Best things to do this weekend in SW FL: Wheel of Fortune Live, 'Die Hard' musical, more

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including Fort Myers Brewing's Winterfest and the touring version of the TV game show Wheel of Fortune.

Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks: The annual Cape Coral Holiday Boat-A-Long, Florida Rep's MLK drama 'The Mountaintop' 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. Wheel of Fortune Live! At Mann Hall

The touring version of the TV game show comes to south Fort Myers. Audience members will be randomly called to spin the wheel, buy vowels and compete for cash prizes, vacations and more. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. $61-$125. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

2. Lab Theater's 'Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas!'

A musical parody of Bruce Willis action flick "Die Hard," which many people consider to be a holiday classic. The show also skewers other ‘80s action movies. Expect action, explosions, jokes and even dance numbers. Dec. 8-23. $40. Half-price previews Dec. 6-7. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com

3. Fort Myers Brewing's Winterfest

The annual festival returns with four days of live bands, food trucks, a holiday night market, seasonal beer releases (including the popular imperial stout Keg Nog), photos with Santa and a parking-lot screening of the movie "The Grinch." Bring your own lawn chairs. Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 14-17. Free. Fort Myers Brewing Co., 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Unit 28, south Fort Myers. 313-6576 or fmbrew.com

More holiday events: Boat parades, Christmas lights and more in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs

4. Rock the Stage Finals

In this third-annual competition, singers audition for judges and then perform onstage for live audiences. The top five singers from each age group take the stage from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Winners get a recording session, musical coaching and other prizes. $20 ($50 for VIP, including preferred seating and a private bar). There will also be food trucks, drinks, vendors and performances from some of Southwest Florida's top musical acts, including Deb & the Dynamics, Bargain Bin Heroes and Roxx Revolt and the Velvets. Pickle-N-Pub, 15455 Old McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. rockthestageswfl.com

5. Bonita Springs Christmas Boat Parade

The annual holiday parade returns with more lighted, decorated boats traveling along the Imperial River. This year's event is being organized by the Bonita Springs Historical Society. The parade launches at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Bay Water Boat Club, 5124 Bonita Beach Road S.W., and proceeds along the Imperial River and under U.S. 41 to Jolly Roger Lane, before turning around and returning to the boat club. Prime viewing includes the U.S. 41 Bridge, Riverwalk Park and the Imperial River Boat Ramp. Donations are requested to keep the parade going. For more information or to donate, call 992-6997 or visit bonitaspringshistory.org.

MORE THINGS TO DO IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Calusa Nature Center's 'Holiday Lights'

Stroll a 1/3-mile walking trail decorated with Christmas lights. Plus you can catch a holiday laser show in the planetarium (tickets are extra). 6-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 8-30. $10 ($5 for ages 3-12). Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435 or facebook.com/CalusaNature

Colt Ford at The Ranch

The country rapper/singer's hits include "Workin' On," "Slow Ride," "Reload" and "Shoulda Named It After Me." Kendall Tucker opens. Show starts at about 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. $37-$75. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com

Christmas at Farmer Mike’s in Bonita Springs

Slide down a snow slide, go on a hayride, visit Santa, roast s'mores or marvel at a three-acre field of animated lights. You can do all that and more at this fifth-annual, month-long event. 6-9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-23. $14 plus a $3 online fee (free for ages 2 younger). Farmer Mike’s U Pick, 26031 Morton Ave., Bonita Springs. 498-4576 or farmermikesupick.com

DEVO 5-0: The Beginning Was The End

Last chance to see this 50th-anniversary exhibit celebrating the work of art-pop-rock band Devo, best known for the 1980 hit “Whip It” and its iconic MTV music video. It’s billed as the first career-spanning survey of the group, put together by gallery director Jade Dellinger, who co-wrote two books about the band. Exhibits include stage costumes, instruments, props, handwritten lyrics, concert flyers, concept art and more. Now through Saturday, Dec. 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

Beyond 'Whip It': Devo exhibit looks at band's bloody Kent State origin, music videos, art

Gulfshore Ballet's 'The Nutcracker'

Gulfshore Ballet bring Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic to life at two Lee County venues. Featuring new choreography from Gulfshore Ballet directors Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero. Gulf Coast Symphony joins them at the Mann Hall shows. They'll perform at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at Tribby Arts Center ($55) and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall ($47-$90). gsballet.org

Fort Myers’ Grand Chanukah Event Community Celebration

The annual Chanukah party includes the lighting of a giant menorah, live music, food, mini golf and refreshments. Organized by Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Free. Castle Golf, 7400 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers. 433-7708 or chabadswf.org

20th anniversary Bonita Springs-Estero Chanukah Festival

Celebrate the Jewish holiday with the lighting of a giant menorah, kids crafts and activities, latkes, donuts, a kosher deli and live music by the Naples Klezmer Revival Band. 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Free. The outdoor event takes place at Chabad of Bonita Springs, 24611 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs. 949-6900 or jewishbonita.com

Steve Miller Band at Hertz Arena

Pop-rock hitmakers responsible for enduring '70s and '80s hits such as “The Joker,” "Jungle Love” and “Abracadabra.” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. $46-$106. Limited tickets remain. Parking on site is $30 (no cash accepted). Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

LOOKING AHEAD

Florida Rep's 'The Mountaintop'

Katori Hall’s surrealistic drama imagines what happened in Martin Luther King Jr.'s motel room on the night before his assassination. It’s April 3, 1968, and an exhausted King has just delivered his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. Then he meets a mysterious maid in his room at Memphis’s Lorraine Motel. Dec. 15-Jan. 14. $65. Artstage Studio Theatre at Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

Cape Coral Holiday Boat-A-Long

Annual festival featuring holiday-themed entertainment, food trucks, crafts, Santa Claus, a vendor village market, an outdoor screening of the movie "The Polar Express" and the main event: A parade of boats decorated with lights and inflatables that leaves the park at about 7:15 p.m. The festival takes place 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Free. Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs. Four Freedoms Park, 4818 Tarpon Court, Cape Coral. bit.ly/46PhG7X

The Silhouettes: Light of Christmas

The renowned shadow-dance company rose to fame as first runner up on season six of “America’s Got Talent.” This inspirational holiday show features more choreographed shadow-dance pieces. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. $49 ($10 for students). BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island. 395-0900 or bigarts.org

'A Very Victorian Murder!' murder-mystery dinner

GibsonHouse Mystery Performers stage an interactive, Victorian-themed murder mystery during a three-course meal at Cape Cabaret. Then audience members try to guess whodunnit and win prizes. The story involves the reading of the late Earl of Grey's will and who gets his small fortune. Then, of course, someone gets murdered. Traveling theatrical troupe GibsonHouse stages monthly murder-mystery dinners at Cape Cabaret and bi-monthly at the Fort Myers' The Edison Restaurant. 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17 (cocktail hour starts at 5 p.m.). $70 admission includes dinner. Cape Cabaret, 4725 Vincennes Blvd., Cape Coral. 549-3000 or capecabaret.com

SWFL Video Game, Toy & Collectibles Show

Shop in a big room full of vintage and collectible toys, comic books, retro trading cards, video games, records and pop-culture memorabilia. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. $5 admission at the door (free for ages 10 and younger). Doubletree by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, south Fort Myers. swflretro.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: Holiday Lights, Bonita boat parade: Things to do in Fort Myers area