Best things to do this weekend in SW FL: Florida Air Show, Fair at Fenway South

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are our top 5 five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including the Florida International Air Show, WINK Taste of the Town and the Fair at Fenway South at JetBlue Park.

Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks: Blues singer-guitarist Dave Keller, Theatre Conspiracy's zany "clown-noir" dramedy "Clown Bar" and more.

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. Fair at Fenway South returns to JetBlue Park

The family-friendly fair is back at JetBlue Park with three weekends of carnival rides, kids rides, live shows, midway games, fair food and vendors. The live shows include racing pigs, a traveling wolf pack, a petting corral, a magician and a hypnotist. Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 3-19. Admission is $12 at the gate or $6 online with a two-for-one coupon available on the website. All shows are free with admission. Rides cost extra. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, south Fort Myers. fairatfenway.com

2. Florida International Air Show

The popular show returns with more flight demonstrations and antique military aircraft. Headliners this year include the aerial parachute demonstration team the SOCOM Para-Commandos and the ever-popular U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Shows start at noon Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4-5. Gates open at 9 a.m. $40-$75 per day ($15-$40 for ages 2-12). Punta Gorda Airport, 28000 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. 833-743-3427 or floridaairshow.com

3. WINK Taste of the Town at Caloosa Sound

Sample a variety of dishes from more than 20 Lee County restaurants and food vendors at this annual event. Plus live music, vendors and a children's area with bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall and more. The band lineup includes The Boots Band, The Dead Ataris, Mike Imbasciani and his BluezRockerz, Rock Republic and Deb and the Dynamics. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4-5. $10 admission (free for kids 2 and younger). Food costs extra. Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Centennial Park, 2000 W. First St., downtown Fort Myers. bscevent.com/wink-taste-of-the-town-fort-myers

4. Doug MacGregor art exhibit at Alliance

The former The News-Press cartoonist shows off his whimsical, colorful mosaic paintings and graphite drawings in an exhibit called "Whimsy & Wonder." His work depicts both animals and a view of the galaxy's stars and other wonders. Nov 3-25. Opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. Free. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org

5. Field of Dreamz festival with Aaron Tippin, Chase Rice, Joe Nichols

Country stars Aaron Tippin, Chase Rice, Joe Nichols and Riley Green play the two-day Field of Dreamz music fest in Port Charlotte. Plus vendors, auctions, food trucks and more. Bring your own lawn chairs. No blankets, umbrellas, coolers or outside food allowed. Gates open at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday, Nov. 3-4. $55 per day, $95 for both, $125-$200 for VIP, plus taxes and fees. Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte. bigboytoyzexpo.com/port-charlotte-event-field-of-dreams

MORE THINGS TO DO

Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift in Fort Myers

A Listeso Music Group string quartet performs the songs of megastar Taylor Swift on a candlelit stage. The tentative setlist includes "Lavender Haze," "Cardigan," "Anti-Hero," "Shake It Off" and "I Knew You Were Trouble." 6:30 and 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. $35-$57. The shows were added after two other shows sold out (Nov. 3 and Dec. 5). Music & Arts Community Center, 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. 277-1700 or gcsarts.org

Sanibel On-Campus Writers Conference comes to FGCU

A mini version of the annual Sanibel Island Writers Conference comes to FGCU with two days of writing workshops and a Saturday keynote address by acclaimed poet Richard Blanco. Friday and Saturday, Nov, 3-4. Free. FGCU's AB9 and Harvey and Janet Cohen Student Union, 10501 FGCU Blvd., Estero. fgcu.edu/siwc or facebook.com/sanibelislandwritersconference

Fort Myers Art Walk with new hours

The monthly event in downtown Fort Myers features new art exhibits at downtown galleries, receptions and art vendors outside on First Street. This month's exhibits include the creative macramé art of Miami's Reiniery Mariani at DAAS CO-OP. Art Walk has new hours now: 5-9p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk

Classic car show fundraiser for Cape Coral toddler

Check out a colorful display of classic cars and help raise money for 2-year-old Hayden Bezanson. The daughter of two Cape Coral police officers, Hayden has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs money for chemotherapy and other medical treatment. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Free admission. Car registration is $20 per vehicle (all going to Hayden). You can also donate on her GoFundMe fundraising page: gofundme.com/f/haydens-leukemia-fight. Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park, 35 N.E. Pine Island Road/State Road 78, Cape Coral. 727-647-6047 or gatormikes.com/parties-events/hayden-fundraiser

Southwest Florida Symphony's 'American Classical'

Florida’s Marcus Roberts Jazz Trio and the symphony perform a jazz arrangement of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” in honor of the piece’s 100th anniversary. Plus Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances for West Side Story,” Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and more. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. $25-$115. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

'Chicken Soup for the Soul' book signing

Local author Rick Weber is featured in the new book "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels and the Miraculous." Weber writes about how his father’s ascension to heaven was delayed by an extraordinary encounter with a human angel. It's Weber's fifth entry in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series. He'll be signing copies from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Free. Barnes & Noble, 13751 Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers. chickensoup.com

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at The Ranch

California country rockers led by Lukas Nelson, son of country superstar Willie Nelson. Show starts at about 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. $26. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com

Devo's Bob Lewis at Rauschenberg Gallery

Bob Lewis − a founding member of art-rock band Devo − speaks, reads poetry and takes part in a Q&A. The event coincides with the gallery's ongoing Devo exhibit “Devo 5-0: The Beginning Was The End." Lewis left Devo in the mid-70s before its breakthrough success in the 1980s with the hit song "Whip It." 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9. Free. Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway S.W., Building L, south Fort Myers. 489-9313 or rauschenberggallery.com

LOOKING AHEAD

'Clown Bar' returns to the Alliance for the Arts

This “zany clown-noir dramedy” was such a hit last year, Theatre Conspiracy brought it back for a new three-week run. The Foulds Theatre transforms into the titular clown bar for this set in the dark, secret world of gangster clowns. The working bar opens 45 minutes before each show to sell drinks to theater patrons. Nov. 9-25. $32. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org/experience/theatre

Florida Rep's 'The Legend of Georgia McBride'

Last chance to see this big-hearted, zinger-filled musical comedy about a down-on-his-luck Elvis impersonator who gets replaced by a second-rate drag show at a seedy Florida bar. So The King gets a makeover from some new friends and steals the show. Now through Sunday, Nov. 12. $61-$65. Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

Ghostbird Theatre Company's new poem-play

The experimental theater troupe performs "No Single Body for Me to Follow," an original poem-play written by actor, playwright and FGCU theater professor Jim Brock. The show involves Virginia Woolf readings, siblings about to perform a puppet show and a time- and space-jumping story involving "fluid anachronistic and transatlantic shiftings." 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 9-11. $20 ($7 for students). Seating is very limited. Malerba Studio, 3457 E. Riverside Drive, Fort Myers. GhostbirdTheatreCompany.org

Blues singer-guitarist Dave Keller at Arts Bonita

The three-time Blues Music Award nominee brings his raw, soulful blues to Bonita Springs. The show supports his latest album, "It's Time to Shine." 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10. $35. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org

Russell Dickerson at Hertz Arena

The country star brings his Big Wheels & Back Roads Tour to Southwest Florida. Plus opening acts Restless Road, Parmalee and Niko Moon. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. $25-$69. Parking on site is $30 (no cash accepted).Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

— 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: Florida Air Show, Fair at Fenway: Best Fort Myers, Cape Coral things to do