Top 5 things to do this week in SW FL: Halloween events, Oktoberfest, Justin Moore
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Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?
Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including Halloween events, country singer Justin Moore and the second weekend of Cape Coral's Oktoberfest.
Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks: The Fair at Fenway South, WINK Taste of the Town, the Florida International Air Show 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. Justin Moore at Hertz Arena
The country singer brings his You, Me & Whiskey Tour to Estero. Priscilla Block and Noah Hicks also perform. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. $35-$110, plus $30 for on-sight parking. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 948-7825 or hertzarena.com
2. Oktoberfest in Cape Coral
The 38th-annual event continues into its second weekend of German-themed fun: Beer, live bands, authentic German food, vendors and more. The musical lineup includes German bands KaBeGl and Maselheimer Musikanten, house band Hafenkapelle and local acts The Boots, Deb & the Dynamics, A’Finnity, Pitbull of Blues and the Dottie Kelly Band. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 27-29. $8 in advance, $10 at the gate (free for ages 11 and younger, prices subject to change). German American Social Club, 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. 283-1400 or capecoraloktoberfest.com
3. Gulfshore Opera’s ‘Latin Infusion!’ at Arts Bonita
Cuban baritone Fernando Gonzalez and Venezuelan soprano Erika Ramirez of Gulfshore Opera’s GO Divas perform boleros, Spanish Zarzuela music, Latin pop and more. Part of Gulfshore Opera’s “Popera” concert series. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. $35. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org
4. Trunk or Treat & Movie in the Park: 'Coco'
Watch the spooky Pixar cartoon “Coco” on an outdoor screen at Veterans Park. Plus a trunk-or-treat event with local vendors. Costumes are encouraged. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Free. Movie starts at 8 p.m. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. The front athletic field at Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres. 369-1521
More Halloween events in SW FL: Haunted hikes, scary movies, fall festivals and more
5. Gulf Coast Symphony’s 'Hogwarts Halloween'
Gulf Coast Symphony performs music from the Harry Potter movies. Includes pre-show costume contests, trick or treating and a music discovery zone. 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 (concert starts at 2 p.m.). $15. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
MORE THINGS TO DO
‘Septem Inferna’ (Seven Hells) Halloween Walk
Ollies Pub transforms into a creepy haunted walk loosely based on Dante’s “Inferno.” The walk includes seven “scare zones” representing the Seven Rings of Hell paying homage to famous horror movies, created by local artists, musicians, set designers and more. 8 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28. $10. Ollie’s Pub, 1019 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral. 540-7867 or facebook.com/olliespubCC
Florida Rep's 'The Legend of Georgia McBride'
A 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. Oct. 27-Nov. 12. Discounted preview shows are Oct. 24-26. $61-$65. Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org
Classic Car Fest at Cultural Park
Check out classic cars, live music, food trucks, a vendor village, free museum tours and more at the Cape Coral Museum of History. The recurring event will have a different theme each month through April 2024. October has a Halloween theme with a Trunk or Treat; "haunted hot rods," costume parades for kids, pets and adults; and Halloween-themed games and activities. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Free. Takes place behind Cape Coral Museum of History, 544 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. capecoralmuseum.org/classic-car-fest
Bonita Springs Food Truck Festival
Twelve food trucks serve up gourmet smash burgers, Mexican pizzas, German currywurst, vegan food, barbecue, ice cream and more. Plus a bounce house, craft vendors and live music from reggae act Sprout Duo and R&B singer/guitarist Dale Schwegel of the Old 41 Band. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. $5 (free for ages 12 and younger). Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. southerneventproductionsfl.com/food-truck-festival
Edison and Ford Winter Estates Fall Festival
The Estates celebrates the fall with 40 craft vendors, food trucks, music, a banyan tree climb, a pumpkin patch and children's activities such as face painting and inflatable ax throwing. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Free admission, but activities come with fees (prices vary). Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., downtown Fort Myers. 334-7419 or edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/fall-festival
Maluma at Hertz Arena
Colombian superstar Maluma returns to Estero. His many reggaeton, pop and Latin trap hits include “Coco Loco,” “Borro Cassette,” "Hawai" (with The Weeknd),” “Felices los 4” and “Medellín.” 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. $61-$350. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 948-7825 or hertzarena.com
Celtic Thunder at Mann Hall
The popular theatrical Irish singing group performs new show “Odyssey.” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. $41-$95. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
'Leonard Bernstein: Citizen Artist'
Jamie Bernstein – author, filmmaker and daughter of acclaimed composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein – explores her father's legacy through audio and video clips, archive photos and several Bernstein songs performed by a pianist and local soprano Heather Ivy. The night ends with a Q&A session. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Nov. 1. $40-$100. Proceeds benefit the Southwest Florida Symphony. Temple Beth El, 16225 Winkler Road, Fort Myers. 418-1500 or swflso.org
LOOKING AHEAD
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
Fair at Fenway South returns to JetBlue Park
The family-friendly fair is back at JetBlue Park with three weekends of carnival rides, a Kiddieland, midway games, fair food, vendors and live shows, including 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
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
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
— 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: Halloween events, Oktoberfest: Things to do in Fort Myers, Cape Coral
