Best things to do this week in SW FL: Ag Expo, Bob Dylan, Oliver Anthony, Reading Fest

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including viral country-music star Oliver Anthony and the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, the new event replacing the annual Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair. Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks.

EVENT SUBMISSIONS: Got anything cool happening next weekend or later? I’m always looking for concerts, festivals and other great events for my weekly Top 5 things to do. To be considered, email me the details at crunnells@gannett.com or message me at facebook.com/charles.runnells.7.

1. Southwest Florida Ag Expo in North Fort Myers

The Lee County government has taken over the annual Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair and renamed it the Southwest Florida Ag Expo. But you'll still see most of the same things you loved at the fair, including carnival rides, fair food, animal exhibitions and live music. The concert lineup features country cover band Pure Country, the Jimmy Buffet tribute Caribbean Chillers and two former "The Voice" contestants from Southwest Florida: Country singer Ben Allen (with The Ben Allen Band) and singer-songwriter Sheena Brook. Feb. 29-March 10. $10 admission ($5 for ages 4-11, free for younger). Rides cost extra. A $25 megapass ― only available until the gates open at 4 p.m. Feb. 29 ― includes all rides and admission. Various promotional nights are also available, including "Dollar Night" on Feb. 29 ($1 admission, $1 ride tickets). Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. swflagexpo.com

2. 25th-annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival

The Fort Myers reading fest celebrates its big birthday with more than 25 best-selling and award-winning authors, including Jeffery Deaver, Lisa Unger, Dan Yaccarino, Sarah Penner, Charles Todd and Heather Graham. Plus book signings, meet-and-greets, author talks, readings, kids activities, food trucks, vendors and a free book for every child and teenager. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Free. The outdoor event takes place on the campus at Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., downtown Fort Myers. readfest.org

3. PRIDE Cape Coral

The sixth-annual LGBTQ-pride event features a pride parade, vendors, street performers, food trucks and live entertainment onstage, including drag queen Kylie Sonique Love of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars." 3-10 p.m. Saturday, March 2. The parade starts at 4 p.m. and travels along Southwest 47th Terrace from Southeast 15th Avenue to Southeast Eighth Court. Free. There will also be a ticketed event Sunday, March 3, including live performers and a brunch. Tickets for that event are $45. Southwest 47th Terrace between Southeast Ninth Place and Southeast 11th Place, downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/PRIDECapeCoral

4. Oliver Anthony at Hertz Arena

Virginia country singer-songwriter Oliver Anthony landed a viral hit with his fiery 2023 song "Rich Men of North Richmond," which was embraced by Republican leaders and pundits (much to Anthony's annoyance). The Out of the Woods Tour's stop at Hertz Arena is nearly sold out, but there are a lot of verified resale tickets available. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 3. $21-$41. Parking on site is $30 plus taxes and fees (no cash). Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

5. Bob Dylan at Suncoast Arena

The influential folk-rock superstar returns to Southwest Florida with his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour. 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7. $63-$144. Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the Florida SouthWestern State College Campus, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

MORE SHOWS, EVENTS IN FORT MYERS, CAPE CORAL, BONITA SPRINGS

Fort Myers Art Walk

The monthly event features new art exhibits at downtown Fort Myers galleries, receptions and art vendors outside on First Street. This month's exhibits include the colorful, whimsical mixed-media work of Kelly Morrison at DAAS CO-OP and a showcase of work from Fort Myers High students at Davis Art Center. 5-9p.m. Friday, March 1. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk

Bonita Springs National Art Festival

The last in a series of three art fests happening between January and March at Riverside Park. More than 200 artists are featured in the juried event. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3. Free with a suggested $5 donation. Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, downtown Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artcenterbonita.org/artfest

Cool Comics and Games 20th anniversary in Cape Coral

The Cape comic-book shop celebrates its 20th year with local artists, game demos, cosplayers, live music and more. Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March. 2. Free. Cool Comics and Games, 311 Del Prado Blvd. S., Suite 10, Cape Coral. 573-7468 or facebook.com/coolcomicsandgames

Barcelona Flamenco Ballet

The Spanish touring company performs a blend of traditional and modern flamenco dancing set to jazz, classical and flamenco music. This is their first time performing for the Community Concerts series. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7. $25-$55. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

Marc Anthony at Hertz Arena

The Grammy-winning, hit-making salsa singer brings his Viviendo Tour to Estero. 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7. $110-$211. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 948-7825 or hertzarena.com

LOOKING AHEAD

The Beach Boys at B.B. Mann Hall

The groundbreaking rock legends, led by lead singer Mike Love, return to play two shows in south Fort Myers. The band's many hits include “Kokomo,” “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and “Barbara Ann." 3 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8. $53-$116. The 7:30 p.m. show is nearly sold out except for a few scattered single seats. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

Craig Morgan at The Ranch

The country singer's hits include “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club” and “International Harvester." The Reeves Brothers open. Show starts at about 9 p.m. Friday, March 8. Doors open at 7 p.m. $54-$91. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com

Bonita Fest

The second-annual festival features live music from Edith Diamond and The Yabo Brothers, food trucks, a petting zoo, locally brewed craft beers, a family play area with bounce houses, a deejay and more than 25 local businesses exhibiting in the park. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Free. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Rotary Club of Bonita Beach Sunset and the Northside Naples Kiwanis Club.  Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. facebook.com/goatsofbonita

ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd at Hertz Arena

Classic-rock superstars ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd co-headline The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour. The tour name combines two of the bands' biggest hits: ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9. $100-$343. Limited seats remain. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

Sanibel Shell Festival and Shell Show

Shell collectors and artists come from around the world to compete in the prestigious, 87th-annual Sanibel Shell Festival and the associated Sanibel Shell Show — the longest-running competitive shell show in the country. The events feature scientific displays on shells and the mollusks that create them, intricate shell art for sale, raffles, vendors, raffles and shells for sale. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 7-9  (shell show is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday only). Free admission to the festival, $5 for the shell show. The festival takes place at the Sanibel Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. The shell show has moved to a new location this year: Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, 17260 Harbour Pointe Drive. sanibelcommunityhouse.net/event/87th-annual-sanibel-shell-festival

Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival

The 66th-annual festival celebrates Fort Myers Beach's shrimp industry, which was devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The weekend fest returns with some changes after skipping 2023. The fest's usual home, Lynn Hall Memorial Park, is still under construction after the hurricane. So this year, the fest's arts and crafts fair takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10, at Bayside Park and between First & Third streets. Other events happen at various Beach locations, including the Shrimp Crawl from March 4-10 (in place of the usual Lions Shrimp Boil); the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, on Estero Boulevard; and the Blessing of the Fleet at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 10, at Erickson & Jensen Seafood, 1100 Shrimp Boat Lane, following a 10 a.m. traditional Sunday church service on the grounds. The Matanzas Bridge will close at 9 a.m. for the parade. For more information, visit fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com or facebook.com/ShrimpFestFMB.

IslandFest and Mullet Toss

The annual Pine Island festival includes food, fishing seminars, vendors, live music, a mermaid and pirate costume contest, the Kiwanis Fish Drop and the Mullet Toss, where players see how far they can throw a real (but dead) mullet. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9. $5. Phillips Park Ball Field, 5675 Sesame Dr, Bokeelia. 283-0888 or pineislandchamber.org

— Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers, Bonita Springs concerts, events: Bob Dylan, Oliver Anthony