November 2020 What’s Happening Southwest Florida

October 29, 2020 | Events

WINK Taste of Lee 2020
Join BSC and WINK News for the 7th Annual Taste of Lee at Centennial Park in Fort Myers on Saturday, November 7th from 11 am – 6 pm and Sunday, November 8th from 11 am – 5 pm. This weekend-long event features the best of Lee County, showcasing our community’s local restaurants and businesses. Activities include a children’s are, music and over 30 food trucks and kiosks for people to enjoy with family and friends. Visit their website for more information.

Art in the Park at Baker Park | Naples | November 7 from 10 am – 4 pm
The NEW Naples Art outdoor season will open with Art in the Park in beautiful Baker Park. Since 1957, Art in the Park has showcased the talents of artists and is believed to be the first outdoor art show held in Naples. Art in the Park carries on the tradition of providing the community access to the very creative fine art and craftwork of local artists.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Abridged | November 12 – 15
Live theatre returns – outdoors and with social distancing – at the Alliance! The Alliance for the Arts Youth Theatre has been working hard to create an intimate, open-air venue where you can safely enjoy live entertainment. Seating is limited and you will be required to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. To reserve your 6×6 square, click here.

Naples Balloon Glow at Collier County Fair Grounds | November 13 – 15
Hot air balloons (weather permitting), food vendors, retail vendors, kids zone and more! *This event has a controlled capacity. All guests require one car pass per vehicle for admission. This covers parking and admission to the event for everyone in your vehicle.*

Broadway Palm Dinner Theater presents:

• Mamma Mia! | Now thru November 14 | Back by popular demand is Mamma Mia! Told through Abba’s greatest hits is a comical story of Sophie, a bride-to-be, and her search for her birth father on a beautiful Greek island. After reading her mom’s diary, Sophie secretly invites the three men her mom wrote about to her wedding. This enchanting and unforgettable tale of love, laughter, family and friendship is set to ABBA classics including Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, SOS and the title song Mamma Mia! Buy Tickets
• Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn | The Broadway Musical | Starts November 19 | The heart-warming story follows Jim as he leaves the bright lights of show business to settle down in a farmhouse in Connecticut. When Jim meets a spirited schoolteachers with a hidden talent to spare, they turn a farmhouse into a fabulous inn that is only open on the holidays. Based on the 1942 film starring Big Crosby and Fred Astaire, hear Irving Berlin classics Shaking the Blues Away, Blue Skies, Easter Parade and White Christmas.

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
New art exhibit every month from local to world-renowned artists. Exhibits are open from November 6 – 25th. Call ahead for gallery hours for other times, 239.333.1933. $1 Donation Entry Fee. This month’s exhibits feature:

• I’earth 2020 | I’earth, is a project that started in 2014 by Beth, which was inspired by the work of Tiite Baquero’s investigation into the role of art in the future of humanity and of all life on Earth.
• Aristotle Zenobia Sunshine | The Museum of Natural, Technological and Sociological Wonders 2020 Traveling Exhibition: Selections from the collections exploring the re-creation of something that never was.

Yappy Hour at Bell Tower Shops | November 13 from 6 – 8 pm
The area’s largest pet-friendly social hour, providing an evening of fun for pet lovers and their four-legged friends. Yappy Hour runs from 6 – 8 PM the second Friday of every month (weather permitting) in center court of Bell Tower Shops.

4th Annual Cape Coral Animal Shelter Golf Classic | Saturday, November 21
Join us for the 4th Annual Cape Coral Animal Sehlter Golf Classic being held at Coral Oaks Golf Course. Enjoy breakfast before the shotgun start at 8:30 am. On-course beverages are included (beer, soda and water), as well as a luncheon reception with goodie bags and prizes! Click here for more info.

SW-FloridaCon 2020 at Crowne Plaza Fort Myers | Sunday, November 22 from 10 am – 6 pm
The SW-FloridaCon, a collectors mecca convention, strives to be Florida’s best and truest comic con featuring fandoms of multiple genres. As long-time fans of comic books, toys, pop-culture, wrestling, gaming, cosplay, animation, sci-fi and fantasy, the promoter wanted to bring that style event to SouthWest Florida.

