What’snew in Fort Myers

Tuesday, 17 Jun, 2025 0

It’s summer in Southwest Florida which means warm days, blue skies, island hopping, paddling trails, fishing, and much more.

Visit the new 2025 Visitor Digital Guide to plan a vacation now.

Reasons to celebrate this month
National Seashell Day
There’s nothing quite like the joy of walking on a beach and searching through seashells to find that perfect lightning whelk, alphabet cone or the prize: a junonia. June 20, also the first day of summer, is National Seashell Day.

With more than 50 miles of beaches and over 400 species of seashells, there’s no other place quite like Fort Myers for shell hunting. In fact, Sanibel Island is known as the “Seashell Capital of the World” because of its unique east-west orientation that brings countless seashells in pristine condition to the beaches.

In addition to Sanibel Island, shell seekers also visit Fort Myers Beach, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach and Lovers Key. Cayo Costa State Park and North Captiva Island are available by boat. visitfortmyers.com/national-seashell-day

Causeway Islands Park reopens

Causeway Islands Park has reopened with its first phase of amenities. The long-awaited reopening of the beach park on the Sanibel Causeway gives visitors a chance to again enjoy the shoreline. The park had been closed due to the essential rebuilding activities.

Planned improvements in Phase Two include structured parking areas, restrooms on Islands A and B, beach access and ADA accommodations, outdoor showers, site drainage and irrigation systems, plus landscaping. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 and completion is anticipated in 2026. leegov.com/parks/beaches/causeway

Sea turtle nesting season
Sea turtle nesting season runs through Oct. 31. The loggerheads return to the same beach time after time to deposit their eggs. Sea turtles are among the world’s oldest creatures. The seven species that can be found today have been on the earth for about 110 million years. Most common here is the loggerhead sea turtle, which lives to be 40-60 years old. They are big and weigh 250-400 lbs.

Chris Young headlines Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Multi-platinum BMI singer-songwriter Chris Young will headline Island Hopper Songwriter Fest’s closing concert with a pool party performance on Sunday, Sept. 28, at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach.

The 11th annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest features 80+ free performances by Broadcast Music, Inc.’s (BMI) best singer-songwriters. Hop from one concert setting to another throughout the islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers. The event was ranked as one of the top music festivals in the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. islandhopperfest.com

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest schedule:

Captiva Island, Sept. 19-21

Cape Coral, Sept. 22-23

Downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 24-25

Fort Myers Beach Sept. 26-28

Explore Sanibel Island’s Wild Mile
Visit the area’s natural attractions with the exclusive mobile pass, including:

CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife)

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

Simply check in at each location to earn points and prizes. Sign-ups are easy and free. Your Sanibel Wild Mile pass will be instantly delivered to your phone via text and email. Also save it on your home screen for one-tap access. visitfortmyers.com/digital-passes/sanibel-wild-mile

Explore and win prizes with Parks, Perks & Points
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and Lee County Parks & Recreation have partnered to give visitors new ways to enjoy summer fun and win great prizes.

Parks, Points & Perks encourages exploration of area parks, beaches, preserves, recreation centers, events and more. Running now through May 2026, the free pass makes it easy to visit favorite spots or discover new adventures.

Participants have a range of family-friendly locations to visit that include Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and Lakes Park in Fort Myers; Dog Beach in Bonita Springs; Phillips Park in Bokeelia and Bowditch Point Park in Fort Myers Beach. More than 30 sites are included. visitfortmyers.com/ParksPass and sign up. The pass will be instantly delivered to your phone via text and email. Visit any location in the pass and earn 20 points when you check in.

Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum reopens
The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum is open and welcomes visitors to stroll through its exhibits and to enjoy the views. facebook.com/PortBocaGrandeLighthouseMuseum

Big fun at Big City Kids, Bonita Springs
Perfect for a break from the beach. Drop by this indoor play space where kids explore, create and dream big. A mini city full of interactive play zones and a café for the parents to relax while the kids have fun. bigcitykidsfl.com

Free summer programs at the Refuge, Sanibel Island
The free J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge summer programs schedule runs through Aug. 2, three days each week. Programs are designed for children, but all ages are welcome. dingdarlingsociety.org/seasonal-programs

Monday: Ranger’s choice @ the Roost
Join a Refuge ranger in the exploration/discussion of topics from native wildlife to the history of Sanibel pirates.

Wednesday: Ranger-led Wildlife Drive caravan
Participants will follow a ranger onto the Drive in their own vehicles.

Saturday: Nature craft @ the Roost
Explore Florida wildlife with an interactive story and corresponding craft.

McCollum Hall public art installation, Fort Myers
Learn something interesting about one of the community’s most colorful public art installation projects at Dunbar-McCollum Hall mural wall in Fort Myers. Take a walk through the most recent Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) Industry Partner Spotlight with Fort Myers Mural Society executive director Shari Shifrin and plan a visit soon. youtube.com/watch?v=V4Dv4S7CneU

Gasparilla Island Lighthouse climbs
Take part in the popular Barrier Island Park Society history tour climbs and take 134 steps to the top for a beautiful view. Visit bips.org/event-details/climb-the-gasparilla-island-lighthouse-9

Neighborhood Mural Program
Highlighting what makes each area special, visitors are enjoying the experience of a neighborhood mural program. The placemaking initiative by the VCB is done in partnership with the Fort Myers Mural Society. The project gives visitors a chance to interact with the murals’ designs by taking and sharing photos.

Locations:

Estero Community Park

Veterans Park, Lehigh Acres

The side of Eagle’s Nest Restaurant on Pine Island

A double mural on both sides of the entrance doors into the North Fort Myers Recreation Center

Lakes Park in Fort Myers for a series of murals in the children’s garden

The side of the Community Redevelopment Agency building at 1231 Lafayette St., Cape Coral

The side of the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce building on Sanibel Island

visitfortmyers.com/murals

2025 annual festivals and events

29th annual MangoMania
July 12 Winn Dixie Plaza, St. James City pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/mangomania

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Fall Festival, Fort Myers
Oct. 18 edisonfordwinterestates.org

40^th Cape Coral Oktoberfest
Oct. 17-19 and 24-26 German-American Social Club capecoraloktoberfest.com

Sanibel Island Writers Conference
November tba Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers fgcu.edu/siwc

BIG ARTS 2024 Film Festival, Sanibel Island
November tba bigarts.org/event/inaugural-fall-film-festival

35^th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach Nov. 20-24 fmbsandsculpting.com

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Autumn Garden Festival, Fort Myers
Nov. 22-23 edisonfordwinterestates.org

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

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