JULY/AUG WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
SPECIAL EVENTS
16th Annual Miromar Outlets Have a Blast Independence Eve Fireworks Show (July 3, 6pm) Miromar Outlets’ 16th annual Fourth of July celebration begins with kids’ activities and finishes with a spectacular fireworks display over the lake. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 239-948-3766, miromaroutlets.com
Independence Day Celebration on Sanibel (July 4, 9:30am) Enjoy an old-fashioned hometown parade down Periwinkle Way, followed by community picnics with free food and beverages at Bailey’s General Store and Jerry’s Foods shopping centers. Then join islanders for the noontime Road Rally, a scavengertype hunt through the island. Nightfall is marked by the always popular fireworks display over the Sanibel Causeway. Sanibel Island. 239-4721080, sanibel-captiva.org
4th of July Freedom Fest (July 4, 5pm) A free block party with live music, food vendors and children’s activities takes place throughout historic Fort Myers River District from 5 to 11 p.m. The annual event features live bands performing on five stages in the downtown area. Keep your eye on the sky for a spectacular fireworks display starting at 9:30 p.m. Downtown Fort Myers. 855-732-3836, riverdistrictevents.com
Red, White and Boom (July 4, 5pm) Festivities include a kids’ carnival and vendors selling food and beer at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge. Enjoy live entertainment on the main stage until 9:30 p.m., when the dazzling fireworks display illuminates the sky. Cape Coral. 239-573-3128, capeboom.com
Sanibel Fireworks Cruise (July 4, 7:30pm) Take a Fireworks Cruise for the best view of Sanibel Island’s pyrotechnic display on Independence Day. Complimentary soft drinks, bottled water and snacks are provided. As you cruise through San Carlos Bay listen to tropical music and watch the sun set, then enjoy the fireworks show. Join us on the Miss Paradise, Dolphin Waters and Sun Princess. Port Sanibel Marina, 14241 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers. 239-472-8443, adventureinparadiseinc.com
Star Spangled Celebration July 4th (July 4, 12:30pm) South Seas Island Resort is hosting its annual Independence Day celebration on Captiva Island. The festivities begin at 12:30 with a golf cart
parade, followed by carnival games, food and live DJ entertainment, and the evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico. Book now to enjoy the weekend celebration. Open to all visitors within the South Seas welcome gate. 866-565-5089, southseas.com
Laughter is the Best Medicine Comedy Night (July 25, 7pm) Eight local celebrities headline Laughter is the Best Medicine Comedy Night, an event to benefit SalusCare, the region’s largest provider of treatment for individuals with mental health and substance-use issues. Each will perform a five-minute stand-up routine. Tickets are $100 each or $500 for a reserved table; sponsorships begin at $1,000. Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. 239-791-1575, saluscareflorida.org
SWFL LIVE
American Idol Live! 2015 Tour (July 12, 7:30pm) American Idol’s top five finalists from season 14 showcase their individual artistry and talents accompanied by a live band. Past tours have featured stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Adam Lambert and others. Don’t miss your chance to see these talented artists live in Fort Myers. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Parkway, Fort Myers. 239481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Fort Myers Music Walk (July 17 and Aug. 21, 7pm) The Fort Myers River District comes alive with music on the third Friday of each month. More than a dozen participating venues feature live music by local and regional talent. Downtown Fort Myers. 855-732-3836, fortmyersmusicwalk.com
Space and Time World Tour 2015 (July 17, 8pm) Brit Floyd—the world’s greatest Pink Floyd show—returns to North America to launch the Space & Time World Tour, its most ambitious show to date. Expect a spectacular new light show and an even bigger stage production. Celebrating five decades of Pink Floyd, from their creation in 1965 right through to the release of their brand-new album The Endless River, this amazing show includes performances from all Pink Floyd’s biggest selling albums: The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall and The Division Bell. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Parkway, Fort Myers. 239481-4849, bbmannpah.com
ON STAGE
Church Basement Ladies (July 1-4, evening and matinee shows) The everpopular Church Basement Ladies are back to serve up some laughs. From the senior matriarch of the kitchen to the bride-to-be learning to arrange things in proper order, the characters are humorous and down-to-earth. Add a little romantic stir for the new pastor and the outcome is heavenly entertainment. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-278-4422, broadwaypalm.com
Out of Order (July 1-Aug. 1, Wed.-Sun., evening and matinee shows) This award-winning Ray Cooney farce is about Richard Willey, a government junior minister who secretly plans to spend the evening with Jane Worthington, one of the opposition’s typists. Chaos breaks out when a body is discovered in the window, threatening to expose their rendezvous. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-278-4422, broadwaypalm.com
Footloose (July 9-Aug. 15, Wed.Sun., evening and matinee shows) When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the adjustment to his new high school. What he
isn’t prepared for are the local laws, including a ban on dancing. He and some of the kids decide to shake things up. The Oscar-nominated Top 40 score includes “Holding Out For A Hero,” “Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and the title song, “Footloose.” Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-2784422, broadwaypalm.com
ON VIEW
Art Walk: Oliver Dominguez-Hats of Time (July 3, 6 pm; July 6-23, Mon.-Fri., 9am) Oliver Dominguez, illustrator and artist, presents an exhibition highlighting hats and their role in the history of fashion. Each piece of clothing you wear means something and for hats the same applies, each type of hat has a history behind it. Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. 239333-1933, sbdac.com
Art Walk: Portrait of a Pilgrim by Michael George (Aug. 7, 6 pm; Aug. 10-27, Mon.Fri., 9am) In the summers of 2012 and 2013, George walked over 1,000 miles on the Camino de Santiago: an ancient Christian pilgrimage through southern France and northern Spain. Portrait of a Pilgrim captures his personal experience and shares the stories of pilgrims, albergues, clergy members and other characters of the Camino to explore how an ancient tradition is thriving in a modern world. Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. 239-333-1933, sbdac.com
OUTDOORS
Haunted History Tour (Wed. and Sat., 8pm) A 90-minute walk through downtown Fort Myers reveals a darker side to its local history, including stories of both residential and commercial buildings reputed to have paranormal activity. Tours begin at Franklin Shops,
2200 First St., Fort Myers. 239-9450405, truetours.net
Historical Walking Tours (Thurs. and Sat., 10:30am) This 90-minute historical walking tour of downtown Fort Myers educates and entertains with stories of local history and information about the founding fathers who built the city. Tours begin at the Franklin Shops, 2200 First St., Fort Myers. 239-945-0405, truetours.net
Fort Myers Art Walk (July 3 and Aug. 7, 6-10pm) On the first Friday of each month, more than 10 art galleries invite locals and visitors to a selfguided walking tour through the Downtown Fort Myers River District core and the Gardner’s Park area. Art enthusiasts can meet the artists at most of the galleries and enjoy live art demonstrations. Downtown Fort Myers. 239-337-5050, fortmyersartwalk.com
Greenmarket (Sat., 9am) On the Lee County Alliance for the Arts’ 10-acre campus vendors present locally grown, caught and cultivated foods along with other products for sampling and purchase. Live musical entertainment, fun activities for kids, gardening classes and cooking demos by local chefs round out the fun. 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-939-2787, artinlee.org
Sanibel Bicycle Club (Sat., 7:30am) Meet your cycling friends at Sanibel Community Center for a leisurely ride to breakfast. Several restaurant destinations are offered. Sanibel Community House, Sanibel Island. 239472-2155, sanibelcommunityhouse.net
TOTI Media, Inc. does its best to ensure that information in this calendar is up-to-date. However, we still encourage our readers to call ahead for detailed event information before attending these local events.