Fort Myers and Naples shows including Plies, Tower of Power
Looking for some fun concerts in Southwest Florida? Here are seven great options this November, from funk to rock to hip hop.
- Southwest Florida offers a variety of events this weekend, including a sand sculpting championship and holiday musicals.
- The American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach features artists from around the world.
- BackStreets Sports Bar in Cape Coral is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a block party featuring live music.
- Holiday-themed musicals like ‘A Christmas Story’ and ‘Once Upon a Christmas Time’ are opening in the area.
Looking for some fun in Southwest Florida?
Here are our top things to do this weekend and beyond, including the musical ‘A Christmas Story’ and a 30th-anniversary block party at Cape Coral’s BackStreets Sports Bar. Plus a look at what’s ahead in November.
To submit events, email the details to reporter Charles Runnells at crunnells@gannett.com.
1. American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach
The 35th-annual event brings top-tier sand-sculpting artists to the beach from around the United States and the world. Together, they turn Fort Myers Beach’s sand into giant sculptures of people, cities, octopuses or anything else they can imagine. The event also features amateur contests, a vendor village, live music, food stands and more. Thursday through Monday, Nov. 20-24. $5. Diamondhead Beach Resort, 2000 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach. fmbsandsculpting.com
2. ‘A Christmas Story’ at Broadway Palm
The musical version of the massively popular holiday movie, complete with the infamous leg lamp, the Red Ryder rifle, pink bunny pajamas, an irritable department-store Santa and a triple-dog dare to lick a freezing flagpole. Nov. 21-Dec. 28. $78-$98 ($43-$48 for ages 12 and younger). Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
3. BackStreets Sports Bar’s 30th anniversary block party
The popular Cape Coral bar and live-music venue celebrates its big birthday with live bands, drinks and food trucks. The musical lineup includes Red Hannah, Deep Cover, Two Looping Vibes, Timothy Craig and Rock Republic. 3-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Free ($100 for VIP upgrade, including an anniversary T-shirt, private bar, swag bag and more). BackStreets Sports Bar, 915 S.E. 47th Terrace, downtown Cape Coral/South Cape. 945-7555 or facebook.com/BackStreetsSportsBar
4. ‘Once Upon a Christmas Time’ at The MACC
This new, original musical celebrates the holiday season in a land far away, where fairytale creatures search for the meaning of Christmas to the tune of beloved holiday songs. Written by Southwest Florida Theatre Company’s music director, Julie Carver. Nov. 19-Dec. 6. $65-$74. Music & Arts Community Center, 13411 Shire Lane, south Fort Myers. 277-1700 or gulfcoastsymphony.org
5. Ukulele maestro Taimaine at Arts Bonita
Hawaiian ukulele player and music producer Taimane is renowned for her inventive, fiery playing on songs that blend classical, flamenco and rock sounds. She performed on NPR’s popular Tiny Desk concert series in 2020. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. $42-$52. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org
MORE THINGS TO DO: Music Walk, Taylor Swift tribute, Saigon Night Market
- Fort Myers Music Walk, monthly celebration with bands in the streets and inside the bars and venues: 6-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 in downtown Fort Myers. Free. facebook.com/RiverDistrictAlliance
- Blues saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter plays Backyard Bluesfest: 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Road, Buckingham. $20. 693-7111 or buckinghambar.com
- Texas country band Treaty Oak Revival: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. $55-$210. 948-7825 or hertzarena.com
- Tellabration 2025!, annual event with storytellers telling stories for both kids and grown-ups, one of many worldwide Tellabration performances organized by the National Storytelling Network: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Peace Community Church, 17671 Pine Ridge Road, Fort Myers Beach. Free. 849-7666
- Candlelight Concerts tribute to Taylor Swift, featuring a string quartet playing the pop megastar’s hits by candlelight: 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at Music & Arts Community Center, 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. $37-$62. 277-1700 or gulfcoastsymphony.org
- Saigon Night Market with authentic Asian street food, live performances and artisan vendors: 3-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Centennial Park, 2101 Edwards Drive, downtown Fort Myers. $17 (including tax and fees). CaloosaSoundAmp.com
LOOKING AHEAD
50th-annual Holiday Nights at Edison & Ford Estates
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates shine with thousands of holiday lights and decorations for this 50th-annual event. The milestone event includes new light displays, visits with Santa Claus (select nights), guided or self-guided Estates tours and a Children’s Tree Trail with dozens of trees decorated with handmade ornaments from Lee County school children. Holiday Nights takes place 5:30-9 p.m. daily from Nov. 28-Jan. 4, except for Dec. 24-25. $23 admission ($13 for ages 13-19, $3 for ages 6-12, free for younger). Lee County residents get a $5 discount every Monday (ID required). Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 334-7419 or EdisonFord.org
Theatre Conspiracy’s ‘Clown Bar Christmas’
Theatre Conspiracy continues its farewell tour with another trip into the dark underworld of gangster clowns. This holiday-themed show is a prequel to their hit comedy “Clown Bar.” Dec. 4-21. $35. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. theatreconspiracyfl.com
Gulfshore Opera’s ‘Carmen’
The regional opera company brings Bizet’s timeless tragedy to three Southwest Florida venues: Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in south Fort Myers (Tuesday, Dec. 2), Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda (Thursday, Dec. 4) and Artis—Naples in Naples (Sunday, Dec. 7). They’ll be joined by the Naples Philharmonic in Naples and The Florida Philharmonic in Punta Gorda and Fort Myers. All shows start at 7 p.m. Ticket prices vary. gulfshoreopera.org/carmen
Cultural Park car show in Cape Coral
The monthly Classic Car Fests show features more than 150 classic cars and trucks, music, food trucks, a vendor village and free museum tours. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. Free. Classic vehicle entry is $10. Cultural Park behind Cape Coral Museum of History, 544 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. 772-7037 or capecoralmuseum.org
The Festival of Misfit Toys
Local and touring rock and metal bands share the stage for this new festival that doubles as a toy drive for local children. The musical lineup includes DONEFOR, We’re Wolves, Alyk, Discord Theory, Dirty Rivals, Twin Rova, Bargain Bin Heroes and more. Plus games, contests, raffles and more. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. Free admission. Donations of new, packaged toys will be collected. Bay Street Yard, 2136 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. tinyurl.com/36ff73xp
Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells)
