the first of its kind event, bringing the sights and sounds of some of the best show-style marching bands to Fort Myers, Dec. 4-5.
The two-day event shines a spotlight on the Dunbar community and the Dunbar High School marching band. The weekend kicks off Saturday, Dec. 4, with a college expo at Dunbar High School, 3800 Edison Ave., Fort Myers. Invited colleges will share scholarship opportunities with local students. The expo is open to the public.
The marching band exhibition will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at North Law Firm Stadium, 3800 Edison Ave., Fort Myers. Curtis Akeem McCullough “Dolla Watson” will be the special guest emcee. The event will be live streamed on BandTubeHD.com. Tickets are available at the gate and at Eventbrite.com
Southwest Florida sparkles for the holidays
The holiday season has kicked off with the 46th Annual Holiday Nights at Edison and Ford Winter Estates and runs through Jan. 2. This year’s theme, “Holidays Under the Stars” incorporates elements of nature and the outdoors. Guided Holiday Tradition Tours will be offered at 6 and 7 p.m. nightly or visitors may take a self-guided tour. Guided, tours will be offered Dec. 1, 8 and 15 at 6:30 p.m. for a special up-close look at the decorated interiors of the homes. edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/46th-annual-holiday-nights-celebration
The 37th annual Luminary Holiday Stroll returns to Sanibel Island Dec. 3 and Captiva Island Dec. 4. This community event brings together residents, visitors and businesses for music, family activities and holiday decorations set against the backdrop of these two beautiful islands. sanibel-captiva.org
The Fort Myers Beach 33rd annual Christmas Boat Parade returns Dec. 4. It begins at 6 p.m. at Salty Sam’s Marina and will pass by the restaurants on the back bay. fortmyersbeach.org/events/2021-christmas-boat-parade
More holiday annual events include:
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
“Holly Jolly Christmas” in the Main Theatre through Dec. 25; “No Claus for Alarm” in the Off Broadway Palm through Dec. 25; “The Nutcracker” in the Children’s Theatre through Dec. 24. broadwaypalm.com
Holiday Festival of Lights, Dec. 4
holidayfestivalcc.com
River District Holidays, downtown Fort Myers
myriverdistrict.com/events
Events include:
Giant wreath lighting and Ben Allen Band Concert, Dec. 3
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
myriverdistrict.com/event/giant-wreath-lighting-and-the-ben-allen-band-concert-on-the-steps-sbdac
15th Annual Festival of Trees Dec. 3-5
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
myriverdistrict.com/event/15th-annual-festival-of-trees-returns-to-the-sidney-berne-davis-art-center
Art Walk, Dec. 3
myriverdistrict.com/event/art-walk-december
Santa’s Block Party, Dec. 4
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
myriverdistrict.com/event/santas-block-party-brings-family-fun-to-the-fort-myers-river-district-during-festival-of-trees
Christmas Tree Lighting, Dec. 4
myriverdistrict.com/event/christmas-tree-lighting-4
Music Walk, Dec. 17
myriverdistrict.com/event/december-music-walk
Southwest Florida Symphony
Holiday String Quartet Performances:
Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Festival of Trees, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
Dec. 4 at Bell Tower, Fort Myers. Check swflso.org/tinyconcerts/ for time.
Holiday TinyPops:
Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Shell Point, Fort Myers
Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Bonita Springs
swflso.org/concerts
Players Circle Theater, Shell Factory, North Fort Myers
Jingle Bell Jubilee Musical Series
Dec. 8
https://playerscircletheater.com/show/jingle-bell-jubilee/2021-12-08
Burroughs Home and Langford-Kingston Holiday House
Dec. 10-22
https://burroughshome.com/tours/holiday-house
Bonita Springs Christmas Boat Parade
Dec. 11
Imperial River/Bay Water Boat Club
bonitaboatparade.com
Holiday Boat-A-Long, Cape Coral
Dec. 18
Freedoms Park
come-to-cape-coral.com/christmas-boat-parade.html
Annual Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum Lighting, Boca Grande
Dec. 11
barrierislandparkssociety.org
Adventures in Paradise Holiday Cruises, Port Sanibel Marina, Fort Myers
Dec. 24
adventureinparadiseinc.com/cruises/santa-christmas-cruise/
Santa Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise and a Christmas Eve sunset cruise Dec. 24. 239-472-8443
Christmas Eve on the Seminole Gulf Railway, Fort Myers
Dec. 24 at 5:30: Wicked Winter Wonderland dinner and light extravaganza.
