Cape Coral holiday events: 5 great things to do for Christmas, Chanukah
Santa's finally arrived in Cape Coral, and he's bringing a sleigh-full of fun things to do for the holidays.
Here are our top 5 events happening this December, including Grinch Fest and the Cape Coral Chanukah Festival.
Still looking for more? Check out our huge list of Lee County events here.
Cape Coral Chanukah Festival
Outdoor event featuring the lighting of a giant menorah, live music, hot latkes, jelly doughnuts, Chanukah crafts, deli sandwiches, inflatables, cotton candy and more. 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. Free. Chabad Jewish Center, 1716 Cape Coral Parkway W., Cape Coral. 963-4770 or ChabadCape.com
Grinch Fest at Big John’s Plaza
An outdoor holiday festival with a pajama party, hula-hoop contest, music, games, crafts, food trucks and free popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Free. Big John's Plaza, 1331 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral. facebook.com/SjcTechnology
'The Holidays Are A Drag!'
Drag queens perform at this third-annual holiday event with appetizers, cocktails, raffles and live music. The winner of the 2020 Miss Cape Coral Pride Pageant, Alyssa Lemay, hosts this event organized by PRIDE Cape Coral. 6-10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. Tickets are $35 in advance $40 at the door. They'll be sold online until Dec. 9. Then they're only available at the door (unless they sell out). All proceeds benefit PRIDE Cape Coral. Cruisers Cape Coral, 1517 S.E. 47th Terrace, downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/PRIDECapeCoral or Eventbrite.com
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
Christmas Fest at the German American Social Club
The Local Ladies Social Network hosts this holiday fest with vendors, food trucks, Christmas music, face painting, Christmas cookie decorating, kids crafts, an ugly Christmas sweater contest, selfies with Santa and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Free. German American Social Club, 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. llsnevents.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: Cape Coral holiday events: Boat parade, Grinch Fest and more
