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Southwest Florida sings in the new year. In Naples, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve hosts its annual Festival of Birds with new sunrise walks and sunset kayak trips. In Fort Myers, artist Sun Smith-For\u00eat presents her expansive textural works to the region for the first time. And in Punta Gorda, the inaugural Boots & Roots Festival launches, with music from Ben Allen Band and country artist Easton Corbin. Don\u2019t miss these January happenings.<\/p>\n
Jan. 3 and 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Naples New Year\u2019s Art Fair at Cambier Park<\/strong><\/p>\n Naples Art Institute carries its 46-year relationship with Cambier Park forward with the 30th anniversary of this outdoor art festival. The institute hand-selects 250 local, national and international artists to showcase their work. The scenic, walkable setting draws thousands of art lovers every year to browse work in mediums like acrylic, photography and leather, reinforcing the event as a cornerstone of the local cultural community. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 3 and 4<\/strong><\/p>\n The Kickoff Classic at the USOP National Pickleball Center, Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n Pickleball enthusiasts take to the court, joining some 800 players and 1,500 spectators for the third annual Kickoff Classic. Across the two-day tournament, 78 open-to-all brackets\u2014men\u2019s and women\u2019s doubles, mixed doubles and wheelchair divisions\u2014set the stage for play. A special MONEYBALL division pits 16 doubles teams against one another to claim cash prizes: $2,000 for gold and $1,000 for silver. Visitors find a yacht display from Naples Marina, cars from Mercedes-Benz of Naples and Mercedes-Benz of Bonita Springs, and a 35-vendor market. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 5 \u2014 30<\/strong><\/p>\n Hunt Slonem <\/em><\/strong>at Harmon-Meek Gallery, Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n The Naples gallery has represented the internationally renowned neo-expressionist for longer than any other gallery in the world. This month, Harmon-Meek draws on its 30-year partnership with Hunt Slonem for a solo exhibition of his latest works, hand-picking favorites from among his whimsical, bunny-focused paintings. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 9<\/strong><\/p>\n The Spinners at Hard Rock Casino, Immokalee<\/strong><\/p>\n The Spinners, a pop, R&B and soul music group formed in 1954 (then called The Domingoes), performs decade-spanning hits at the Seminole Center. The ensemble has earned six Grammy nominations, created 18 platinum and gold albums, and sold millions of records. Though none of the original members remain, classic lineup collaborators Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough kept their promise to sustain the band, recruiting musicians for a fresh group and continuing the legacy. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 9 and 10<\/strong><\/p>\n SWFL Wood Art Exposition and Competition at Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, Punta Gorda<\/strong><\/p>\n For 40 years, specialty carvers, woodturners and furniture makers have gathered to compete in four proficiency categories. A representation of the region\u2019s creative craftsmanship scene, participants present an array of bespoke carved products: One of last year\u2019s winners was a luxury box made of ebony, coquille d\u2019oeuf\u2014an eggshell-like wood finishing\u2014and Japanese urushi lacquer. For the first time, the expo offers cash prizes for Best of Show, President\u2019s and People\u2019s Choice awards. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 10 \u2014 Ongoing<\/strong><\/p>\n There & Here: New<\/em><\/strong> Perspectives of the Permanent<\/em><\/strong> Collection <\/em><\/strong>at Artis\u2014Naples, The Baker Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n In the works for more than a year, There & Here<\/em> goes beyond the typical exhibition. The show celebrates Artis\u2014Naples, The Baker Museum\u2019s 25th anniversary with panel discussions and pinnacle pieces of the institution\u2019s permanent collection. A committee of community advisers\u2014curators Tara Backhouse and Tayina Deravile, Miccosukee Business Council secretary William \u2018Popeye\u2019 Osceola, and author Annabelle Tometich\u2014organized and executed this exhibit, which highlights migration, ancestry and identity. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 10 and 11<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonita Springs National Art Festival with Arts Bonita, Riverside Park<\/strong><\/p>\n A regional hub for artists and collectors, this fine art festival returns with revamped operations. This year, Arts Bonita\u2019s new festival director, Richard Sullivan, offers his expertise in art curation, festival direction and nonprofit leadership\u2014expanding artist stations for better art visibility and redesigning the festival layout to cover only one side of the street (Goodbye, crosswalk hazards!). Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 11<\/strong><\/p>\n Jay Leno at Artis\u2014Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n The professional stand-up comedian and former host of The Tonight Show<\/em> returns to Naples for one night only; his last local appearance was headlining the 2025 Cars on 5th Automotive Experience. Known for his sharp, observational humor, the comic shares his take on current topics and Hollywood experiences in the limelight. This show is part of his ongoing comedy tour, which includes at least 100 performances annually. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 13 \u2014 18<\/strong><\/p>\n SOME LIKE IT HOT <\/em><\/strong>at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center Hall, Fort Myers<\/strong><\/p>\n Broadway makes its way to our slice of Florida with the national tour of this Tony- and Grammy Award-winning musical comedy. Set against the backdrop of Chicago\u2019s Prohibition Era and featuring Roaring Twenties-inspired costumes and props, the production follows two musicians who are chased out of the city and across the country by mob gangsters. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 15 \u2014 19<\/strong><\/p>\n Festival of Birds at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n Rookery Bay, an organization dedicated to researching and protecting Southwest Florida\u2019s coastal environment and avian fauna, hosts their annual festival to coincide with the migratory patterns of local wildlife. Around this time of year, sandhill cranes, cedar waxwings and American robins find winter homes in this region. The event features various avian activities and workshops, keynote speaker Paul Gray from Audubon Florida, and field trips to environmental destinations\u2014like kayaking tours through Big Cypress National Preserve and Rookery Bay. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 16 and 17<\/strong><\/p>\n Boots & Roots Festival at Babcock Ranch, Punta Gorda<\/strong><\/p>\n Babcock Ranch introduces the inaugural Boots & Roots Country Music Festival, a two-day event at Founder\u2019s Square celebrating local and top country artists. Ben Allen Band headlines the festival alongside \u201cAll Over the Road\u201d singer Easton Corbin. <\/em>Beyond the stage, find a line dancing arena, family-friendly zones and country-style cookouts. Partnering with the national nonprofit Save The Music Foundation, the event supports the next generation\u2019s access to music education. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 16 \u2014 18<\/strong><\/p>\n Artful Arrangements:<\/em><\/strong> Original Artwork<\/em><\/strong> Re-Imagined in Floral<\/em><\/strong> Designs <\/em><\/strong>at Naples Art District<\/strong><\/p>\n At this signature annual event, two creative forms merge. Floral artists craft more than 40 flower arrangements that echo paintings from Naples Art District. Paired together for display, the art and arrangements play off each other in a dynamic and playful juxtaposition, where flowers, stems and leaves draw out the hues and forms dreamed up by local artists. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 21<\/strong><\/p>\n Musical Interludes: Ben Rosenblum Jazz at Marco Island Center for the Arts<\/strong><\/p>\n Award-winning New York City pianist, vocalist, composer and accordionist Ben Rosenblum lands in Marco Island for a world-class jazz performance featuring tunes from the artist\u2019s four self-led albums. The musical multihyphenate has brought his talents to more than 20 genres and 25 countries, captivating audiences large and small\u2014from local stages to Carnegie Hall. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 22 \u2014 25<\/strong><\/p>\n Naples Boat Show at Naples City Dock<\/strong><\/p>\n A local favorite since 1967, the Naples Boat Show brings local and international brands together to showcase a diverse range of\u00a0 vessels, from flatboats designed for shallow-water fishing to cabin cruisers for deeper-sea exploration. Alongside the boats at this four-day event, guests can expect technologically advanced marine equipment and accessories, insight from boating experts, and nearby dining options like Chez Boet and The Dock at Crayton Cove. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 23 \u2014 Apr. 17<\/strong><\/p>\n A Journey to the Oracle,<\/em><\/strong> Ebenezer Leyva <\/em><\/strong>at BIG ARTS Sanibel Mezzanine Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n During gallery director and artist Wilson McCray\u2019s years living in Costa Rica, he shared a studio with an artist whose work he describes simply as \u201cextraordinary.