TOP 10 THINGS TO D O THIS WEEK
Charles Runnells
Fort Myers News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
If you go to an in-person event, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask, avoiding mass gatherings and staying at least 6 feet from others. For more CDC guidelines, visit bit.ly/2OxDkqq.
1. Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair
The annual event features carnival rides, food, live performances, livestock competitions and more. Feb. 25-March 7. Admission is $8 in advance, $10 at the gate, $4-$5 for ages 6-11, free for younger. Rides cost extra. Various admission and ride packages are available. Masks strongly recommended (especially indoors) but not required outside where social distancing can be maintained. Visitors are asked to socially distance. Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. swflcfair.com
2. Edison Festival of Light
The big parades got canceled this year — thanks, COVID — but there are still lots of events happening at the annual Thomas Edison celebration in downtown Fort Myers. This weekend’s activities include the Crafts on the River craft show (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on Edwards Drive), the Mutt Strutt (noon to 4 p.m. Saturday on Hendry Street), the Junior Fun Run (4 p.m. Saturday on Edwards Drive), and an event with food trucks and craft beer (2-8 p.m. Saturday on Edwards and Hendry). Free. Downtown Fort Myers. edisonfestival.org/events
3. Circus Lena
The traveling circus brings acrobats, clowns and more to the Edison Mall parking lot. Opens today and continues through March 7. $15-$30. Masks required. Socially distanced seating. The event takes place under a tent at Edison Mall, 4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. circuslena.com
4. ‘On Your Feet!’
The dance-filled musical tells the story of crossover sensations Emilio and Gloria Estefan of Miami Sound Machine. It’s filled with hits such as “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Conga” and “Get On Your Feet.” This will be the first regional production of the musical in Florida. Now through April 10. $48-$68 ($26-$30 for children). Masks required when not eating or drinking. Reduced capacity with socially distant seating. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm. com
5. Hubble Space Telescope exhibit
This new, permanent exhibit celebrates the science and awe-inspiring photos of the Hubble Space Telescope. Large murals show constellations, nebulas, supernovas, star clusters and more. Free with museum admission of $12-$15 (free for ages 2 and younger). Masks recommended but not required for visitors (all employees must wear masks). Social distancing encouraged. IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 243-0043 or theimag.org
6. Coconut Point Art Festival
More than 200 artists show and sell their work at this popular outdoor fest. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free. Social distancing required. Attendees are asked to wear masks. Coconut Point shopping center, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero. 561-746-6615 or artfestival. com
7. Movie in the Park: “Hoot”
In this movie, a group of kids try to save a burrowing-owl habitat from bad-guy developers building a pancake restaurant in Coconut Cove — a fictional town modeled after Cape Coral. “Hoot” will be shown outdoors on a big, inflatable screen. 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday. The movie starts at 6:30, but visitors are encouraged to arrive earlier to get a good spot. Seating is limited. Free. Pre-registration required. The lawn at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral. facebook.com/capecoralspecialevents
8. ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Florida Rep’s acting interns perform the Shakespeare classic on the theater’s outdoor stage. Today through Sunday. Audience members sit in clearly marked, 12-by-12foot squares. Each square can accommodate
up to six socially distanced people. Florida Rep will provide seating, but audience members can also bring blankets or lawn chairs. Masks and social distancing required. $60-$100 per square. The new stage is on the lawn by the Hall of Fifty States near the intersection of Edwards Drive and Jackson Street, within sight of Florida Rep. 332-4488 or FloridaRep. org
9. ‘Sing-O Bingo’ The Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers perform a virtual “choral bingo concert” that combines music with a live bingo game. Part of the annual Edison Festival of Light. The concert program includes Mozart’s “Te Deum,” Jake Runestad’s “Your Soul Is Song” and “God Bless the Young Folk” (with words by W.E.B. Du Bois and music by Carol Barnett). 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. The concert will be performed on both Facebook and YouTube. mastersingersfm. com
10. ‘Stories of Love’
Storytellers take the stage to tell their tales of love lost and love gained. Presented on the Alliance’s outdoor stage by Storytellers of the Round Table and The Elephant Showcase Storytellers. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25. The socially distanced audience will be divided into 6-by-6foot square spaces on the lawn and should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Reservations required. Tickets are $12.50 per person, or $50 for the whole square. Attendees must wear masks while indoors at the Alliance and whenever social distancing isn’t possible. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee. org
MORE
Not enough? Here are a few more events happening in Southwest Florida over the next week:
Music Walk. 6-10 p.m. today in downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/RiverDistrictAlliance
“Guys and Doll: Love on the Rocks,” musical revue featuring the songs of Broadway. Today through Sunday at Players Circle Theater, North Fort Myers. playerscircletheater. com “Rock & Roll The String Quartet”: Guitarist/singer Andrew Lipke leads a Southwest Florida Symphony string quartet. The national tour of the quartet in this touring mash-up concert. They’ll blend the music of Beethoven, Mozart, Bartok and Haydn with The Beatles, The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Through Sunday at various Southwest Florida venues. 418-1500 or swflso.org Bonita Springs Fine Arts at The Promenade art festival. Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at The Promenade at Bonita Bay, Bonita Springs. boulderbrook.net Florida Empanada Festival. 1-5:30 p.m. Saturday at Charlotte County Fairgrounds, Port Charlotte. bap.ticketleap.com/florida-empanada-festival Misty Morning Barn Music Festival. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Misty Morning Barn, Lee County. Tickets at theranchfortmyers.com Gulfshore Opera performs the streaming concert “Viva Verdi.” 4 p.m. Sunday online and live from Punta Gorda’s The Gulf Theater. gulfshoreopera.org
Wisconsin Fest. Starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Salty Sam’s Waterfront Adventures, Fort Myers Beach. SaltySams.com Reiko and Friends, free outdoor classical concerts with love-themed music for Valentine’s Day. 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 at FSW College; 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at Harlem Heights Charter School and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28 at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral. facebook.com/VyolynBabe Badfish , Sublime tribute band.
9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at The Ranch in Fort Myers. theranchfortmyers.com
LOOKING AHEAD
Best of the Eagles, tribute band. Feb. 26 at The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs. artcenterbonita.org
Culture Night , concert featuring local hip-hop performers. Feb. 26 at Rockstar Harley-Davidson, south Fort Myers. facebook.com/RockstarHarleyDavidson American Virtuosi chamber concert. Feb. 26 at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, downtown Fort Myers. sbdac.com Cape Coral Charity Car Show. Feb. 27 at Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral (a new location). capecoralcharitycarshow. com “Botticelli in the Fire,” regional premiere of the Jordan Tannahill play. Feb. 26-March 14 at The Laboratory Theater of Florida, downtown Fort Myers. laboratorytheaterflorida. com Greek Fest Fort Myers, a drive-through, food-focused version of the popular annual event. Feb. 26-28 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Fort Myers. greekfestfortmyers.com “The Music of Sam Cooke, The King of Soul.” Feb. 26 at BIG ARTS, Sanibel Island. The 8 p.m. show is sold out, but tickets are still available for 4 p.m. bigarts.org Got anything cool happening next weekend or later? Email me the details at crunnells@newspress. com.