Southwest Florida's Vibrant Cultural Scene: Events And Attractions To Warm The Winter Months

Information column from USA TODAY:

The social season in Fort Myers reveals itself with a vigor that would surely satisfy the most discerning of sensibilities. Our local landscape, though often dictated by the warmth of the sun, finds itself temporarily humbled by an unexpected chill. This postponement of the Wonder Gardens’ ninetieth anniversary until the twenty-eighth of March is a heavy blow to those who find solace in the company of ancient flora and feathered residents. Nature dictates terms. We must wait.

While the gardens rest, the Hooters of Fort Myers prepares a celebration of forty years that defies the gravity of time. On Saturday, the thirty-first of January, the air will be filled with the harmonies of One Night Rodeo and the scratching of pens as Selena Sanchez and Emily Hagedorn grace the premises for a calendar signing. It is a curious thing to see forty years of history condensed into a single afternoon of drink specials and signatures. A wall of gratitude. Public displays of local affection. The 2026 Hooters Calendar presents a vision of perpetual summer that many find quite agreeable.

Music serves as the great equalizer of spirits. In Lehigh Acres, the Rock 'n Blues & Brews Fest emerges as a meritorious endeavor. Five bands will perform at Veterans Park, turning the Saturday air into a tapestry of rhythm. The Rotary Club’s scholarship fund is a noble cause. Nonperishable gifts for the pantry. A community that feeds itself while it dances is a community of high character. Prosperity through song.

At the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, a most radical reimagining of the Bard’s work awaits the curious spectator. & Juliet suggests that the young Capulet might have found more joy in Paris than in a tomb. It is a bold stroke. Shakespeare met with the melodies of Britney Spears and Katy Perry creates a sensation that is as startling as it is lively. To see Juliet choose life over a tragic end is a correction to history that many hearts have long desired. Pop anthems for the soul. A Tuesday through Sunday engagement. Limited seats remain for those who value a spirited departure from the melancholy.

• Wonder Gardens Anniversary: Rescheduled for March 28 due to uncooperative cold.
• Hooters 40th Birthday: Features Selena Sanchez, Gracie Williams, and live music on Jan. 31.
• Lehigh Acres Festival: Rock and blues for charity; donations of food are highly encouraged.
• Broadway in Fort Myers: & Juliet brings a pop-infused alternate ending to the stage in early February.

Additional Reading for the Discerning Resident

• A History of Botanical Preservation in Southwest Florida
• The Evolution of the Modern Pop Musical on Broadway
• Community Philanthropy and the Impact of Local Rotary Clubs
• Architectural Highlights of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

Here are our top things to do this weekend and beyond, including the Wonder Gardens' 90th anniversary party and the Broadway pop musical "& Juliet.

Alternative viewpoints and findings: See here