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Contacts: Nancy Hamilton, Lee Rose, or Rachel Johnson
                 (239) 338-3500


There’s always something to toast along The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

 

LEE COUNTY, FL -- Feeling festive? Then look no further than The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, where there are year-round special events to celebrate the extraordinary and the exotic.

• Mango Mania. A native, tropical fruit, mango is the star attraction for two days each summer on Pine Island. Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11, celebrants go wild over the flavorful fruit when the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce hosts the Pine Island Mango Mania Tropical Fruit Fair at the German-American Social Club in Cape Coral. During the weekend extravaganza, festival-goers may sample and purchase locally-grown fruits, fruit trees and fruit-based products. Varieties range from kiwi, papaya and Key lime to mango, carambola and other exotics. In addition to fruit, the festival also includes more substantial fare, as well as music and other diversions. Times are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 11 years old. For more information, call (239) 283-0888 or visit www.mangomaniafl.com.

• Oktoberfest. German tradition is alive and well in Cape Coral, home of Lee County’s largest annual Oktoberfest. Hosted by the German-American Social Club on Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, the huge celebration of German culture, food, music and dancing features six days of family fun and games the weekends of Oct. 22 – 24 and Oct. 29 – 31. Highlights include authentic live entertainment from large musical groups brought in from Germany, along with an abundance of great German food and beer, sufficient to prompt participants to perform the world-famous chicken dance. For more information, call (239) 283-1400 or visit www.gasc-capecoral.com.

• Fort Myers Beach Sand Sculpting Festival. You won’t believe what some people can craft from sand! And that’s why this annual Gulf-front competition draws thousands of spectators to Fort Myers Beach each year. This national sand sculpting championship traditionally attracts a variety of sculptors, ranging from national masters to local and regional amateurs. The competition takes place Nov. 10 – 14 on the beach in front of the Outrigger Beach Resort and Holiday Inn on Estero Island.  Admission is free. For more information, call (239) 454-7500.

• The 9th annual Medieval Faire. This lively two-weekend event sets the mood for anyone with a desire to be in a world with knights, kings, princesses and myths of all kind. Sponsored by the Lee County Kiwanis Club, the faire features jousting, live chess, jugglers and minstrels, along with live entertainment at five different stages. Children can play games and enjoy rides while adults look at antiques of merchants and artisans, as well as indulge in medieval food. Admission is $10 for ages 15 and older, $6 for children 3 to 14. The faire runs Jan. 15, 16, 22, and 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free parking is available at the Lee County Sports Complex with a complimentary shuttle to the faire. For more information, call (239) 693-8036 or visit www.medieval-faire.org.

• Edison Festival of Light. Commemorating the birthday of Fort Myers’ most famous winter resident, Thomas Edison, this annual event features more than two weeks of celebrations designed to light up everyone’s life. The festival runs for a three-week period from Jan. 29 into Feb. 20, and includes one of the area’s largest arts and crafts fairs, a downtown block party, an orchid show, an antiques and collectibles show, and a children’s parade. However, the festival’s main attraction is the Parade of Lights, which winds through downtown Fort Myers. Arguably the nation’s largest nighttime parade, it includes a fireworks and stadium show with nationally known musical artists at Fort Myers High School. Most events have free admission. For more information, call

(239) 334-2999 or log on to www.edisonfestival.org.

• The 68th annual Sanibel Shell Fair. Other than on the island’s beaches, the Sanibel Community House on Periwinkle Way is the place to see seashells in all their glory. Each year, the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club host the shell fair, featuring shell displays and novelties, with prizes awarded in various categories. Food, entertainment and crafts are also available throughout the three-day event, from Thursday, March 3 to Saturday, March 5. Admission is free to the fair, but a $3 donation is requested to enter the shell show inside. For additional information, call (239) 472-2155 or view www.sanibelcommunityhouse.org.

• Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival. Each year, shrimp lovers are invited to go straight to the source to indulge their cravings for shellfish. As usual, the next festival is scheduled to coincide with the full moon, since that’s when the shrimping fleet returns to dock along Estero Bay each month. Reportedly, that’s because shrimp bury themselves away from the light and out of shrimpers’ sight when the moon is full.

The Shrimp Festival Parade takes place the weekend of March 12 – 13, and includes a 5-K race that Saturday. While the parade features marchers and floats from various area organizations, the festival focuses on food and fun. In addition to lots of shrimp and other edibles, there is live entertainment from bands and street performers in Times Square. The weekend wraps up with the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony on Sunday, conducted by a local priest, who blesses all the local shrimp boats, and offers prayers for their safety and prosperity throughout the year. For more information, call (239) 463-6986.

• Fort Myers Beach Film Festival. Every April, film buffs have the opportunity to see quality films, and participate in events designed to cultivate the spirit of creativity and promote the talents of local and upcoming filmmakers. The four-day festival takes place April 21 through April 24, and includes filmmaker panel discussions and student filmmaking workshops. There is also an elegant celebrity gala and film screenings at the Fort Myers Beach Theatre. Admission is free. For more information, call (239) 765-0202 or log on to www.fmbfilmfest.com.

For more information about festivals along The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, visit www.FortMyersSanibel.com or call toll-free to request a Visitor’s Guide, (888) 231-6933.

 

Editor’s note: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel (formerly the Lee Island Coast) include: Sanibel & Captiva islands, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer islands, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres.

 

E-mail release available upon request. Also accessible at www.FortMyersSanibel.com by clicking on “Media” at the bottom of the home page, then “News Releases.”

  

Festival Contacts