Holiday events and drives in Southwest Florida

Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:

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BONITA SPRINGS

The Bonita Springs Concert Band Christmas concert at Riverside Park. Dec. 13, 2 p.m. Guest soloist Mark Sanders will perform “Santa meets Sousa,” and “Til I Hear You Sing Once More”, arranged by Rick DeJonge. DeJonge, who has been a popular guest conductor of the band in the past, will conduct this free Christmas treat. The concert will follow the CDC Covid guidelines. The band will be winnowed down to 45 members and be socially distanced. The audience is asked to social distance and wear a mask while walking in and out of the park. There will be no intermission. Free. 10450 Reynolds St, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

CAPE CORAL

Holiday Boat-A-Long at Four Freedoms Park. Dec. 19, 4-10 p.m. The event features holiday-themed music, food trucks, a visit from Santa, and the boat parade, followed by a movie, “Christmas Vacation.” Attendees can watch as the boats line up in the Bimini Basin for the parade which first passes by the park’s beach before heading down various canals in South Cape Coral. Attendees encouraged to social distance and wear masks, though masks are not required. Free. 4818 Tarpon Court, Cape Coral, FL 33904.

FORT MYERS

Holiday Nights at Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Nov. 27 through Jan. 3 (closed Christmas Day), 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Event kicks off with the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Sounds of the Season” and will incorporate musical elements. The event is sponsored by FPL, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, and Sunbelt Rentals. Guided Holiday Tradition Tours will be offered at 6 and 7 p.m. every night and visitors can also take self-guided tours of the site. Families can stroll through the Children’s Tree Trail, which features dozens of trees decorated with handmade ornaments from Lee County school children. Holiday Tea with Mina Edison and Clara Ford will be Dec. 3 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the River Pavilion. Holiday Nights tickets for adults are $20, teens (13-19) $10, children (6-12) are $2 and Edison Ford members get in free. 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Tickets and schedule at www.edisonford.org.

Holiday House at the Langford-Kingston and Burroughs homes. Dec. 9 to 20, 5 to 9 p.m. The theme for the 64th Annual Holiday House, presented by the Fort Myers Woman’s Community Club and benefitting the Uncommon Friends Foundation, is “Winter Wonderland.” The two historic homes near downtown are decked out for the holidays. Self-guided tours will run nightly. The last tour is admitted at 8:30 each evening. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under age 10 are free. Veterans and active military service members are admitted free with identification. Tickets may be purchased at www.fmwcc.net or at the door. Masks required. 2500/2505 First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901.

For King & Country drive-up concert at Hertz Arena. Dec. 13, 6 p.m. The Grammy Award-winning duo presents “A Drummer Boy Drive-In: The Christmas Tour” to celebrate their first Christmas album. They will be playing songs and Christmas classics as well as some of your year-round favorites like “God Only Knows,” “Together,” and more. 11000 Everblades Pkwy., Estero, FL 33928. Tickets.

Santa Fest at Wa-Ke Hatchee Park. Dec. 19, 3 to 9 p.m. Enjoy bounce houses, food trucks, photos with Santa, and a movie in the park. The movie is 2003’s “Elf” and begins at 6:15 p.m. Free. Toy donations for Golisano Children’s Hospital encouraged. 16760 Bass Rd., Fort Myers, FL 33908. 239-432-2154.

NAPLES/GOLDEN GATE

Christmas on Third. Through New Year’s Eve. Live music at Third Thursdays on Third and strolling carolers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Snow will fall at 7 p.m. on these evenings as well. Shoppers, diners, and visitors stroll along Third Street South to the sights and sounds of Christmas. Free. Third Street South, Naples, FL 34102. thirdstreetsouth.com.

Inaugural Trees & Teas Festival at Naples Players Sugden Community Theater. Dec. 4 through Dec. 19, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees will reserve a time to walk through a wonderland of artist-decorated, themed holiday trees while sipping on an array of hot holiday teas provided by The Spice & Tea Exchange of Naples. Live carolers, holiday wreaths for purchase, and all of the trees and teas of the season are available to students for $12 and adults for $18. The event is sponsored locally by Gulfcoast International Properties. 701 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102. NaplesPlayer.org.

