Where to Go & What to Do
Cape Coral Veterans Day Parade (Nov.11, 11am) Honoring American heroes and paying tribute to service members, also recognizing the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Hosted by Cape Coral Parks and Recreation and local supporters. Parade route runs eastbound from Eighth Court to 15th Avenue on Southeast 47th Terrace in downtown Cape Coral. 239-246-1157, capecoral.net
30th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship (Nov. 18-27, 10am) This is a huge event on Fort Myers Beach of competitions, demonstrations, lessons and activities for children. The event attracts thousands of visitors, sculptors from around the world. Wyndham Garden Hotel, 6890 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. 239-454-7500, fmbsandsculpting.com
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall (Nov. 19, 8pm) Favorite holiday tradition for more than 30 years. A Grammy winner, Chip Davis has created a show that features the beloved Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller along with dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
28th annual Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Dec. 3, 6pm) Last year, more than 30 boats participated and this year promises to be even more exciting, passing such establishments as Bootleggers Waterfront Barbeque, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, Matanzas on the Bay, Nervous Nellies, Doc Ford’s and Bonita Bills. 239-454-7500, chamber. fortmyersbeach.org
Laud to the Nativity on Sanibel (Dec. 4, 7pm) Celebrate the Christmas season with a Renaissance-style pageant, featuring Laud to the Nativity by Ottorino Respighi, and Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. United Church of Christ, 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. 239529-3925, gulfshoreopera.org
Laud to the Nativity in Fort Myers (Dec. 9, 8pm) Celebrate the Christmas season with a Renaissance-style pageant, featuring Laud to the Nativity by Ottorino Respighi, and Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. 239529-3925, gulfshoreopera.org
Holidays in Paradise at Shell Point Village Church (Dec.12, 7:30pm) Nir Kabaretti conducts the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra in an eclectic mix of holiday favorites. Shell Point Village Church, 15100 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-418-0996, swflso.org
Holidays in Paradise at Barbara B. Mann (Dec. 17, 8pm) Nir Kabaretti conducts the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra in an eclectic mix of holiday favorites. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-4180996, swflso.org
Gulf Coast Symphony presents Deck the Halls (Dec. 18, 7pm) Includes holiday favorites performed by the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers, the Kellyn Irish Dancers, a carol sing-along and a visit from Santa. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Angela Pierre and the Motown 4 Christmas Special (Dec. 22-23, 8pm) Angela Pierre and her backup singers perform Motown-style holiday classics. Foulds Theatre, Lee County Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-939-2787, artinlee.org Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker (Dec. 28, 3pm and 7pm)
Direct from Russia, magical props, a 60foot growing Christmas tree, spectacular Russian-made costumes and sets. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers, 239-4814849, bbmannpah.com
Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert (Dec. 30, 8pm) Stunning waltzes and sweeping melodies from operettas performed by a full orchestra, acclaimed European singers, ballet and ballroom dancers. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers, 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Odd Squad Live at Barbara B. Mann (Nov. 9, 2pm and 6pm) Team up with brand-new agents Owen and Ophelia in this interactive adventure. With help from Ms. O back at HQ, kids will put STEM skills to the test and decode, decipher and unravel clues to stop villains like Father Time and Lady Terrible. Featuring an original script by the creators of Odd Squad and new music, including songs by Soundcheck. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Artists @ Work Series: Sketching with Leo Johnson (Nov. 19, 1-3pm) Third Saturdays in the Macy’s Court near Claire’s at Edison Mall, artists in disciplines that include palm-frond and performance art, painting and mixedmedia. November’s artist is Leo Johnson, discussing and demonstrating basic points to begin painting. He will also be sketching and discussing the basics of drawing, anatomy, landscape and abstracts. 4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. 239-939-2787, shopedisonmall.com
The Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure (Dec. 1, 6pm) Features new and fan-favorite songs from the crew of beloved underwater explorers, led by the intrepid Captain Barnacles, Lieutenant Kwazii and Medic Peso. Join them as they embark on an exciting new quest through an aquatic world full of adventure,
interactive opportunity and “must-sea” surprises. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Artists @ Work Series: Music with Peter McGrain (Dec. 17, 1-3pm) Third Saturdays at the Macy’s Court near Claire’s at Edison Mall, artists in disciplines including palm-frond and performance art, painting and mixedmedia. December’s artist is Peter McGrain, an accomplished accordion and musical saw player. Visitors accompany him with a variety of percussion instruments as they sing along and dance to their favorite tunes. 4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. 239-939-2787, shopedisonmall.com
Gavin DeGraw and Andy Grammer Live at Barbara B. Mann (Nov. 7, 7:30pm) Sing along as Gavin DeGraw performs classics like “I Don’t Wanna Be” and “Chariot,” and Andy Grammer performs his smash hit “Honey, I’m Good.” Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239481-4849, bbmannpah.com
The Annie Moses Band at Barbara B. Mann (Nov. 11, 7:30pm) The Annie
Moses Band has been inspiring and entertaining audiences for more than a decade, from Carnegie Hall to the Grand Ole Opry. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Masterworks I: Celebrating 30 Years of The Symphony at Barbara B. Mann (Nov. 12, 8pm) The Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra is pleased to open its 2016-2017 season with Masterworks I, led by conductor Nir Kabaretti, with pianist David Fung. This evening’s selections include Shostakovich: Festive Overture, op.96; Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, op.45; and Saint Saéns: Symphony No. 3, op.78 C minor (Organ Symphony). Kabaretti will present a pre-concert lecture at 7pm. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-4180996, swflso.org,
Fort Myers Music Walk (Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, 7 pm) Third Fridays, more than a dozen participating venues feature live music by local and regional talent. 855732-3836, fortmyersmusicwalk.com
Bluegrass in the Theatre (Nov. 20 and Dec. 11, 2pm) Join fellow acoustic music lovers in the Foulds Theatre for three hours of great live music by bands from Southwest Florida and beyond. Presented in partnership with palmgrass.org/the Acoustic Music Society of SWFL. First-come seating. Doors open at 1pm. Lee County Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-939-2787, artinlee.org
Bob Dylan and His Band, at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall (Nov. 20, 8pm) For almost 50 years, Bob Dylan has remained one of the most influential American musicians. Inscrutable and unpredictable, Dylan has been both deified and denounced for his shifts of interest, while whole schools of musicians took up his ideas. His lyrics―
the first in rock to be seriously regarded as literature―became so well known that politicians from Jimmy Carter to Vaclav Havel have cited them as an influence. 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Gulf Coast Symphony presents Shostakovich V (Dec. 3, 7pm) From soaring melodies to the sounds of desperate oppression—and finally to the triumph of the human spirit — Shostakovich brilliantly captures the conflicting moods of a time, place and people in Symphony No . 5. Also on the program is Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Ballet Suite and a world-premiere orchestral work from composer Jeff Myers. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
Martina McBride at Barbara B. Mann (Dec. 8, 7:30pm) With more than 15 major music awards, including four wins for female vocalist of the year from the Country Music Association, McBride has reached rarefied levels in the music world. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com
The Beach Boys at Barbara B. Mann (Dec. 14, 7:30pm) This band has birthed a torrent of hit singles and sold albums by the tens of millions, but its greater significance lies in the fact that it changed the musical landscape so profoundly that every pop act since has been in its debt . Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-481-4849, bbmannpah.com