Enjoy Fair & Festival Season Year-Round in SW Florida

Southwest Florida loves its festivities. Living in Fort Myers and Estero, you soon discover there is always some kind of special event -- especially arts & crafts fairs -- on the horizon. It's okay to prefer quiet weekends reading by the pool, walking your dog or gardening on the balcony at your apartment community. But if you want to get up and go year-round, here are some nearby events -- organized by season -- to sample while living in Estero or Fort Myers.

Summer Events

SoCo Second Saturdays, South of Colonial Boulevard between McGregor Boulevard and Summerlin Road, Fort Myers
Year-Round
(239) 590-8645
SoCo welcomes families as well as singles to its Second Saturday art gallery receptions, live music and other treats.

Sunset Celebrations at Time Square, Fort Myers Beach
Summer 2017
(239) 454-7500
Enjoy food, live music, people watching and an ocean sunset from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

4th of July Fireworks, Fishing Pier, Fort Myers Beach
(239) 454-7500
Arrive before the 9:30 p.m. start time, because the city of Fort Myers Beach closes the Matanzas Pass Bridge to incoming traffic at that time.

Food Truck Friday Nights in the River District, 1811 Royal Palm Avenue, Fort Myers
Summer 2017
(855) 732-3836
Millennial Brewery and the city's River District Alliance host these live-music events, featuring food truck dinners and new beer releases.

Autumn Events

SWFL Pride Fest, 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Contact online
Celebrate diversity and enjoy live entertainment on the amphitheater stage at the city's Alliance for the Arts, 12 to 7 p.m.

Taste of the Town, Jet Blue Stadium, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers
Sunday, November 5, 2017
(239) 277-1197
Try foods prepared by dozens of local restaurants at this annual charitable event featuring live music and children's activities.

Fair at Fenway Park, Jet Blue Stadium, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers
Weekends, November 10-12 and 16-19, 2017
Contact online
Amusement rides, circus performances and a petting corral are among the attractions at this old-fashioned fair.

Estero Fine Art Shows, Miromar Design Center, 10800 Corkscrew Road, Estero
November 18-19 & January 6-7, 2017
(248) 684-2613
Many kinds of artworks from nationally and internationally renowned artists are for sale.

Winter Events

Coconut Point New Year's Art Festival, 23106 Fashion Drive, Estero
December 30-31, 2017
(561) 746-6615
Coconut Point Mall invites visitors to ring in the New Year with fine art, music, shopping and 25 restaurants.

ArtFest Fort Meyers, 1375 Monroe Street, Fort Myers
February 2 - 4, 2018
(239) 768-3602
This juried arts festival takes place in the city's River District. It offers free admission and parking as well as access to work by more than 200 U.S. artists.

Edison Festival of Light, Downtown Fort Myers
February 10-18, 2018
(239) 334-7418
Fort Myers was the winter home of Thomas Alva Edison. Fort Myers' week-long festival is huge and began honoring the inventor in 1938. It focuses on science as well as fun.

Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers
February 22 - March 4, 2018
(239) 543-8364
Return to the county fairs of your childhood from carnival rides and cotton candy to 4H livestock displays and a beauty contest.

Spring Events

Lions Club Shrimp Festival, Lynn Hall Memorial Park, Fort Meyers Beach
March 10-11, 2018
(239) 454-0043
Shrimp dinners, a shrimp-eating championship and the crowning of the Shrimp Queen are highlights.

Fort Myers Beach Film Festival, Beach Theater, 6425 Estero Boulevard
April 25-29, 2018
Contact online
Love indie films? This is your opportunity to feast on them.

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