Good Morning SWFL!

Someone please tell the weather that the kiddos are back in school and summer is officially over, because this heat did NOT get the memo. Before we get into the news, let's take a moment to review one of the most important and most violated traffic laws in Lee County: stopping for school buses.

Florida law requires drivers to stop whenever a school bus has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. The rules vary slightly depending on the type of road you are on, as shown in the graphic below, but the bottom line is simple: when in doubt, stop. It is never worth the risk. And if you think you can get away with blowing past a stopped bus, think again. Lee County's school bus stop-arm camera program, which launched in late 2025, has already caught 25,454 violations in just five months, generating $5.7 million in fines at $225 per violation. The cameras are mounted on buses throughout the county and operate automatically, so there is no avoiding them

Lee County's New Weather Radar Now Installed
Lee County's new Climavision gap-filling weather radar, installed on the roof of the Lee County Public Safety Center at 2675 Ortiz Ave. in Fort Myers, has been completed and is expected to be fully operational within four to six weeks. The dual-polarization X-Band radar covers a 60-mile range and will provide hyper-accurate data on rainfall, wind gusts, hail, and tornadic activity, addressing longstanding gaps in low-level weather coverage that have left Lee County vulnerable to flash flooding, high winds, and tornadoes.(Sanibel-Captiva Islander)

Lee County Ranked Second in Florida for Recycling
Lee County has been ranked second among Florida's 67 counties for recycling by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, with an adjusted recycling rate of 87% in 2025 — a nine-point increase from 2024 and 12 points above the state's 75% goal. Residents and businesses recycled more than 2.2 million tons of the 3 million tons of total waste generated last year, equivalent to filling 1,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Unsure what can be recycled? Download the free Recycle Coach app, which lets you take a photo of an item to find out how to properly dispose of it. (WGCU)

Cars on 5th Finds New Home on Bayshore Drive
After 21 years on Fifth Avenue South, Cars on 5th is likely relocating to Bayshore Drive in Naples for its February 6, 2027 show, following a dispute with the city over crowd control restrictions that would have limited attendance to fewer than 4,000 and made the event financially unviable. The beloved charity car show, which has raised millions for local nonprofits and draws 700+ luxury vehicles and thousands of attendees, plans to close only the northbound lane of Bayshore Drive with French barricades to limit gate crashers, with free parking and shuttles available from the USOP National Pickleball Center and the county government center.(Gulfshore Business)

That giant soft-serve cone you've driven past a hundred times has serious hometown roots. Twistee Treat was founded right here in SWFL back in 1983 by Robert "Skip" Skinner, and the very first location opened at State Route 80 and Buckingham Road in Fort Myers. The chain became famous for its dipped soft-serve cones, and even the famous cone-shaped buildings themselves were built locally, fabricated out of fiberglass by Marine Concepts out of Cape Coral.

The brand exploded fast (30 locations by 1986, all in Florida) before hitting a bankruptcy in 1990 and a corporate reboot in Orlando. But the roadside icon never really left home: the second-ever Twistee Treat is still standing in North Fort Myers today, and it's even had a few Hollywood moments, popping up in Problem Child 2 and The Florida Project.

Not every cone survived under the Twistee Treat name, though. The old Bonita Springs location is now Pelican's SnoBalls, serving up New Orleans-style shaved ice out of that same unmistakable ice-cream-cone building. Same shape, totally different treat.

On a personal note: Does anyone know of a local ice cream shop serving soft-serve dipped cones that isn't the Twistee Treat in NFM, DQ or Carvel? Reply and let me know! 🙏

This event list is quite long this week. I expect that the email will be cut off, you can read online for the full version.

Shorebird Stroll
Date: Friday, August 14 | 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Location: Lovers Key State Park, 8720 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
A ranger-led shoreline walk to spot and identify the birds that call Lovers Key home.

Jurassic Quest
Date: Friday, August 14 | 1:00 PM-8:00 PM
Location: Mike Greenwell Regional Park, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers, FL
Life-sized, moving, roaring animatronic dinosaurs plus dino rides, fossils, and inflatables.

Emo Nite at Backyard Social
Date: Friday, August 14 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Location: Backyard Social, 16371 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers, FL 33913
A 90s-2000s emo night with live music from Bayfrontview at Backyard Social.

