Looking for some fun in Southwest Florida?
Here are our top things to do this weekend and beyond, including the annual Venezia Renaissance Faire and two big art festivals in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs. Plus a look at what’s ahead in January.
To submit events, email the details to reporter Charles Runnells at [email protected].
1. Bonita Springs National Art Festivals
The first in a series of three annual art fests happening between January and March at Riverside Park. More than 200 artists are featured in the juried event, celebrating its 26th anniversary this year. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11. Free with a suggested $5 donation. Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., downtown Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org/artfest
2. Cape Coral Art Festival
More than 200 artists show and sell their work at the popular outdoor event, celebrating its 41st anniversary this year. Plus live entertainment, food and more. Organized by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11. Free. Cape Coral Parkway between Del Prado Boulevard and Southeast 10th Place, downtown Cape Coral. capecoralartfestival.com
3. Venezia Renaissance Faire in Bonita Springs
The fourth-annual event takes you back to the days of knights and chivalry with medieval and Renaissance-era games (including a life-sized chess match), jousting, stage performers, food, a medieval marketplace and more. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11 and Jan. 17-18. $20-$25 for one day, $35-$45 for all weekend ($12-$25 for ages 3-13). Next to Bonita Springs Poker Room, 28001 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. veneziarenaissancefaire.com
4. Musical ‘Little Women’
Players Circle Theater calls this its biggest, most lavish show to date: A heartfelt, energetic musical adaptation of the beloved novel “Little Women.” Jan. 9-25. $40-$55. Discount previews Jan. 6-8. Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 800-3292 or playerscircletheater.com
5. Paranormal Cirque II: Specter at JetBlue Park
The R-rated, horror-themed circus show returns to south Fort Myers. Expect adult language, blood, gore and general spookiness. Plus acrobatics, contortionists, aerialists and other circus acts dressed as zombies, vampires, ghosts and witches. Friday through Monday, Jan. 9-12. $20-$65. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, south Fort Myers. 941-704-8572 or paranormalcirque.com
MORE THINGS TO DO
- Country-music musical ‘Always… Patsy Cline’: Jan. 9-25 at Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. $78-$80. 332-4488 or floridarep.org
- Free “Movie in the Park,” the 2025 fantasy hit “How to Train your Dragon” shown on an outdoor screen: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. Free. 533-1470
- Fun-loving country rockers Confederate Railroad: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. $27-$70. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com
- “Vicki Lawrence & Mama,” a “two-woman show” featuring “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Mama’s Family” star and her famous character: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. $59-$101. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
- United States Air Force Band of the West, touring Air Force musicians playing songs by Leonard Bernstein and other American composers: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at U. Tobe Recital Hall at Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd S., Estero. Free with general admission seat reserved online. airforcebands.com
- Broadway musical “Some Like It Hot”: Jan. 13-18 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. $59-$125. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
LOOKING AHEAD
Charlie’s ComicCon with Nintendo Switch star
Charlie’s ComicCon returns with a big star from the videogaming world: Kevin Afghani. He’s the new voice of Mario, Luigi and other characters from the Mario gaming franchise on the Nintendo Switch. Charlie’s ComicCon also features vendors, cosplay and more guest celebrities, including illustrator Tom Jacobus (The Goosebumps series) and voice actor Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman in the animated shows “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited”). 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18. Admission is $20 ($10 for children, $45 for VIP). Embassy Suites, 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive, Estero. charliescomiccon.com
MLK Day march and celebration
The annual MLK Commemorative March starts at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19 at the Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Library at High and Blount streets. Then it travels along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and through downtown Fort Myers to Centennial Park. The parade is followed by a festival at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater until 5 p.m., including music, food, vendors and entertainment. Bring your own chairs. Free. The march and celebration are part of a weekend-long schedule of events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. facebook.com/dunbarfestivalcommitteeinc…