Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, Cape Coral - Jan. 12-13, 2019 - This annual event in its 33rd year draws hundreds of artists and more than 100,000 visitors.
TheatreZone Broadway & Happy Hour - Naples - Jan. 17, 2019 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. - See the talented and personable TheatreZone professional actors “out of character" in a series of four cabarets throughout season. Cast members from each of TheatreZone’s four Broadway series shows will perform their favorite show tunes, sharing stories about the history of the music and their personal connections to the songs. A new cast will be featured on each date. Guests will enjoy wine, Prosecco, beer and hors d’oeuvres at a pre-concert reception. Open to the public and held “outside the Zone” at the Moorings Park auditorium, 120 Moorings Park Drive.
Fort Lauderdale Art & Design Week - Fort Lauderdale - Jan. 19-27, 2019 - Greater Fort Lauderdale’s growing art scene will be in the spotlight with the debut of Fort Lauderdale Art & Design Week. Anchored by the third annual Art Fort Lauderdale – “The Art Fair on the Water,” the inaugural Fort Lauderdale Art & Design Week will bring together the destination’s cultural community for a week of museum exhibitions, shows, art studio tours, gallery openings, architectural walks, dining experiences, roundtables, exclusive parties and more.
Bootcamp & Brews - Surfside - Jan. 17 and Feb. 7, 2019 from 6 to 9 p.m. - This event will combine an energizing, heart-pumping, one-hour boot camp, followed by a rewarding craft beer tasting at the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside. Tickets are $5 per person.
Florida Keys Seafood Festival - Key West - Jan. 19-20 - In Key West’s Bayview Park, the 14th annual family-friendly festival spotlights the Keys’ fresh seafood and members of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen Inc., who harvest the bounty. A new boat show is sponsored by Caribee Boat Sales and Marina in Islamorada and Marathon Boat Yard.
AllStars of TheatreZone - Naples - Jan. 25, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. - In this one-night-only xtravaganza, TheatreZone fan favorites – all professional actors – will sing Broadway show tunes, wear gorgeous costumes, dance up a storm, and tell witty stories about themselves, the songs and the shows while accompanied by a live orchestra. The all-stars include Larry Alexander, Adolpho Blair, Karen Molnar Danni, Steven Geyer, Brent Kuenning, Becca McCoy, Natale Pirrotta, Carolann Sanita and Whitney Winfield. The evening begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Germain Honda of Naples. 3295 Pine Ridge Road. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at TheatreZone and includes a live auction at intermission.
Twisted Strings, Fort Myers - Fort Myers - Jan. 26, 2019 - The annual, outdoor festival brings together classically trained musicians who fuse their years of musical training on stringed (and other) instruments with the sounds of jazz, blues, soul, rock, hip hop and world music. Visit site for lineup and ticket information.
ArtFest Fort Myers - Fort Myers - Feb. 1-3, 2019 - On the waterfront in downtown Fort Myers, visitors enjoy made-in-USA original art by more than 200 artists. Enjoy food, music and fun for the whole family.
The 25th Annual Pigeon Key Art Festival - Marathon - Feb. 2-3, 2019 - At Marathon Community Park attracts scores of art lovers to view creative artwork in the mediums of pottery, painting, glass, sculpture, photography and jewelry; live music and Keys cuisine also are featured. Pigeon Key Foundation benefits from the celebrated event, held for a quarter of a century.
81st Annual Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade - Fort Myers - Feb. 16, 2019 - Parade begins at 7 p.m. at Edison Stadium and continues to the Fort Myers downtown River District. During February, Fort Myers celebrates the birthday of its most illustrious historical resident, Thomas A. Edison, in befitting fashion. Edison, who built a home on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River and spent 46 winters there, invented the light bulb and held more than 1,200 patents. So it’s appropriate that the month of activities culminates with a lighted night parade. Invention competitions, parties, craft shows and a 5K run are all part of the festival. Celebrating 79 years, the month of February is filled with special events.
Craft Brew and Wingfest - Vero Beach - Feb. 16, 2019 - The craft brew effect seems to be taking hold in Vero Beach, as more than 10,000 festival goers attend the annual Craft Brew and Wingfest celebration at Royal Palms Point. The community is dedicated to giving back, and this charitable festival benefits the Rotary Club of Vero Beach Sunrise. A pre-party event, craft brew competitions, live music, and a kid friendly pavilion, and dancing water fountains keep active children engaged.
The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®) - Fort Lauderdale - Feb. 20-24, 2019 - Kicking off the 2019 festival is a dinner hosted by Donatella Arpaia, PJ Calapa and Michael Chavez. The series continues throughout the festival with a dinner hosted by Anne Burrell and Angelo Elia; dinner hosted by Elizabeth Karmel and Martina McBride; Clambake hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli and Jorge Ramos; Rock ‘n Roll hosted by Adam Richman; Sunset Spritz hosted by Valerie Bertinelli; Cajun-Cooking Master Class & Lunch hosted by Sam & Cody Carroll; and the first-ever Festival Drag Brunch hosted by Alex Carr and Elvis Duran.
82nd Annual Sanibel Shell Fair & Show - Sanibel Island - March 1-3, 2019 - Sanibel Island, named the best shelling beach in the U.S. and one of the best in the world, hosts shelling enthusiasts who gather each year for the shell fair that draws visitors from around the globe. One of the most unique events in the country, it began on a porch with just a few islanders and has evolved into today's fair that includes demonstrations, shell displays, crafts, prizes, food and entertainment.
Conch Shell Blowing Contest - Key West - March 2, 2019 - This popular contest has been an island tradition for more than a half century, celebrating its 57th year. Held at the Oldest House Museum at 322 Duval St., this unique contest attracts all ages celebrating the historic importance of Keys conch. Merrymakers attempt to blow tunes using fluted conch shells.