Operation Find Santa And His Elves at Veterans Community Park. Dec. 7 to 23. Santa needs your help! Santa and his elves went for a walk through Veterans Community Park, but they got lost. Can you help find them? Explore the park and trails to help find Santa and his elves. If you find them, come to Veterans Park Community Center and share the good news to receive a special prize! Maps are available in the community center. Be sure to tag Collier County Parks & Recreation when you post your pics on Facebook and Instagram. Free. 1895 Veterans Park Drive, Naples, FL 33990. 239-252-4682.

TNP Drive-In Movie Nights at The Naples Players drive-in. “A Christmas Story” on Dec. 15 and 16; “Frozen 2” on Dec. 29 and 30. Movies are shown on a 33-foot outdoor screen using a state-of-the-art projection and sound system. The drive-in lot is one block north of The Naples Players Theater and opens at 7 p.m. Movies begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the TNP Box Office at (239) 263-7990. Movies are sponsored by The Inn on Fifth. 300 8th St. S., Naples, FL 34102. NaplesPlayer.org.

Kids Christmas Party at Max Hasse Community Park. Dec. 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Kids ages kindergarten through 5th grade can enjoy holiday music, crafts, candy, games and prizes. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Participants must pre-register for this event, as space is limited. All CDC guidelines will be followed and masks must be worn. Free. 3390 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples, FL 34117. 239-252-4200.

Candy House Creation at Vineyards Community Park. Dec. 18, 4 to 5 p.m. Children ages 5 to 12 will use an assortment of candy, frosting and cookies to design their own candy house. $10 per child. 6231 Arbor Blvd., Naples, FL 34119. (239) 252-4105.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” live radio play at Cambier Park. Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. Limited seats remain to attend the event in person ($45), but reduced-price tickets ($20) are available to view a live-stream of the show from the comfort of your own home. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102. NaplesPlayer.org.

COLLECTIONS/DONATIONS

The Cape Coral Fire Department will be collecting toys and gifts for children who have special needs, suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer, are in foster care, or have families struggling with financial difficulties. Donations for boys and girls newborn to 17 years are needed. Gifts for teens are often in short supply. Consider donating gift cards, makeup, body soaps and lotions, perfume or cologne, arts and crafts supplies, sports equipment, or entertainment items for this age group. Collection boxes for the toy drive are located at each of the 11 fire stations throughout Cape Coral:

  • Station 1 – 4610 Coronado Parkway
  • Station 2 – 701 Nicholas Parkway
  • Station 3 – 1627 Everest Parkway
  • Station 4 – 2007 Santa Barbara Boulevard
  • Station 5 – 1029 Diplomat Parkway
  • Station 6 – 4540 Chiquita Parkway
  • Station 7 – 3942 Burnt Store Road N
  • Station 8 – 707 SW 1st Street
  • Station 9 – 4107 Pelican Boulevard
  • Station 10 – 3623 Gator Circle West
  • Station 11 – 1038 Burnt Store Road

The GulfShore Mustang Club of SWFL car show and supply drive will be accepting donations for care packages to send to military men and women on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., in Fort Myers. Consider donating suggested supply items or $10 to have a box filled and shipped for you. All collections will go to Holiday 4 Heroes, a local not-for-profit organization that sends care packages to U.S. military all over the world.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is hosting its 4th annual holiday toy drive benefitting the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem program to benefit 1,500 children in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Because the children range in age from newborn to 18 years old with varying needs, the holiday initiative is focused solely on toys and gift cards and does not include clothing or stuffed animals. All donations must be new and unwrapped. The initiative begins Tuesday, Dec. 1, and continues until Tuesday, Dec. 15. Donations can be dropped off any day of the week between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, 6010 Cattleridge Blvd.

Lee County Domestic Animal Services has a Gift Giving Tree in its lobby at 5600 Banner Dr. in Fort Myers. It’s decorated with ornaments with a wish list of gifts for the shelter pets. Visitors can pick an ornament, fulfill a wish and return it to Animal Services by Monday, Dec. 21, to help make the animals’ holiday a little brighter. The ornament is yours to keep for your tree. The adoption center is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

USPS’ ‘Operation Santa’ is a program that matches children and families in need with donors. Gift givers can read letters online and select a child or family – or multiple ones – to donate gifts to. Online adoptions start Dec. 4 and end Dec. 19. The program can be found at USPSOperationSanta.com.

Toys for Tots drop-off locations in Southwest Florida can be found here.

Operation Christmas Care at FGCU collects for families in need.

Operation Christmas Child

Be a Santa to a Senior

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