Best things to do in SW FL: 4th of July fireworks, Florida Gulf Coast Tattoo Expo
Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?
Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including the annual Florida Gulf Coast Tattoo Expo and many 4th of July fireworks shows and celebrations.
Plus we look at what's ahead in the coming weeks: MangoMania, Fort Myers Art Walk and more.
To submit events, email the details to reporter Charles Runnells at [email protected].
1. Red, White & Boom with Parmalee
Country stars Parmalee headline Cape Coral's annual Independence Day celebration, which also features fireworks at 9:30 p.m., food, vendors and more live bands. 5-10 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Free. The outdoor event takes place in downtown Cape Coral near the Cape Coral Bridge. The Cape Coral Bridge and Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Boulevard to the bridge will be closed from 3 a.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday. capeboom.com
More 4th of July events: Best places for fireworks, parades, parties in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita
2. Star Spangled Bonita
The annual Fourth of July festival features a 48-minute drone, fireworks and a laser-light show. The drone show is new this year as part of the city's ongoing 25th-anniversary celebrations. Star Spangled Bonita also includes food, an ice-cream-eating contest and live country music by the Ben Allen Band. 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4. The drone, fireworks and laser-light show starts at dusk. Free. Old 41 Road will be closed from 5 p.m. to about 10 p.m. from Wilson Street to Childers Street. Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs. 949-6262 or cityofbonitasprings.org
3. Clint Hurdle headlines Mighty Mussels' Family Faith Night
Former MLB player and manager Clint Hurdle headlines a "celebration of fellowship, family and baseball." Hurdle has been open about his Christian faith and how it helped him in life. As a coach and manager, he scored 1,269 wins and 1,345 losses over 17 seasons with the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2013, he led the Pirates to their first winning season in 21 years. First pitch of the game starts at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Hurdle will sign autographs from 7:15-8:45 p.m. and then deliver a one-hour post-game talk about faith and baseball. Game tickets are $10-$15. Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, south Fort Myers. 768-4210 or MightyMussels.com
4. Fort Myers Beach Fireworks and parade
Fort Myers Beach brings back its Independence Day fireworks and parade for the first time since Hurricane Ian. The annual festivities start at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4, with the parade on Estero Boulevard. Colorful floats and other parade participants travel from Bay Oaks Recreation Center to Times Square. Estero Boulevard will be closed for the parade from 9 a.m. until noon. Later that night, fireworks will be launched at Times Square at 9 p.m. Thursday. Spectators are encouraged to bring beach chairs. The Matanzas Pass Bridge will be closed from 8:30 p.m. to about 11 p.m. Participants are encouraged to take the Beach Trolley to Fort Myers Beach, since parking will be limited. For more information on the trolley, visit fortmyersbeach.org/trolleyinfo. Times Square and Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. fortmyersbeach.org/events/fort-myers-beach-fourth-of-july-celebration
5. Florida Gulf Coast Tattoo Expo in downtown Fort Myers
The annual event returns with more than 200 tattoo artists tattooing on site, plus vendors, tattoo contests, live music and entertainment, food and more. Friday through Sunday, June 28-30. $20-$25 ($40 for a weekend pass). Caloosa Sound Convention Center at Luminary Hotel & Co., 1375 Monroe St., downtown Fort Myers. floridagctattooexpo.com
MORE THINGS TO DO
Broadway Palm's 'Mary Poppins'
The magical flying nanny returns to Broadway Palm. The stage version of the movie classic is filled with cherished songs such as “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” June 28-August 10. $25-$80. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
Blues singer-guitarist JP Soars plays CD-release party
The popular Boca Raton bluesman plays a CD release show for his new album, "Brick By Brick." 8 p.m. Friday, June 28. $20. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Road, Buckingham. 693-7111 or buckinghambar.com
Sunshine Ace Hardware hosts ‘Ace Celebrates 100 Party’
The Bonita Springs store marks the Ace Hardware chain's 100th anniversary with what it calls its "biggest celebration in years." The block party includes antique cars from the 1920s, free food, drinks, games, activities, vendors, product demonstrations, live “Florida swamp music" by Gator Nate and an "Old Florida Roaring ‘20s" theme (including Prohibition-era barrels and props for family photos). 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 29. Free. Sunshine Ace Hardware, 9100 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. sunshineace.com