Mighty Mussels vs. Clearwater
Date: Friday, August 14 | 7:05 PM
Location: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Catch the Mighty Mussels take on Clearwater at Hammond Stadium with Friday Fireworks and a Pre-Game Happy Hour.

Jurassic Quest
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Location: Mike Greenwell Regional Park, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers, FL
Life-sized, moving, roaring animatronic dinosaurs plus dino rides, fossils, and inflatables.

Bell Tower Arts & Crafts Fair
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907
A community arts and crafts fair at Bell Tower hosted by the Local Ladies Social Network featuring unique handcrafted items, local food, and great company.

Downtown Fort Myers Farmers Market
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Downtown Fort Myers, Monroe and First Streets, Fort Myers, FL
A free weekly outdoor farmers market in Downtown Fort Myers every Saturday with fresh local produce, artisan goods, and community vendors at Monroe and First Streets.

MomCo Naples Lemonade Social
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 9:30 AM-11:30 AM
Location: Vineyards Community Park Splash Pad, 6231 Arbor Blvd W, Naples, FL 34119
Moms socialize at the splash pad while kids play; new moms always welcome.

Candle Making Workshop for Beginners
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Collier County Museums - Immokalee Pioneer Museum, 1215 Roberts Avenue West, Immokalee, FL 34142
Hands-on beginner workshop at Collier County Museums teaching traditional candle making with wax, wicks, and matches.

Free Family ArtLabs
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33919
Drop in for free, hands-on family fun. Explore something new every month like art making, gallery activities, games and more – all inspired by artworks on view in the gallery, famous artists, national holidays and artistic traditions around the world.

Free Lowe's Kids Workshop: Dino Island Volcano
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Lowe's Home Improvement, Southwest Florida locations
Free kids' workshop featuring PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie–inspired build (registration opens 7/11).

IMAG Back-to-School Bash
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Location: IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Carnival games, prizes, and family fun to kick off the school year at IMAG.

Jr. Ranger Program
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Kids complete a hands-on Junior Ranger activity and can earn a passport stamp for the day's theme.

Rescheduled: Power Up for School
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Gulf Coast Town Center, 9903 Gulf Coast Main Street, Fort Myers, FL 33913
A free family event with a superhero costume contest and appearances from real-life community heroes.

Caturday Playtime (all ages)
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
Location: Cattyshack Cat Cafe, 9902 Gulf Coast Main St, Ste D-140, Fort Myers, FL 33913
All-ages playtime with the cafe's resident cats.

Community Author Storytime with Dana Eikenberg
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
Location: Bonita Springs Public Library, 10560 Reynolds Street, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
A free special storytime for birth to age 5 featuring local author Dana Eikenberg reading her book Hank the Brave — registration required.

Pizza Making at Tony Sacco's
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Tony Sacco's Estero, 8001 Plaza del Lago Drive, Estero, FL 33928
Families make their own pizza together, with an apron, chef hat, drink, and sweet treat included.

Third Saturdays Art Walk
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Naples Art District, Shirley St. and J & C Blvd., Naples, FL 34109
A Free monthly art walk where visitors can explore working artist studios and discover one-of-a-kind artwork.

Kids Skate Free at SPINZ
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
Location: SPIN, 2095 Andrea Lane, Fort Myers
Free after $4.99 annual membership - $5 skate rentals available

Girls Meet Offline: Coffee & Content Date
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Location: Disco Bean Coffee Company, 9124 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
A coffee meetup for girls to connect offline over content creation and community.

Pups 'n' Books
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 1:30 PM-3:30 PM
Location: Headquarters Regional Branch, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples, FL 34109
Meet Golden Paws Assistance Dogs at the library; all ages welcome, no registration needed.

Teen & Tween Looming Workshop
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Location: Headquarters Regional Branch, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples, FL 34109
Teens and tweens learn simple looming techniques to make coasters, hearts, and other small weaving projects.

Women's Self Defense Course at Fort Myers Brewing
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Location: Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr Suite 28, Fort Myers, FL 33913
A ticketed hands-on two-hour women's self defense workshop at Fort Myers Brewing taught by nationally recognized law enforcement and martial arts instructor Robert Tirollo — includes two beers after class.

