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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nKetanji Brown Jackson lights up stage at Broadway musical “& Juliet”<\/p>\n
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson treated “& Juliet” fans to a special performance for one night only!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/story-highlights> Entertainment season is heating up in Southwest Florida. And some of the area\u2019s\u00a0biggest events<\/a>\u00a0happen between now and April.<\/p>\n Huge concerts. Touring Broadway blockbusters. Gigantic parades. Bustling art festivals. The 100th-anniversary tour for basketball magicians The Harlem Globetrotters. They’re all happening in the next four months.<\/p>\n Here are our picks for the top concerts, musicals, festivals and other events happening in Fort Myers, Naples and the rest of Southwest Florida. Check your favorite local theaters, venues and arts groups to see what else they have planned.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a big year for The Baker Museum at Artis\u2015Naples.<\/p>\n The Naples museum celebrates its 25th<\/sup> anniversary with a season packed with great exhibits, including Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka (now through February 2026) and renowned nature photographer Ansel Adams (March through August 2026).<\/p>\n The museum’s permanent collection spans three floors and includes large-scale glass works by the renowned\u00a0Dale Chihuly<\/a>\u00a0and mind-blowing paintings by surrealist superstar Ren\u00e9 Magritte.<\/p>\n Info: The Baker Museum at Artis\u2014Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. 597-1900 or artisnaples.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Art-festival season has finally arrived, and you’ll find all kinds of art at these sprawling, outdoor events: Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, handmade purses and lots more.<\/p>\n Even better: Admission is usually free.<\/p>\n Many festivals are scheduled to happen between now and the end of April in Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and the rest of Southwest Florida. Here are some of the biggies:<\/p>\n Broadway smash \u201c& Juliet\u201d reimagines Shakespeare with a surprising twist: Juliet lives and goes on a journey of self-discovery in Paris \u2014 all set to a pop soundtrack packed with hits by Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys and more.<\/p>\n The jukebox musical finally comes to Southwest Florida this January and February with two week-long runs at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers and Artis\u2014Naples in Naples. And that\u2019s not all that\u2019s happening onstage in Fort Myers, Naples and Cape Coral.<\/p>\n The 2026 lineup of plays and musicals includes two Agatha Christie murder mysteries (\u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d at Gulfshore Playhouse and \u201cAnd Then There Were None\u201d at Fort Myers Theatre), bloody Sondheim musical \u201cSweeney Todd\u201d (Cultural Park Theatre); heartwarming play \u201cTuesdays With Morrie\u201d (Florida Rep), the musical adaptation of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel \u201cLittle Women\u201d (Players Circle Theater) and lots more.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at all those and more notable shows happening this season in Southwest Florida:<\/p>\n Info: Learn more about these and more shows at artisnaples.org<\/a> (Artis\u2014Naples in Naples), bbmannpah.com<\/a> (B.B. Mann in Fort Myers), thebelletheatre.com<\/a> (The Belle Theatre in Cape Coral),broadwaypalm.com<\/a> (Broadway Palm in Fort Myers), culturalparktheatre.org<\/a> (Cultural Park Theatre in Cape Coral), floridarep.org<\/a> (Florida Repertory Theatre in Fort Myers), ftmyerstheatre.com<\/a> (Fort Myers Theatre in Fort Myers), gulfshoreplayhouse.org (Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples), <\/em>laboratorytheaterflorida.com<\/em> <\/a>(The Laboratory Theater of Florida), gulfcoastsymphony.org<\/a> (The MACC in Fort Myers)<\/em>, naplesplayers.org<\/a> (The Naples Players in Naples), playerscircletheater.com<\/a> (Players Circle Theater in Fort Myers), thestudioplayers.org<\/a> (The Studio Players in Naples), theatreconspiracyfl<\/a><\/em><\/em> (Theatre Conspiracy), theatre.zone<\/a> (TheatreZone in Naples)<\/em><\/p>\n The world-famous basketball wizards dazzle audiences everywhere they go. Now they\u2019re back again at Hertz Arena \u2014 this time celebrating 100 years of trick shots, gravity-defying dunks and endless entertainment.<\/p>\n They\u2019ll perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8. Tickets are $37-$175.<\/p>\n Info: Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.\u00a0 948-7825 or hertzarena.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The fourth-annual Venezia Renaissance Faire takes you back to the days of knights and chivalry. The fun includes medieval and Renaissance-era games (including a life-sized chess match), jousting, stage performers, food, a medieval marketplace, costumed characters and lots more.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Bonita Springs event returns for two weekends: Jan. 10-11 and 17-18. Tickets $20 for one day, $35 for all weekend ($12-$20 for ages 3-12).<\/p>\n Info: Next to Bonita Springs\u00a0Poker Room,\u00a028001 Old 41 Road,\u00a0Bonita Springs.\u00a0veneziarenaissancefaire.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The Naples Automotive Experience\u00a0is the biggest event of the year for car lovers: A weekend’s worth of car-themed events that include the ever-popular Cars on 5th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n The 22nd<\/sup>-annual Cars on 5th Concours takes place Saturday, Feb. 7, in downtown Naples. It features more than 400 vintage, prototype and modern cars on display on Fifth Avenue South. The lineup includes Ferraris, Porches, Corvettes, McLarens, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins and Maseratis.