https://semgulf.com/events
Accommodations new
Downtown boutique hotel coming soon
The Hotel Indigo in downtown Fort Myers, is now The Banyan Hotel Fort Myers, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Current plans call for opening in Feb. 22. Surrounded by local shopping, dining, historical attractions and businesses, the boutique property features a rooftop with bar, pool and fitness room and offers views of downtown and the river. hilton.com/en/hotels/fmyfmup-the-banyan-hotel-fort-myers
Airport news
New air service at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Air Transat: Montreal (YUL), weekly, seasonal service starts Dec. 16
Eurowings Discover: Frankfurt, Germany (FRA), weekly, year-round service starts March 28
New flights at RSW
Sun Country: Duluth, Minn. (DLH), weekly, starts Dec. 17: Green Bay, Wis. (GRB), weekly, starts Dec. 16: Milwaukee (MKE), weekly, starts, Dec. 15: Rochester, Minn. (RST), weekly starts Feb. 3
United Airlines: Los Angeles (LAX), daily, starts Dec. 16: San Francisco (SFO), daily, starts Dec. 16
News from Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
Allegiant service from Akron, Ohio (CAK), begins March 2
Attractions news
Free guided beach walks at San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach take place at 9 a.m. Wednesdays through April 27. Visitors of all ages may enjoy this volunteer-led program and learn the basics of different beach ecosystems, types of shells and more. Free tour with paid parking. leegov.com/parks/beaches/bunche
Visitors are invited to a free tour of the Manatee Park butterfly garden and habitats at 9 a.m. Sundays through March 27. Visitors will enjoy walking the ADA accessible paths through the restored native plant habitats and butterfly gardens. A volunteer naturalist will lead the tour. Manatee Park is a non-captive refuge for the threatened Florida manatee. Optimum viewing is between the months of December through March. Free tour with paid parking. leegov.com/parks/parks/manateepark
The Birds of Southwest Florida at Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
See bird illustrations by John James Audubon in the Caretaker’s House. Included with admission, runs through mid-January. edisonfordwinterestates.org
Have fun and save with Fort Myers Sun Saver Passport
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel has launched a free mobile savings passport giving users access to exclusive deals on attractions, restaurants and experiences throughout the destination.
To participate:
- Sign up at https://explore.visitfortmyers.com/
- The passport will be delivered to your mobile phone via text.
- Redeem it on your mobile phone at participating businesses.
- Visit the website for a complete list of attractions, restaurants and experiences.
2022 festivals and events
37th Annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, Cape Coral
Jan. 8-9
capecoralfestival.com
ArtFest Fort Myers, downtown River District
Feb. 4-6
artfestfortmyers.com
Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, Fort Myers
Feb. 19
edisonfestival.org
Spring training 2022
Boston Red Sox Spring training
17 home games
Begins Feb. 25 with exhibition game against Northeastern University
Ends March 29
JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
mlb.com/redsox
Minnesota Twins spring training
16 home games
Begins Feb. 26 against Toronto Blue Jays
Ends March 29
CenturyLink Sports Complex, Fort Myers
mlb.com/twins
Annual Sanibel Shell Show, Sanibel Island
March 3
sanibelshellclub.com
85th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival, Sanibel Island
March 3-5
sanibelcommunityhouse.net/p/84/shell-festival
23rd Annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Fort Myers
March 5
readfest.org
ECHO Global Food and Farm Festival, North Fort Myers
March 10-12
echonet.org/events/global-food-and-farm-festival
64th Annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival, Fort Myers Beach
March 12
fortmyersbeach.org/events/fort-myers-beach-shrimp-festival
12th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival
May 18-22
fortmyersfilmfestival.com
10th Annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, Sanibel Island
May 13
dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/tarpon-tournament-1
24th Annual MangoMania Tropical Fruit Festival, Pine Island
July TBD
http://mangomaniafl.net
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Sept. 16-25
IslandHopperFest.com
Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival
September TBD
fmbfilmfest.com
Roar Offshore, Fort Myers Beach
October TBD
roaroffshore.com
37th Annual Oktoberfest, Cape Coral
October TBD
capecoraloktoberfest.com
Lee County Alliance of the Arts 5th Annual Arts on Tap, Fort Myers
November TBD
artinlee.org/ontap
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Editor’s note: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida includes Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, North Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres. For media assistance, click here.