\u201d Now, he\u2019s bringing that experience to Sanibel, with a solo exhibit of works from Cuban artist Ebenezer Leyva Gonzalez. Known for his explorations of perception and connection, the painter, multimedia artist and educator presents a new collection of works rooted in existential questions brought to life in oil and acrylic. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 24 and 25<\/strong><\/p>\n Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, Fort Myers<\/strong><\/p>\n Kilts are adorned and Guinness gets poured at the Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival. Attendees celebrate Celtic and Irish traditions with a mix of pop, rock and pipe-based music performances from national and international bands, as well as Gaelic moves from Southwest Florida\u2019s Kellyn Celtic Arts Irish Dancers. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jan. 24 \u2014 Mar. 14<\/strong><\/p>\n Festival Under the Stars at Wang Opera Center and Baker Park, Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n America\u2019s first outdoor winter opera festival returns bigger than ever for its sixth year. In honor of Opera Naples\u2019 20th anniversary, the festival stretches a full five weeks\u2014as opposed to the typical three\u2014and marks the event\u2019s return to its original location: Baker Park. The festivities kick off January 24, with An Evening of Opera\u2019s Greatest Hits, a selection of works performed by Opera Naples\u2019 resident artists. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 27 \u2014 Mar. 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Circle Forward <\/em><\/strong>World Premiere at Gulfshore Playhouse, Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n Circle Forward,<\/em> workshopped initially at Gulfshore Playhouse\u2019s New Works Festival in 2023, returns for its world premiere as a fully staged production. A Local Theatre Company award finalist, this dramatic, dark comedy by Deb Hiett centers on a widow traveling the country as a public speaker on grief. Before long, she is faced with the unthinkable: a young stranger claiming to be her husband reincarnated. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 27 \u2014 Mar. 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Tuesdays with Morrie<\/em><\/strong> at Florida Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on Mitch Albom\u2019s memoir, Tuesdays with<\/em> Morrie<\/em> interweaves themes of friendship, shared wisdom and healing. Directed by Maureen Heffernan\u2014who has led over 20 productions at Florida Repertory Theatre\u2014this drama tells the story of Morrie, who is battling Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease, and his former student Mitch, chronicling their weekly journey to understand life\u2019s meaning. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n Jan. 28 \u2014 Apr. 25<\/strong><\/p>\n Above & Beyond, Artworks<\/em><\/strong> by Sun Smith-For\u00eat <\/em><\/strong>at Tribby Arts Center at Shell Point, Fort Myers<\/strong><\/p>\n Artist Sun Smith-For\u00eat arrives from St. Louis with a vast portfolio of textural works to display for the first time in Florida. The professional studio artist, teacher and independent curator showcases her 200-foot Riverwork <\/em>textile, a panoramic project representing themes from the Western frontier to hydroelectric power to literature. While this wall piece wraps around several gallery spaces at Tribby, a collaborative sculpture, 60 basketry works and 36 paintings are also on display. Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source gulfshorelife.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Southwest Florida sings in the new year. In Naples, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve hosts its annual Festival of Birds with new sunrise walks and sunset kayak trips. In Fort Myers, artist Sun Smith-For\u00eat presents her expansive textural works to the region for the first time. And in Punta Gorda, the inaugural Boots & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2222141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[429837,429835,346466,22034,429834,429836,22477,345765,23471,22482,311324],"class_list":["post-2222140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-addison-pezoldt","tag-alyssa-riley","tag-attractions","tag-events","tag-gulfshore-life-guides","tag-january-2026","tag-live-music","tag-local-artists","tag-performing-arts","tag-things-to-do","tag-visual-arts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/19-January-2026-Events-in-SWFL.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2222140"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2222142,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222140\/revisions\/2222142"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2222141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2222140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2222140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2222140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}