Mighty Mussels vs. Clearwater
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 6:05 PM
Location: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Catch the Mighty Mussels take on Clearwater at Hammond Stadium for Augtoberfest and Bark in the Park.

Girls & Boys Community Beach Walk
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
Location: Wiggins Pass Beach, Naples, FL 34110
A free community beach walk and hangout with games, music, and sunset; singles wear all black.

Glow Night: Climb the Canvas
Date: Saturday, August 15 | 8:00 PM-11:59 PM
Location: Fort Rock Climbing Center, 7131 Alico Rd, Ste 130, Fort Myers, FL 33912
A glow-in-the-dark climbing and painting night; grab your friends, climb, and get creative.

Cars and Coffee 239
Date: Sunday, August 16 | 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Mercato on the Event Lawn, 9110 Strada Place, Naples, Fl 34108
Browse hundreds of cool cars located around the property. Check out the traffic circle to see our featured cars of the month and connect with car enthusiasts from Southwest Florida

Jurassic Quest
Date: Sunday, August 16 | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: Mike Greenwell Regional Park, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers, FL
Life-sized, moving, roaring animatronic dinosaurs plus dino rides, fossils, and inflatables.

Mighty Mussels vs. Clearwater
Date: Sunday, August 16 | 12:05 PM
Location: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Catch the Mighty Mussels take on Clearwater at Hammond Stadium — kids get free tickets and a pre-game catch on the field.

Kids Skate Free at SPINZ
Date: Sunday, August 16 | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Location: SPIN, 2095 Andrea Lane, Fort Myers
Free after $4.99 annual membership - $5 skate rentals available

Pokemon Scavenger Hunt at 810 Entertainment
Date: Sunday, August 16 | 2:00 PM-6:00 PM
Location: 810 Billiards & Bowling, Suite 50 (Miromar Outlets), 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero, FL 33928
A Pokemon-themed scavenger hunt with a challenge card, costume contest, and themed treats and drinks for all ages.

Bayside Park Concert Series: "Guilty Pleasure"
Date: Sunday, August 16 | 4:00 PM-7:00 PM
Location: Bayside Park, Corner of Old San Carlos Blvd. and 1st Street, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Free outdoor concert featuring Guilty Pleasure, performing concert and dance hits led by vocalist Lisa Nixon.

Orchid Care Q&A Workshop
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: The Garden Place, 20071 S Tamiami Trl, Estero, FL 33928
A free Q&A workshop on caring for orchids at The Garden Place.

Miromar Outlets Free Kids Crafts
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Playground at Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero, FL 33928
Stop by for a quick and easy craft your little ones can assemble on the spot or take home to enjoy.

Mommy & Me Sculpt + Flow
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Forever Grounded Coffee (The Commons), 2633 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Moms and babies sculpt and flow together, with a complimentary drink and vendors on site.

Teen Art: Decorative Boxes
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Location: Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Teens decorate their own bedazzled box with ribbons, gems, and shells; all supplies provided.

Teen DIY: Mini Squishy
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Location: South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, FL 33928
Teens ages 12-18 make their own custom squishy from a variety of fun choices.

Yoga for Moms
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Location: Big City Kids, 12601 Trade Way Drive, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Moms practice yoga together weekly, with free after-hours play time for kids and mats provided.

Movie on the Lawn: The Secret Life of Pets 2
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 6:30 PM
Location: Mercato - Piazza, 9110 Strada Pl, Naples, FL 34108
Outdoor movie screening of The Secret Life of Pets 2 in the Piazza at Mercato.

Downtown Showdown
Date: Tuesday, August 18 | 8:00 PM-9:00 PM
Location: Sugarshack Downtown, 27421 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL
Southwest Florida singers compete live for a $2,500 grand prize in this weekly singing competition.

Estero Park Walk & Play Date
Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero, FL 33928
Moms and kids walk the soccer field loop, then play at the playground with free popsicles from sponsor GoodPop.

6 Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Guided Walk
Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 9:30 AM
Location: Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Boulevard Fort Myers, FL 33966
Guided walks along the boardwalk

Baby Play
Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 10:00 AM-10:45 AM
Location: South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, FL 33928
Sensory play and social time for babies up to 18 months in a relaxed group setting.

