The good news from the Fort Myers area continues to come in—including the re-opening of thousands of hotel rooms and much more coming in for 2023. In fact, 65 percent of the guestrooms have already opened—9,302 of them.
Below we’re sharing a list of updates and fun things going on in the area so you can share them with your clients. Please keep in mind that things in the area are still fluid, and there may be changes—you might want to double-check with the individual businesses about their current status.
Fort Myers Updates
Attractions and Entertainment
2023 Bluegrass with NITROGRASS Tour – Final Florida concert at the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, downtown Fort Myers on Jan. 18. luminaryhotel.com/events/bluegrass-with-nitrograss
38th Annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts in Cape Coral – Jan. 14-15. capecoralfestival.com
Downtown Fort Myers Monthly Events
Music Walk – Jan. 20, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Downtown comes alive on the third Friday of each month as regional musicians line the streets with everything from jazz and blues to rock and roll. Free.
myriverdistrict.com
Spring Training 2023 (Tickets go on sale in January)
Boston Red Sox
Feb. 24-March 28
Opening game with Tampa Bay Rays
JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
mlb.com/redsox/tickets/spring-training
Minnesota Twins
Feb. 25-March 27
Opening game with Tampa Bay Rays
Lee County Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
mlb.com/twins/tickets/spring-training
ECHO Global Farm Tours, North Fort Myers
Experience farming and gardening at its most creative, with unique demonstrations, plants and techniques being used to help farming families around the world. Guided walking tours are 90 minutes, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. echonet.org
Butterfly House tours, Monday, Friday and Saturday, Cape Coral
The Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House is home to many native Florida butterfly species, including the zebra longwing, the state butterfly. 10:30 a.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday. Ccfriendsofwildlife.org/tom-allen-memorial-butterfly-garden
True Tours, River District History Tours
This walking tour educates and entertains with narratives of local history and stories about the colorful personalities of the founders of Fort Myers. Tour at 10:30 a.m. each first and third Saturday of the month. True Tours, 2200 First St., Fort Myers, 239-945-0405, truetours.net
Airport News
Sun Country Airlines has new nonstop service from the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) to Eau Claire, Wisconsin (EAU) twice weekly. suncountry.com
Avelo Airlines begins service from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) on Feb. 16, 2023 and from Wilmington, Delaware (ILG) on Feb. 3 aveloair.com
Listen Up and Pass it On: Latest Shellcast podcast focuses on Boca Grande
Get more info direct from the locals about how this island community is recovering from Hurricane Ian Shellcast is available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, at VisitFortMyers.com/shellcast and at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=533TLP3U1Qo
Annual Festivals and Events 2023 (Dates subject to change, please confirm)
38th Annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, Cape Coral
Jan. 14-15
capecoralfestival.com
ArtFest Fort Myers, Downtown River District
Feb. 3-5
artfestfortmyers.com
21st Annual Burrowing Owl Festival, Cape Coral
Feb. 25
Rotary Park
ccfriendsofwildlife.org/burrowing-owl-festival-2
Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, Fort Myers
Feb. 18
edisonfestival.org
24th Annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Fort Myers
March 4
readfest.org
ECHO Global Food and Farm Festival, North Fort Myers
March 7-11
echonet.org/events/global-food-and-farm-festival
13th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival
May 17-21
fortmyersfilmfestival.com
Captiva Pride Weekend
June 2-4
tween-waters.com/captiva-pride-weekend
National Seashell Day
June 21
visitfortmyers.com/national-seashell-day
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Sept. 22-Oct. 1
island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com
Sanibel Island Writers Conference
November TBD
fgcu.edu/siwc
For more information, visit visitfortmyers.com/open.