Pelican Island Wildlife Festival - Vero Beach - March 9, 2019 - This festival honoring the area’s natural resources is also a birthday party for the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the USA’s first national refuge (dedicated in 1903). Visitors will celebrate a day devoted to the environment while enjoying pontoon boat tours, live wildlife shows, jaw-dropping photography displays and non-stop family fun in Sebastian.
61st Annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade - Fort Myers Beach - March 10-11, 2019 - Activities for the 61st annual Fort Myers Beach shrimp harvest event will include a parade, crowning of the Shrimp Queen, craft vendors, the boiled shrimp concession, and other seafood booths set up both days at Lynn Hall Memorial Park.
11th Annual Savor the Avenue - Delray Beach - March 25, 2019 - An amazing evening of dining under the stars—and down the double yellow line of famed Atlantic Avenue—at the food and wine event of the year. Join hundreds of guests—and 17 of Downtown Delray’s finest restaurants—at Florida’s longest dining table, one that runs more than five blocks and 1,300 feet long.
9th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival - Locations throughout Lee County - March 2019 - The Fort Myers Film Festival is an intelligent independent filmmaker's preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. Known for its support of local filmmakers, the event is a must-attend for cineastes who love indie film and film festivals. Check out all the details on the website.
Sarasota Film Festival - Sarasota - April 5-14, 2019 - For a week and a half, Sarasota turns to “mini Hollywood” for the Sarasota Film Festival. Oscar-winning and nominated actors, directors, and movies can be found downtown across three venues. Some like Richard Dreyfuss and Sophia Loren have shared experiences to large audiences while accepting lifetime achievement awards. Others speak with students and local media at the nearby Ringling College of Art and Design, where several students have ended up submitted or working on their own films to debut at the festival. Over 20 years, the festival has grown from three to ten days.
Mote’s Marine Laboratory’s Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration - Key West - April 13, 2019 - Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center at Key West’s Truman Waterfront Park, showcases the Keys’ marine environment. Florida-based Mote Marine Laboratory’s family-friendly event features marine-themed games, music, food and vendors.
“Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tourney - Sanibel Island - May 3, 2019 - To celebrate the history of the first documented tarpon caught on a rod-and-reel in “Ding” Darling’s Tarpon Bay in 1885, Doc Ford’s and the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge have partnered to host this 8th annual “catch, care, and release” tournament. Registration is $500 per team of four, 100 percent of which goes back to the anglers in cash awards. Proceeds support the wildlife and conservation efforts at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Check out all of the details on the website.
Harvey Milk Festival - Sarasota - May 4-11, 2019 - The 10th annual Harvey Milk Festival celebrates one of the first openly gay American elected to public office by featuring a variety of attractions to engage a large and diverse audience. Local musicians, films, performances, and other visual arts can be found during the May weekend in downtown Sarasota.
The Key West Songwriters Festival - Key West - May 8-12, 2019 - Features America’s foremost performing songwriters at dozens of concerts, staged in intimate, audience-friendly settings. Typically included are more than 50 shows and 200 country and pop music hit-makers. The world’s largest festival of its kind celebrates 24 years with five days and nights of musical stars in intimate settings.
Key West Pride - Key West - June 5-9, 2019 - Includes five days of fun for Key West’s LGBTQ visitors, friends and partners. Events include pool parties, late-night drag shows and parties, a cocktail competition, on-the-water adventures, a street fair, pageants, 10-K relay for tutu-wearing runners and a lively colorful parade.
Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival - Vero Beach - June 6-9, 2019 - Legendary film critic Jeffrey Lyons will host the third installment of this dynamic festival touted as “The New Summer Sundance” by The Huffington Post. This event features top wineries from around the globe, Vero Beach’s swankiest venues and of course, some of the Sunshine State’s finest filmmakers.
23rd Annual MangoMania Tropical Fruit Festival - Pine Island - July 13-14, 2019 - The mango is the star attraction for two days each summer on Pine Island. Go wild for fruit as you sample locally-grown delicacies at this annual affair, an unusual celebration of all the tropical fruit grown on the island, which includes lychee, carambola, longan, papaya, and “chocolate pudding fruit.” Fruit, exotic fruit trees, and fruit-related products are available for purchase. This fun, family event celebrates Pine Island's mangoes and other tropical fruits. In addition to mango food and beverages, the event features live music, art and craft vendors, food and recipe contests, and activities area for kids and a chance to meet the Mango Queen.
3rd Annual Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week - Delray Beach - Aug. 1-7, 2019 - Discover the diverse dining scene and wide-array of culinary experiences in Downtown Delray Beach during the summer season - a tropical and leisurely time of year in South Florida. The week-long event provides locals and visitors an opportunity to discover new and existing Downtown restaurants, cafés and juice bars featuring special multi-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, dine out deals and culinary experiences.
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest - Fort Myers - Sept. 20-29, 2019 - The popular event brings music back to the beach with new artists and new events. The festival takes place over 10 days and offers a range of star-studded performances. It kicks off on Captiva Island Sept. 20-22; moves to downtown Fort Myers Sept. 23-26; and ends at Fort Myers Beach Sept. 27-29. The festival is presented by The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, iHeartRadio, Cat Country 107.1 and BMI. It was named one of the top events for summer by the Southeast Tourism Society. Past performers include Midland, Parmalee, Thompson Square and Grammy Award winner Maren Morris. The sixth annual event will continue to give fans the opportunity to meet the talented artists who write songs for country superstars including Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean and Tricia Yearwood.
