Top 5 things to do this weekend in Fort Myers, Cape: Little Mermaid musical, Art Walk
Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?
Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including the musical "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at Broadway Palm.
Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks: A new Southwest Florida Symphony film series, Fox News TV personality Greg Gutfeld 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 [email protected] or message me at facebook.com/charles.runnells.7.
1. 'Disney’s The Little Mermaid' at Broadway Palm
The fairytale musical comes to Broadway Palm for the first time. It was adapted from the hit 1989 animated movie and features hummable tunes from songwriting duo Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. July 7-Aug. 12. $30-$85. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
2. Guided Forest Bathing Meditation
Connect with nature and listen, look, and breathe the beauty of the world’s largest virgin bald cypress forest. This is a guided sensory experience. Free with Sanctuary admission, suggested $5 donation for instructor. Start at the Blair Audubon Center, 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples. Admission is $17 for adults, $6 for youngsters 6-14, and free for kids 5 and younger and for Corkscrew members. 9-10 a.m. Friday, July 7, at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Online tickets available at corkscrew.audubon.org/visit. More at corkscrew.aububon.org/events or 239-348-9151.
3. Arts for Act Gallery reopening party
The downtown Fort Myers art gallery has been closed since taking in more than a foot of muddy floodwater from Hurricane Ian. After repairs and passing inspection, they’re celebrating with a grand re-opening reception during Art Walk. 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 7. Free. Arts for ACT Gallery & Boutique, 2265 First St., downtown Fort Myers. 337-5050 or artsforactgallery.com
4. "Through My Lens: A Journey of African Art and Vision" exhibit
Photographer Jacke McCurdy displays a collection of her work reflecting a deep love for Africa, which she’s visited seven times. McCurdy, who is legally blind due to macular degeneration, can still see through her camera lens to take her photos of African art and wildlife. Opening reception from 6-8 pm. Friday, July 7. Continues through Aug. 24. Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs’ Center for Visual Arts, 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artcenterbonita.org
5. Green Jelly at Ollie's Pub
Nineties rock/metal act Green Jelly is known for its crude humor, puppet-show concerts and the unexpected hit “Three Little Pigs.” Local musicians will perform with singer and band founder Bill Manspeaker. Plus opening acts Offset Era, Kindly Shut Up! and Mommy’s Lil Monsterz. 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13. $10. Ollie’s Pub, 1019 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral. 540-7867 or facebook.com/olliespubCC
Plan ahead: Best Fort Myers, Naples concerts in July: Dylan Scott, Plain White T's, Liliac, etc.
MORE THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
Fort Myers Art Walk
The monthly event in downtown Fort Myers features new art exhibits at downtown galleries, receptions, live music and art vendors outside on First Street. This month’s exhibits include work from Spanish artists at Davis Art Center and nature-inspired paintings from Southwest Florida artist Danielle Branchaud at DAAS CO-OP. 6-10 p.m. Friday, July 7. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk
“Iberian Influences: Spanish Artists of Florida” exhibit
Spanish artists living in Florida showcase their rich, diverse artwork at Davis Art Center. The lineup includes Alberto Pancorbo, Josep Maria Veciana, Montserrat Rams, Jaime Angulo, Mario Almaguer and Juan Miguel Vazquez. The exhibit opens with a reception during Art Walk from 6-10 p.m. Friday, July 7. It continues through July 27. Free. The Grand Atrium at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers. 333-1933 or sbdac.com
Josey Scott’s Saliva at The Buddha
The Saliva frontman brings his version of the hard-rock band to Fort Myers. Saliva’s hits include “Always,” “They Don’t Care About Us” and “Click Click Boom.” Silent Theory and Cadence open. 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13. $22-$35. Buddha LIVE, 12701 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 246-1246 or thebuddhalive.com
'She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition'
Lab theater students perform this comedy about an oh-so-average woman who finds a “Dungeons and Dragons” notebook that her dead sister left behind and soon embarks on an adventure of her own. The story involves '90s pop-culture references, broadswords, a slacker overlord, an elfin supermodel, a demon princess and a dragon waiting in the shadows. Thursday through Sunday, July 13-16. $20. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com
LOOKING AHEAD
Southwest Florida Symphony film series opens with 'Tár'
Southwest Florida Symphony kicks off a new film series at Bell Tower with the Cate Blanchett drama “Tár.” Blanchett plays a superstar conductor facing accusations of misconduct. 6 p.m. Friday, July 14. $20. Other films in the series include “Green Book” (Aug. 11) and “Quartet” (Sept. 22). Southwest Florida Symphony’s Artistic & Operations Center in Bell Tower, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 175, south Fort Myers. 418-0996 or swflso.org
MangoMania Tropical Fruit Fair in Bokeelia
The annual festival celebrates Pine Island’s mango season with games, contests, live music, vendors, kids activities, a free mango-tasting table, educational seminars and lots of food and drinks featuring mangoes and tropical fruit. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15. $5 (free for ages 9 and younger). Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Catholic Church, 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia. 283-0888 or mangomaniafl.net
Blues Music Award-winner Albert Castiglia at The Buck
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”). 8-11 p.m. Saturday, July 15. $20. Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Road, Buckingham. 693-7111 or buckinghambar.com
Gutfeld Live! at Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Bestselling author, comedian and Fox News TV personality Greg Gutfeld brings his The King of Late Night Tour to south Fort Myers. The tour is named after his new book coming out July 25. Comedian Tom Shillue also performs. 6 p.m. Sunday, July 16. $47-$186. Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the Florida SouthWestern State College Campus, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
— Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. For news tips or other entertainment-related matters, call him at 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1).
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Things to do in Fort Myers, Cape Coral this weekend