AUGUST
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘OVO’ at Hertz Arena
The psychedelic circus’s 16-year-old hit returns with new acrobatic acts and reimagined costumes, music and set design. “OVO” — the Portuguese word for “egg” — features 53 acrobats and musicians bringing to life bouncing crickets, a spider in her web and more creatures from the insect world. Now through Aug. 3. Cost: $60-$160. Parking on site is $30, plus taxes and fees (no cash). Free parking next door at Miromar Outlets. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. Information: 948-7825 or hertzarena.com.
‘Behind the Scenes of the Reserve’
Explore the Reserve and the wildlife that calls it home. See where Rookery Bay’s research takes place, learn about the work being done to monitor the coastal habitat and complete a scientific study. At Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Rd., Naples, Aug. 1. More at rookerybay.org.
Fort Myers Art Walk
The monthly event features new art exhibits at downtown Fort Myers galleries, receptions and art vendors outside on First Street. August’s exhibits include “Not Just Another Day in Paradise,” a Davis Art Center show featuring work by five tattoo artists from Fort Myers Beach’s Paradise Tattoo. 5-9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. Information: facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk.
Pretty Tied Up
The Guns N’ Roses tribute band is bringing disco beats to South Street City Oven and Grill. At 8-9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at South Street’s Founders Square location; 8845 Founders Square Drive, Naples. General admission is $30, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Information: founderssquare.southstreetnaples.com or 239-331-4149.
‘Grease’ rocks Players Circle Theater
Travel back to Rydell High for the beloved 1950s-themed musical packed with nostalgia and rock songs like “Greased Lightnin,’ ” “Summer Nights,” “We Go Together” and “You’re The One That I Want.” Aug. 1-10. $25 ($15 for students). Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Information: 800-3292 or playerscircletheater.com.
Blues rocker Albert Castiglia
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs. Cost: $44-$54. Information: artsbonita.org.
Broadway revue ‘Encore! Decades of Showstoppers’
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2-3 at the Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers. $20. ArtInLee.org.
Country singer Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line
At 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3 at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, Fort Myers. Cost: $49-$86. Information: theranchfortmyers.com.
The Downtown Showdown semifinals at Sugarshack
Winners from Sugarshack Downtown’s new weekly singing competition perform in the semifinals in front of a live audience and local celebrity judges. The top singers advance to the Aug. 12 finals and compete for the $2,500 grand prize. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5. Free admission. Sugarshack Downtown, 27421 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. Information: 301-4321 or sugarshackdowntown.com
Hiring event at Naples Beach Club
Naples Beach Club, a new Four Seasons Resort, is holding a two-day “Talent Showcase” hiring event and attendee will have the opportunity to interview on the spot. The resort is seeking all experience levels to join its “pre-opening team.” There are a large number of positions to be filled across all divisions of hospitality, including housekeeping, laundry, food and beverage servers, bartenders and hosts; culinary (line cooks, prep cooks and dishwashers); front office and guest services; engineering and facilities; spa, wellness and recreation and more. The event is from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Aug. 5 and 6, at The Maddox Naples, 2955 Bayshore Dr, Naples. More at careers.fourseasons.com.
Encore series: ‘Til Death’
Peter Fogel returns with “Til Death Do Us Part … You First” at 2 and 6 p.m., Aug. 6. “The Swingset” by Krystyn Estes will return for a limited engagement Aug. 28 and 29. Tickets are available now through the Marco Island Center for the Arts website marcoislandart.org/arts-center-theatre/ or by calling the box office at 239-784-1186.
Workshop: Bonita parks master plan
Attention Bonita Springs residents, the city will have a public workshop for the city’s master plan on parks. The city is developing the plan in order to guide the development of the city’s parks and recreation facilities, programs and services for the next 10 to 15 years. Bonita Springs received funding to support the development of both a mobility plan and a parks master plan from Hurricane Ian CDBG-DR funds. The workshop is from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., Aug. 7, at Bonita Springs Recreation Center gymnasium, located at 26740 Pine Ave. You can find a link to the plan at bonitaspringsparks.org.
Culinary event with Ellen Kanner, author of new cookbook ‘Miami Vegan’
Plant-Based Recipes from the “Tropics to Your Table” from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, in The Workshop at The Luminary, downtown Fort Myers. $80 admission includes a copy of the cookbook and a four-course menu featuring chef-curated vegan dishes inspired by the heart of Miami. Information: luminaryhotel.com/events/miami-vegan-a-workshop-dining-experience.