Lab Theater's 'Alien: A Musical Parody'
Last chance to see Lab Theater's latest summer movie spoof. This time, they're taking on the 1979 horror/sci-fi classic "Alien." The world-premiere comedy features songs such as “Why Mansplaining is For Your Own Good,” “Everyone Who’s Homophobic is Secretly Gay” and the tap-dancing showstopper “Sacrifice.” The show was written by Southwest Florida's Annette Trossbach and Earl Sparrow. Now through Saturday, June 29. $42. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com
Downtown Fort Myers 4th of July Celebration
Downtown Fort Myers annual Freedom Fest block party has been transformed into a new concert and fireworks event saluting Southwest Florida's veterans and active military. The 17-piece Venice Symphony Jazz Orchestra performs patriotic hits at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 4, followed by fireworks over the Caloosahatchee River at about 9:45 p.m. Free. VIP tickets will also be sold (details to be announced). Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Centennial Park, 2000 W. First St., downtown Fort Myers. Edwards Drive will be closed for the event between Monroe and Hendry streets. explorefortmyers.com
4th of July Firework Show in Lehigh Acres
Lehigh Acres celebrates Independence Day with its fourth-annual fireworks show, plus live bands, grill tents, food trucks, vendors, inflatables, kids activities and more. 5-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Free. The event is organized by the Southwest Florida Business Alliance. Victory Town Center, 1201 Taylor Lane Extension, Lehigh Acres. 470-5611 or swflbusinessalliance.com
Sanibel Island Independence Day Parade and 4th of July Celebration
The 31st-annual 4th of July parade starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 4, and travels Periwinkle Way from Tarpon Bay Road to Casa Ybel Road. The two-hour parade features local businesses, organizations, community members and decorated vehicles spreading patriotic cheer. It will be followed by "food and fun" at Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 San Cap Road. The 4th of July Celebration takes place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features hots dogs, gym games, open pools, a stilt walker, a bounce house, face painting and more. Both events are free. There won't be a fireworks display this year, according to the SanCap Chamber. Sanibel hasn't had an official fireworks show since Hurricane Ian. sanibelcommunityhouse.net/event/31st-annual-independence-day-parade
LOOKING AHEAD
Fort Myers Art Walk
The monthly event features new art exhibits at downtown Fort Myers galleries, receptions and art vendors outside on First Street. This month's exhibits include the group show "The Art of Cosplay" at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, which showcases "wearable art pieces" created by several Southwest Florida artists. June's Art Walk was canceled due to high downtown traffic after the closure of the Caloosahatchee Bridge, but organizers say the situation has improved since then. 5-9p.m. Friday, July 5. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk
Blues Music Award-winner Albert Castiglia at Arts Bonita
South Florida bluesman Albert Castiglia plays what he calls “red-raw, sweat-and-hair blues that gives it to you straight.” He won two 2023 Blues Music Awards: Blues Rock Artist of the Year and Blues Rock Album of the Year (for 2022’s “I Got Love”). 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 5. $35-$45. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org
Jazzman Danny Sinoff returns to Players Circle
Popular Southwest Florida jazz singer/pianist Danny Sinoff returns to Players Circle Theater. He'll play Friday through Sunday, July 5-7, with a completely different set each night: Frank Sinatra (Friday), Bobby Darin (Saturday) and then Gershwin, Kern & Porter (Sunday). 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25. Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 800-3292 or playerscircletheater.com
MangoMania Tropical Fruit Fair on Pine Island
The annual festival celebrates Pine Island’s mango season with games, contests, live music, vendors, kids activities, educational seminars and lots of food and drinks featuring mangoes and tropical fruit. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13. $5 (free for ages 9 and younger). Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Catholic Church, 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia. pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/mangomania
— 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 [email protected]. 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: 4th of July fireworks in Fort Myers, Cape Coral: Top things to do
