Top 5 things to do this weekend in SW Florida: Latin music fest, Vintage Market Days
Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?
Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including the Fort Myers Latin Music Festival, Vintage Market Days and the Alliance for the Arts' new Art House Cinema movie theater.
Plus, we look ahead at other things to do in the coming weeks: SWFL Peace Day, Broadway Palm’s 'Hairspray' 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. Fort Myers Latin Music Festival at Caloosa Sound
Salsa, bachata, merengue and reggaeton acts from Cuba, Puerto Rico and South America perform at the all-new Fort Myers Latin Music Festival. The lineup includes Osmani Garcia, Lucy Grau, Bianca Leony and The Celia Cruz All Stars. There will also be food trucks and a kids zone with four bounce houses. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. $40 in advance, $50 at the door. VIP tickets are also available. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Music ALIVE SWFL, a nonprofit helping local musicians impacted by Hurricane Ian. Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Centennial Park, 2000 W. First St., downtown Fort Myers. niceguysproduction.com
2. Art House Cinema at Alliance for the Arts
The Alliance for the Arts opens its new Art House Cinema. The Alliance’s Foulds Theater has been upgraded with a cinema-grade projector, sound and retractable screen. “One Pint at a Time” is the first in a monthly film series held in collaboration with the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. The documentary looks into the craft-beer industry, beer's Egyptian and African heritage, and the Black-owned breweries that make up less than 1 percent of U.S. breweries. The audience can meet brewers from two breweries featured in the movie (Atlanta’s Atlantucky and Tampa’s Bastet Brewing), drink beer from Bastet and take part in a Q&A with the filmmaker after the movie. 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20. $12. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org
3. Vintage Market Days at Lee Civic Center
This touring vintage and vintage-inspired market features clothing, jewelry, original art, antiques, home décor, outdoor furnishings and more. Plus live music and food trucks. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Sept. 15-17. $7-$12 (free for ages 12 and younger). Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. vintagemarketdays.com
4. Broadway Palm’s 'Murder on the Orient Express'
Last chance to see this rare non-musical on the Broadway Palm main stage. The adaptation of Agatha Christie’s much-loved murder mystery ― also adapted into a 2017 movie starring Johnny Depp, Judi Dench and more ― involves an American tycoon stabbed to death on a passenger train. Everyone is a suspect, and detective Hercule Poirot is on the case. Now through Saturday, Sept. 16. $56-$80. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
Read more: Broadway Palm's new show isn't a musical, but a murder mystery classic
5. SWFL SteamCon in Cape Coral
The steampunk and fantasy convention returns to Fort Myers with more crafters, artists, authors, cosplay contests, live music and various activities such as the Splendid Teapot Race (featuring teapots mounted on remote-control chassis and then run through an obstacle course). 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. $10 for ages 12 and older. One kid under 11 gets in free with each paid adult ($5 per additional child). The event takes place indoors. German American Social Club, 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. swflsteamcon.com
MORE THINGS TO DO
The Blues Beatles at Arts Bonita
The name of this touring Brazilian band says it all: They mash up songs from The Beatles with traditional blues arrangements. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. $42-$49. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org
Fort Myers Music Walk
Downtown Fort Myers comes alive with music at this monthly celebration with bands in the streets and inside the bars and venues. 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Free. Music Walk takes place on the third Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/RiverDistrictAlliance
Beyond 'Whip It': Devo exhibit looks at band's bloody Kent State origin, music videos, art
Butterflies have a new home: The Butterfly Estates closed, but now you can see its butterflies at The Shell Factory
LOOKING AHEAD
Brett Young at Hertz Arena
The country singer’s hits include “Dance With You,” “In Case You Didn’t Know,” “Mercy,” “Sleep Without You” and “Like I Loved You.” 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. $36-$66. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 948-7825 or hertzarena.com
Florida Rep’s ‘Beguiled Again’
Florida Rep opens its 2023-24 season with this nostalgic salute to the music of beloved songwriting team Rogers & Hart. The show features more than 50 songs from Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, including “Bewitched,” “My Funny Valentine” and “The Lady is a Tramp.” Sept. 22-Oct. 29. $65 (prices subject to change). Preview shows are Sept. 19-21. The ArtStage Studio Theatre at Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org
First event at Southwest Florida Symphony’s new home
Watch the 2012 movie “Quartet” at the new Southwest Florida Symphony Artistic & Operations Center in Estero’s Coconut Point shopping center. It’s the first public event scheduled for the center, formerly located in south Fort Myers’ Bell Tower Shops. The bigger center offers better acoustics and more space and seating for rehearsals, recitals, chamber concerts and other events. 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. $20. The Southwest Florida Symphony Artistic & Operations Center in Coconut Point, 23050 Via Villagio, Suite 101, Estero. swflso.org
Broadway Palm’s 'Hairspray'
The 1960s return in this hit Broadway musical that racked up eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. A lovable, plus-sized teen gets the chance to dance on the popular Corny Collins TV show — much to the chagrin of the reigning teen queen. Sept. 22-Oct. 28. $30-$85. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
Comedian Harley Worthit at Cape Cabaret
The family-friendly Port Charlotte comedian − who performed for almost three decades in popular vacation destination Branson, Missouri − kicks off a new comedy series at Cape Cabaret. Tampa’s Tara Zimmerman opens. The comedy series will be hosted by Florida Comedy Network comedian Kathy McSteen. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. Dinner Seating from 5 to 6:30 p.m. $10 plus a $10 minimum food and beverage purchase. Cape Cabaret Dinner Theater, 4725 Vincennes Blvd., Cape Coral. 549-3000 or capecabaret.com
Friendly Forest at Calusa Nature Center
This annual, family-friendly event gets Halloween season started early with two days of kids crafts, face painting, food trucks, a pumpkin patch, a nature walk, games, contests and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24. $10 ($5 for children ages 3-12, free for younger). Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435 or calusanature.org
SWFL Peace Day in Fort Myers
The 16th-annual festival returns with a new location but the same message of peace, love and unity. This year’s event will be a block party with meditation, yoga, live music and entertainment, food trucks, a blood drive, a food drive, vendors, a drum circle and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Free. Casashanti, 2052 Cottage St., Fort Myers. facebook.com/peacedayinthepark
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Country singers Chris Janson and Kristian Bush of Sugarland headline the sprawling, annual music festival. Dozens of singer-songwriters perform Sept. 22-24 on Captiva Island, Sept. 25-26 in Cape Coral, Sept. 27-28 in downtown Fort Myers and Sept. 29-Oct. 1 on Fort Myers Beach. Most shows are free. Janson and Bush play a pool party at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1 at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach. Tickets are $45. island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.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: Things to do this week in Fort Myers, Cape Coral