Moonlight on the Boardwalk
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is inviting the public to “Moonlight on the Boardwalk” on Aug. 7. Under a nearly full moon, guests can “explore the 2.25-mile boardwalk through an ancient bald cypress forest with trees more than 500 years old.” A variety of activities are planned: A sound ID station; storytelling with flashlights and shadow puppets; a biofluorescent station; spotting scopes in the wet prairie for wildlife and night sky viewing and a bat station. The moon rises at 7:10, with sunset at 8. The event ends at 9:30 p.m. Adults enjoy discounted Admission is $8 for adults; $3 for kids 6-14; 5 and under enter for free. More at audubon.org/corkscrew/visit/programs-and-events.
Summer Festival at Calusa Nature Center
The Fort Myers nature center hosts this new festival packed with fun things to do, including planetarium shows, food trucks, a dunk tank, face painting, a bubble station, a ring toss and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. $13 for adults, $7 for children. Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. Information: 275-3435 or calusanature.org.
‘Boat America’
Flotilla 91 Fort Myers Beach will have another event on Aug. 16, “Boat America,” a safe boating class, which offers training on boating laws, safety equipment requirements, navigation rules, emergency procedures and how to handle “various on-water situations.” Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive an FWC Boaters Card, which is often required for certain age groups to operate a vessel in Florida waters. The class is from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Pine Ridge Community Center, 15660 Pine Ridge Road, Fort Myers. Cost is $45. Register in advance at aux91fmb.org/safeboating/. Learn more about the Coast Guard Auxiliary at cgaux.org.
Shell Museum presents lecture series
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium will present a free lecture series this summer and fall. “South Florida’s Seasonal Seas” by Gabriel Jensen, photographer, is 5:30 p.m., Aug. 21. The presentation tells the story of South Florida’s underwater seasons through photographs. “What Can Oysters Tell Us About the Restoration of the Everglades?” by Stephen Geiger, Ph.D., Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, is 5:30 p.m., Sept. 18. He explains the environmental conditions that allow oysters to thrive and why they are a good metric for water quality. “Gulf Seafood: Sustaining Wildlife and Our Way of Life” by John Fallon, Audubon Nature Institute, is 5:30 p.m., Oct. 16. His talk, held during National Seafood Month, explains what makes Gulf seafood sustainable, the challenges facing fisheries in the region. Although free of charge, pre-registration for lectures is required. To register, visit ShellMuseum.org/learn-and-experience/lectures.
Top events of the week: 3 To Do: Stage 2 Improv, Mullet Madness and nature on display
In the news: 3 To Know: Boy dies in pond; the fate of the penny, more
ONGOING
Goodland Holiday Bazaar: Call to artists, crafters and vendors
The 15th Annual Goodland Holiday Bazaar, organized by the Goodland Civic Association, will be held from a10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16, at MarGood Harbor Park. The event will feature arts, crafts and other unique market items. Fees for 10′ x 10′ booth are $80 for GCA members, and $110 for non-members. The deadline for applying is Oct. 28. There will be a limited number of single-day booths available at reduced rates on a first-come, first-served basis. For details and applications, contact Tara O’Neill at [email protected].
Exhibits at Naples Art
Naples Art Institute Exhibitions: “Imogen Cunningham: a Timeless Lens on Nature,” “Form & Identity” and “Robert McCabe: Images of an Enchanted Land” on display through Aug. 3. Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. At 585 Park St., Naples. Information: 239-262-6517 or naplesart.org.
‘Backstage Hollywood’ Marco Historical Society
The Marco Island Historical Society is hosting a new traveling exhibit organized by Mid-America Arts Alliance, “Backstage Hollywood: The Photographs of Bob Willoughby.” The exhibit is open now through Aug. 9 at the Marco Island Historical Museum. Willoughby, a widely recognized 20th century photography pioneer, was the first outside photographer invited by studios to take photos on film sets. The Marco Island Historical Museum is located at 180 S. Heathwood Drive. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and the site is fully ADA compliant and accessible to all visitors. For information call 239-389-6447 or visit themihs.org.
Broadway Palm musical ‘Annie’
Leapin’ lizards! Everyone’s favorite orphan and her dog Sandy are back in Southwest Florida. The classic musical “Annie” is packed with memorable songs, too, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street” and “Tomorrow.” On stage now through Aug. 9. Cost: $65-$85 ($45 for ages 12 and younger). Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Information: 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com.
