Top 5 things to do this weekend in Naples: New Mercato cinema opens, Turandot opera

Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News
·3 min read

Opera and theater take center stage this weekend, with Gulfshore Opera's "Turandot" coming to Artis―Naples and "Carrie: The Musical" opening at TheatreZone, its final production of the 2023-24 season.

What else is happening? Go to our events calendar. There's plenty of things to do, including plays, farmers markets and more.

And if there's an event you'd like to see featured in our weekly Top 5, please email it to dosborn@gannett.com. Write up something short in the format you see in this week's Top 5 and, if possible, please send a photo as well.

5. Check out Sensory Saturday at Naples Botanical Garden

Jordan Donini, A biology professor at Florida Southwestern State College prepares to release a Florida mud turtle at the Naples Botanical Gardens on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Donini, along with the help of several FSW students and former students along with staff from the Naples Botanical Gardens released almost two dozen turtles that were originally poached from Southwest Florida and then confiscated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Turtlesecond0243

Sensory-Friendly Saturday returns from 4-6 p.m. April 27 at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive. This event is created especially for guests and families with autism spectrum disorder and other sensory processing needs. Family-friendly hands-on activities and an air-conditioned take-a-break space will be provided. Next one is May 11. Admission is free but must RSVP ahead of time in order to minimize disturbances at naplesgarden.org.

4. Christian musician Brandon Lake performs concert at Hertz Arena

Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham performs during the 54th annual Dove Awards at Lipscomb University in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Lake later went on to receive Artist of the Year.
Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham performs during the 54th annual Dove Awards at Lipscomb University in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Lake later went on to receive Artist of the Year.

Christian worship singer, songwriter and guitarist Brandon Lake brings his Tear Off The Roof Tour to Hertz Arena. The nearly sold-out show also features Doe and Jon Foreman. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 28. $48-$200. Parking on site is $30 (no cash). Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 239-948-7825 or hertzarena.com

3. 'Carrie: The Musical' opens at TheatreZone in Naples

Brianna Bauch will be in "Carrie: The Musical" at TheatreZone of Naples.
Brianna Bauch will be in "Carrie: The Musical" at TheatreZone of Naples.

TheatreZone of Naples presents "Carrie: The Musical," an adaptation of Carrie White’s story, as written by Stephen King in 1974. 7:30 p.m. April 25-28 and May 2-5; 2 p.m. April 27-28 and May 5. Tickets start at $50. The G&L Theatre at the Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Road. theatre.zone

2. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema opens (finally!) at Mercato

Evening at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at Mercato in North Naples, Florida.
Evening at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at Mercato in North Naples, Florida.

Silverspot ― a popular upscale theater at Mercato in North Naples ― announced last summer that it was leaving. About a week later, the Austin, Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema said it would move into the space, 9118 Strada Place, after making renovations. Well, they have and the theater opens to the public Monday, April 29. There's also mini golf in the lobby. Tickets for the cinema’s opening week are available for purchase at Drafthouse.com/Southwest-Florida.

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1. See Gulfshore Opera's 'Turandot' on Saturday at Artis―Naples

Soprano Shannon Jennings and tenor Leonid Shoshyn star as Princess Turandot and Prince Calaf in Gulfshore Opera's "Turandot."
Soprano Shannon Jennings and tenor Leonid Shoshyn star as Princess Turandot and Prince Calaf in Gulfshore Opera's "Turandot."

The opera "Turandot" heads to Artis―Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Gulfshore Opera will be joined by the Naples Philharmonic with 62 musicians onstage. The icy, fantasy-themed "Turandot" was Giacomo Puccini's final opera. It tells the story of valiant Prince Calaf, who falls in love with the Ice Princess of Turandot. Tickets from $60. More at artisnaples.org or gulfshoreopera.org

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on X (formerly Twitter) @NDN_dosborn.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What to do in Naples: Mercato cinema opens, Turandot at Artis―Naples