Things to do in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

(This story has been updated to add new information)

Looking for entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including Bonita Springs Pride, the Sugarhill Gang and a pool party with country singer Scotty McCreery.

Plus, we take a look at what's coming up in the coming weeks: the annual Arts for ACT Gala & Auction, comedian Howie Mandel, Oktoberfest at Fort Myers Brewing and more.

NOTE: Saturday's Marlon Wayans show at BB Mann has been postponed until May 3rd due to Hurricane Helene.

To submit events, email details to reporter Charles Runnells at [email protected].

Tropical Storm Helene: Canceled events, closures in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs

1. Scotty McCreery Pool Party at Island Hopper

NOTE: Island Hopper's Thursday and Friday events have been canceled due to Tropical Storm Helene, with the exception of the Jeffrey Steele concert with Gulf Coast Symphony on Thursday. The festival has been postponed to Friday and relocated to the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC). The festival continues on Saturday. Country singer Scotty McCreery performs a poolside show on Fort Myers Beach, closing out the 10th annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. Before that, however, the festival continues with concerts taking place throughout the week at various Lee County venues, including Sept. 27-29 in Fort Myers Beach. Most shows are free. McCreery plays the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach on Sunday, September 29th at 5 p.m. Tickets are $75. island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com

2. Sugarhill Gang at Arts Bonita

New Jersey rap icons Sugarhill Gang are best known for the sprawling, influential song “Rapper's Delight.” In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. 2 on its list of the “100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.” 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 27th. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs 495-8989 or artsbonita.org

3. Farmer Mike's Fall Festival and Corn Mazes

Both Farmer Mike's locations celebrate the Halloween season with haunted and kid-friendly corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, sunflower picking, bounce houses, ax throwing, hayrides and more. This year's haunted corn mazes have an alien invasion theme. This is the 10th year of the festival in Bonita Springs. Tickets are only available online in a 30-minute time slot. Prices vary. Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 28th to October 28th. 27. Farmer Mike's Farmer Mike's U Pick is located at 26031 Morton Ave., Bonita Springs; and 8751 Gladioulus Drive, south of Fort Myers. farmermikesupick.com

4. Bonita Springs Pride Festival

POSTPONED UNTIL DEC. 8 BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HELENE. The new festival celebrates LGBTQ pride with drag performers and other live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, DJ music, face painting and the recently crowned Bonita Springs Pride Royal Court. Saturday, September 28th, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. General Admission: $5 for the indoor/outdoor event. VIP tickets are $200 and include a private room with air conditioning and a meeting with the royal court. Arts Bonita Center for Visual Arts, 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. facebook.com/BonitaSpringsPride

5. Broadway Palm Musical “Chicago”

The Fort Myers dinner theater brings back the sexy, steamy musical about crime, criminals and corruption in Prohibition-era Chicago. The show is packed with classic Broadway songs including “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” “Razzle Dazzle” and “Roxie.” Sept. 27 – Nov. 9. $75-$95. Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com

MORE THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

“The Vagina Monologues” at Alliance for the Arts

In Eve Ensler's popular play, various female characters deliver monologues, celebrating the female body, sexuality and the spirit of women. The Occasional Players stage a reading theater production of the show with actors performing with the script in hand. The cast includes former Broadway star Joan Marshall and local artists Helen Dixon, Eileen Moran, Mary Lou Williams, Mary Charles and others. All proceeds go to the Alliance for the Arts. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Sunday, 27-29. September. $20. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org

“Freaky Friday” by the Florida Rep Conservatory

Florida Rep's conservatory program students perform the new body swap musical “Freaky Friday,” based on the 1972 novel and hit Disney films. Friday to Sunday, 27-29. September. $30 for adults, $15 for students. Florida Repertory Theater, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

Punk As Folk, Vol. 1 on Nice Guys

NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO TROPICAL STORM HELENE. A new date will be announced next week. The debut show of this planned concert series will allow audiences to experience a live recording session with five local and regional folk-punk acts: Gutterlove, Dave!Ja!Vu!, Skylar the Menace (of Go Read Theory), Sticky Steve and Comet Garden. All five musical performances will be recorded and two songs from each set will be released in a cassette compilation by Roach & Roll Records and the non-profit organization Love Your Rebellion (or LYR, which also organized the event). Friday, September 27th, 8 p.m. $11 in advance, $15 at the door. Nice Guys Pizza, 1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., Downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/loveyourrebellion

Rapper YGTUT on Nice Guys

Tennessee rapper YGTUT's hits include “5 to 10,” “Chad” (featuring Isaiah Rashad) and “G35.” He is part of the Chattanooga hip hop collective The House with Rashad. Tampa rapper Gat$ will also perform at this show. 8 p.m. Saturday, September 28th. $12-20. Nice Guys Pizza, 1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., downtown Cape Coral. tinyurl.com/3ru3nyer

The look forward

Oktoberfest at Fort Myers Brewing

The brewery celebrates October with four days of special craft beer, 15 food trucks offering German-inspired food and more, live music and beer stein competitions. The musical lineup for the 12th annual event includes The Ben Allen Band, Rock Republic, Chasing Denver and Gator Nate. Thursday to Sunday, March 3rd – 6th October. Free. Fort Myers Brewing Co., 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Unit 28, south of Fort Myers. 313-6576 or fmbrew.com

Belltober beer festival in the bell tower

Celebrate fall with seasonal beer sampling, live performances, games, concession stands, a mac-n-cheese contest featuring dishes from Bell Tower restaurants, a themed photo booth, ax throwing and more. Friday, October 4th, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The $30-40 admission price includes beer and food samples while supplies last. All proceeds benefit United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades. Held at the Bell Tower Shops, 13499 US Highway 41, south of Fort Myers. 489-1221 or belltowerfl.com

Art for ACT Gala and Auction

The 35th annual art auction is the largest fundraiser of the year for the nonprofit agency Abuse Counseling & Treatment Inc. Art and luxury items will be auctioned off. The evening also includes food, drinks, dancing, raffles, live music from the Original Studio 54 Band and a best dressed contest. Saturday, October 5th, 5 p.m. $150. Caloosa Sound Convention Center at Luminary Hotel & Co., 1375 Monroe St., downtown Fort Myers. 939-2553 or event.gives/artsforact2024

Howie Mandel at BB Mann

Actor and television personality Howie Mandel is best known as a judge on eleven seasons of the television competition America's Got Talent. He previously played emergency room physician Wayne Fiscus on the NBC medical series “St. Elsewhere” and portrayed the charming character Gizmo in the hit comedy horror films “Gremlins” and “Gremlins 2: The New Batch”. Sunday, October 6th, 7 p.m. Tickets cost $35 to $70. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south of Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

— 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 show tickets, 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).

Things to do in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

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