Marine Science Summer Camp
Be a Marine Scientist this summer with Rookery Bay Research Reserve! Join Rookery Bay Research Reserve for a perfect marine science camp for 7th to 10th grade students who want to get hands-on with marine life and learn from real scientists. This flexible camp is filled with nature and science activities including time in Rookery Bay’s labs. Discover the birds, sharks, sea turtles and other amazing wildlife that call Rookery Bay’s amazing coastal habitat home. Camp scholarships are available. From 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Fridays, from June through August. For students in grades 7 through 10. Cost: $75 (camp scholarships available). Locations vary. Registration is required at rookerybay.org/calendar.
‘Legends of the Everglades’
“Folklore, Fish Tales, & Family Stories: Legends of the Everglades at Museum of the Everglades” is the latest exhibit at a Collier County museum. It’s a collaboration with the local K-12 school to create an exhibit that celebrates a specific aspect of this unique community. It’s on display now and goes through Sept. 6 at 105 West Broadway, Everglades City. Information: colliermuseums.com
Face of Immokalee exhibit
Civil Air Patrol
Marco Civil Air Patrol meets the first and third Mondays of every month, starting at 6:30 p.m., at 2003 Mainsail Drive, Marco Executive Airport, in our hangar, on the left of the terminal. Volunteers welcome. Visit FL376.CAP.GOV.
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is located at 300 Tower Rd., Naples. It features aquariums, touch tanks with marine critters, natural history, environmental and wildlife exhibits, an art gallery, picnic area, guided walking trails, butterfly garden and a scenic overlook bridge. Special events and activities for all ages are held year-round including watercolor and photography classes, gallery nights, presentations about wildlife and conservation, birding field trips, marine science camps and more. The hours are 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults,$5 for children ages 4-12 and 3 and under are free.
Rookery Bay Eco Kayak & Boat Tours
Rookery Bay Research Reserve also offers guided boat tours or kayak adventures into the tranquil waters of Rookery Bay Reserve. Guests can choose from a variety of tours including shelling trips to deserted white sand islands, sunset tours or bird rookery excursions. Visit RookeryBay.org or call 239-530-5972.
SEPTEMBER
Adam Sandler at Hertz Arena
The actor-comedian will perform his funny songs and stand-up comedy Monday, Sept. 8, at Hertz Arena. Tickets start at $70, plus applicable taxes and fees, according to the arena’s website. Parking on site is $30. Sandler’s “Your My Best Friend” Comedy Tour follows his sold-out tours in 2022 and 2023, according to Hertz Arena’s announcement. The comedian is known for his stint on Saturday Night Live — including popular characters Opera Man, Cajun Man and Canteen Boy — as well as hit movies “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Grown Ups” and the “Hotel Transylvania” movies. For tickets and more information, visit hertzarena.com or ticketmaster.com.
Shy Wolf Sanctuary golf scramble
The 5th Annual Shy Wolf Scramble, a charity golf event to benefit the sanctuary’s mission of rescuing captive-bred exotic and un-releasable wild animals, is slated for Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club in Naples. The scramble will feature a four-person, best shot format. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in various challenges and contests, including a hole-in-one contest sponsored by Porsche Naples, tee advancement hole, a putting contest, longest drive, and closest to the pin. Registration for this event starts at $200 for individuals and $800 for a foursome. The registration fee includes a round of golf, lunch, and drink tickets. All proceeds will directly support Shy Wolf Sanctuary’s efforts in providing rescue, sanctuary and education for captive-bred exotic and un-releasable wild animals. To register for the Shy Wolf Scramble or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit givebutter.com/c/swsgolf25 or email [email protected].
NOVEMBER
Wine & Wildlife Gala
DECEMBER
Darius Rucker returns for Naples’ Live Fest
Country star Darius Rucker will headline Naples’ sixth-annual Live Fest on Saturday, Dec. 13, on the driving range of Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort. The outdoor show is part of the Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed-team golf event featuring PGA and LPGA pros. Rucker returns to Live Fest for the first time since playing the inaugural event in 2019 with co-headliners Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum). He’ll share the stage with Southwest Florida band Rock Republic and “American Idol” semifinalist Casey Bishop. Two more acts will be announced later this summer. Tickets are on sale now. General-admission tickets for the concert are $150. Admission is free for ages 9 and younger. Other ticket packages are available, including VIP tickets starting at $355.For tickets or more information, visit livefest.com…