Annual Treelighting Celebration at ‘Tween Waters | November 27th
Gather with family for sunset skies as 100,000 holiday lights come to life across the resort and beachfront fireworks light the night with a beautiful snow storm and laser light show. This year, to respect physical distancing, the Tree Lighting Ceremony will be open to Overnight Resort Guests Only. Make your reservations early! http://bit.ly/StayTween

Masters Art Festival | November 27th & 28th from 9 am – 4 pm
After you have enjoyed your Thanksgiving meal, stroll through the Masters Art Festival hosted by Sanibel Community House, located at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL.

Escape the Cape!
What is Escape the Cape? Imagine yourself trapped in a room. You’ve got 60 minutes to find clues, solve puzzles and work together with up to 10 people on how to escape! Plan your escape today!

Farmers’ Markets & Social Distancing Events

Cape Coral Downtown Farmers’ Market – Open Saturdays from 8 am – 1 pm in Club Square. One of the largest markets in Southwest Florida!

Surfside Sunshine Farmers’ Market – Located in the Shops at Surfside, NW corner of Veterans Parkway & Surfside Boulevard will be open every Tuesday from 1 – 6 pm now through April, 2021.

Lakes Park Farmers’ Market – Now open every Wednesday from 9 am – 1 pm at Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. Parking is free during market hours at the park.

• Vendors  at the above locations will offer produce, foods, soaps & pet foods.  Visitors are asked to wear face masks and maintain social distancing recommendations.  Additional staff will be stationed at the markets to encourage people to follow social distancing guidelines.​

Alliance Market – The Alliance for the Arts GreenMarket is open to the public from 9 am – 1 pm every Saturday, with added precautions & following CDC guidelines. The Wednesday drive-thru pickup service initiated in response to COVID-19 will also remain in operation. Located at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.

Local Roots Online Farmers’ Market – Offering curbside pick-up or delivery from vendors.  Go to www.localrootsonlinefarmersmarket.com to order.

Amusements, Museums & Zoos ~ Oh My!

IMAG@HOME – As leaders in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and local history education, the IMAG is bringing the history and science center into the homes of many with a daily schedule of programs that entertain and nurture our intellectual curiosity and desire to learn. Think of IMAG@HOME as your “daily dose of history and science” in a new, fun digital way. Click HERE to learn more.

Calusa Nature Center is full of events as well. Be sure to check their calendar for their next Nature Hike or Alligator Talk!

Edison and Ford Winter Estates – For children ages 18 months – 5 years, we are offering a Preschool Program: Emerging Inventors the First and Third Tuesday of each month, now through April, 2021 | 10 – 11 am.

FastTrax Entertainment, previously known as Zoomers, will soon be open. To be in the KNOW, sign up for their newsletter!

Naples Zoo is open for full outdoor experiences at a limited capacity. Click HERE before you go.

Naples Botanical Garden – Veterans Day Appreciation Days ~ To show our appreciate to our servicemen and women, military personnel (active or retired) with valid I.D. will receive free admission to the Garden from Saturday, November 7 through Wednesday, November 11. Regular Garden admission for all other guests. Purchase your timed tickets here.

Shell Factory Nature Park – Come check out their new carousel ~ just $1/ride! You can also purchase special fun park packages online. There is so much to do at the Shell Factory – check out their calendar. A month full of live performances and flea markets!

Sky Zone Trampoline Park – The originators of wall-to-wall aerial action! Always working to invent epic new ways to play, gather and compete. Sky Zone is a space to move, create and be yourself. And there’s enough room for everyone, so all kids ~ and kids at heart ~ can play together. Come bounce the day away or schedule that special birthday celebration! Learn more HERE.

Tour Sanibel Island with Tarpon Bay Explorers
Kayak & Standup Paddleboard tours along with Nature & Sealife Cruises have resumed at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Rentals such as kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and bikes are on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations are recommended for guided kayak, paddleboard and boat tours.  Call 239.472.8900 and visit them online.

Recreation at Home

Alliance for the Arts – A variety of classes, both online and in person are happening!  Be sure to check out their calendar of events!

Stay At Home Storytime – Lee County Library System will post new story times every Wednesday at 10 am on YouTube, be sure to check it out!

Virtual Game Night – Make every game night an EPIC game night! Let’s Roam has taken their mission virtual, helping people explore, discover, and connect through a one-of-a-kind video platform. Combining crazy-fun games with embedded video chat software for a game night experience that will level up your joy! Five rounds of fun will take you through: Trivia, Charades, Let’s Draw, Trivia About You, and Drinking Games. And what’s even better, is it’s FREE! Learn More