<\/p>\n The event draws as many as 20,000 people every year.<\/p>\n The bigger Naples Automotive Experience also features wine tastings, cigars, vendors and special events.<\/p>\n Info: naplesautomotiveexperience.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Opera Naples’ annual Festival Under the Stars \u2014 the only outdoor winter opera festival in the United States \u2014 returns with more than two months of events, including the operas \u201cTurandot,\u201d \u201cScalia\/Ginsburg\u201d and \u201cThe Elixir of Love.\u201d<\/p>\n The fest takes place Jan. 24 to March 14 at both Naples\u2019 Baker Park and Opera Naples\u2019 Wang Opera Center.<\/p>\n Artistic director Ram\u00f3n Tebar says he\u2019s particularly excited about the opera \u201cScalia\/Ginsburg\u201d (Feb. 21-22). The story \u2014 about the unlikely friendship between politically opposed U.S. Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg \u2014 is a must-see show for this politically divided time, he said in September 2025.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWe see more division, more polarity in our communities\u2026\u201d he said. \u201c(But) you can disagree with your neighbor and still be friend and be cordial, not enemies.”<\/p>\n The festival is part of Opera Naples\u2019 ongoing 20th-annual season, which also includes The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition. That second-annual event features young singers competing for contracts with top opera houses.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s part of an ongoing collaboration with the widow of legendary opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti\u2019s widow, Nicoletta Pavarotti, and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation.<\/p>\n Info: 963-9050 or operanaples.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Some huge musical acts and otherwise cool shows are coming to Southwest Florida between January and April: Barry Manilow\u2019s final shows at Hertz Arena, actor Bill Murray and his blues-rock band at B.B. Mann Hall, disco legends KC and the Sunshine Band at Seminole Casino Hotel and so much more.<\/p>\n Here are some of the coolest shows hitting town on early 2026:<\/p>\n Info: You can find out more about all of these upcoming concerts at artsbonita.org<\/a> (Arts Bonita), artisnaples.org<\/a> (Artis\u2014Naples), bbmannpah.com<\/a> (B.B. Mann Hall), CaloosaSoundAmp.com<\/a> (Caloosa Sound), hertzarena.com<\/a> (Hertz Arena), theranchfortmyers.com<\/a> (The Ranch) and moreinparadise.com<\/a> (Seminole Casino Hotel)<\/em><\/p>\n The Wonder Gardens is the oldest roadside attraction in Southwest Florida \u2015 even older than Fort Myers’ popular Edison & Ford Winter Estates.<\/p>\n Now everyone is invited to celebrate The Wonder Gardens\u2019 major milestone, its 90th<\/sup> birthday, with two days of events.<\/p>\n First up, there\u2019s a 90th<\/sup> Birthday Evening Celebration from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. It includes food from local restaurants, adult beverages, live entertainment, animal encounters, a live auction and more. Tickets are $250-$500.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s Family Day at the Gardens from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. The event includes music, food, interactive programs, animal interactions, games and more. Tickets are $50 ($25 for ages 3-12).<\/p>\n The botanical garden and animal refuge features more than 300 rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable animals, including gators, macaws, turtles, flamingoes and the new Otter Grotto exhibit.<\/p>\n Info: The Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 992-2591 or wondergardens.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Downtown Bonita Springs comes alive with the joyful sound of ukuleles at the second-annual World Ukulele Day, part of an international celebration of the tiny, easily mastered stringed instrument.<\/p>\n Live ukulele performances and other events take place noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at various downtown Bonita venues. Admission is free.<\/p>\n The lineup includes community jams, workshops, a brunch and free live music, including headliners Lil Rev with Ray Cyrgrymus.<\/p>\n Info: worldukuleleday.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Three times a year, Cape Bike Night packs downtown Cape Coral with motorcycles, cold beer, hot food, vendors and lots of hard-hitting rock \u2018n\u2019 roll.<\/p>\n The five-hour block party returns with two more Saturday events in early 2026. They take place Feb. 14 and April 11 along Southeast 47th Terrace from Vincennes Street to Coronado Parkway. Admission is free.<\/p>\n\n
The Baker Museum\u2019s 25th anniversary<\/h2>\n
Art festivals from Fort Myers to Naples<\/h2>\n
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Theater season, major musicals<\/h2>\n
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Harlem Globetrotters\u2019 100 Year Tour at Hertz Arena<\/h2>\n
Venezia Renaissance Faire in Bonita Springs<\/h2>\n
Cars on 5th <\/sup>and the 2026 Naples Automotive Experience\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Opera Naples\u2019 20th<\/sup> season<\/h2>\n
Big concerts, big names<\/h2>\n
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Wonder Gardens celebrates 90 years in Bonita Springs<\/h2>\n
World Ukulele Day in Bonita Springs<\/h2>\n
Cape Coral Bike Night<\/h2>\n