Pilates for Moms
Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: The Pilates Pearl, 600 Goodlette Rd. #110, Naples, FL 34102
Moms take a reformer Pilates class with child watch included.

Community Helper Storytime: Bonita Springs Fire Dept.
Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
Location: Bonita Springs Public Library, 10560 Reynolds Street, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
A free special storytime for birth to age 5 featuring a visit from the Bonita Springs Fire Department — learn about fire safety and what firefighters do. Registration required.

Teen Crochet Club
Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Location: Headquarters Regional Branch, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples, FL 34109
A relaxed drop-in crochet session for teens and tweens of all skill levels.

Baby Picasso
Date: Thursday, August 20 | 10:00 AM-10:45 AM
Location: Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Babies and caregivers explore paint and sensory play together; dress for mess.

Little Explorers: Jenny the Jellyfish
Date: Thursday, August 20 | 2:00 PM-2:30 PM
Location: Headquarters Regional Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples, FL 34109
A free Conservancy of Southwest Florida story time and craft program for ages 2-5 at Headquarters Regional Library -- follow Jenny and Jiggly, two moon jellies who get in trouble, and discover what you might have in common with these jolly jellies!

Read to Dogs
Date: Thursday, August 20 | 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Location: South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, FL 33928
Kids practice reading aloud to friendly therapy dogs; tickets available at the children's desk.

Beach and Estuary Walk
Date: Friday, August 21 | 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Location: Lovers Key State Park, 8720 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
A ranger-led walk over the estuary and shoreline exploring seashells, crustaceans, and starfish.

Alamo $7 Summer Movie: Where Is the Friend's House?
Date: Friday, August 21 | 4:00 PM
Location: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at Mercato, 9118 Strada Pl, Unit 8205, Naples, FL 34108
A quietly moving Iranian film about a boy on a determined mission to return his classmate's notebook.

Family Yoga
Date: Friday, August 21 | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Location: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
A family yoga session held during Fort Myers' Music Walk.

Music Walk
Date: Friday, August 21 | 6:00 PM-10:00 PM
Location: Downtown Fort Myers, First Street
Enjoy local and regional musicians as they line the streets.

Pupilates: Pilates + Pups
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 9:00 AM-9:50 AM
Location: Chocolattes Coffee Co. - Downtown Fort Myers, 2180 W First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
A 50-minute mat Pilates class you take alongside your dog, benefiting the Gulf Coast Humane Society.

Pilates for Moms
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 9:30 AM-10:30 AM
Location: Big City Kids, 12601 Trade Way Drive, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Moms and babies take a Pilates class together, with mats and props provided.

Kids Club: Watercolor Chameleon
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Michaels (check your local store)
Kids ages 4+ paint a beginner's watercolor chameleon in this free in-store class.

Gardening for Butterflies & Pollinators
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
Location: The Garden Place, 20071 S Tamiami Trl, Estero, FL 33928
A free workshop on gardening to attract butterflies and pollinators.

Al Fresco Art Family Day
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
Location: Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112
A free outdoor art family day at Collier Museum where families paint their own masterpiece to take home, inspired by the surrounding landscape and works of local artist E. George Rogers.

Babies & Brews
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Location: Swamp Cat Brew Co, 1943 Fowler St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
A family meetup for parents and babies at Swamp Cat Brew Co., with donations accepted for Eva's Closet.

End of Summer Luau
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 7:00 PM-11:45 PM
Location: Backyard Social, 16371 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers, FL 33913
An island-themed party with a fire dancer performance, leis, and tropical drink specials.

South Cape's Bacon Fest Pub Crawl 2026
Date: Saturday, August 22 | 7:00 PM-11:00 PM
Location: South Cape, Cape Coral, FL
A bacon-themed pub crawl through South Cape with drink and appetizer samples, live judging, and a photo booth contest; 21+.

Mommy & Me Yoga
Date: Sunday, August 23 | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: CrossFit Naples, 4110 Enterprise Ave #106, Naples, FL 34104
Moms and kids practice yoga together at CrossFit Naples.

The Social Canvas
Date: Sunday, August 23 | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Location: Millennial Brewing Co., 1811 Royal Palm Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Local business owners network over a guided paint experience, no pitches or artistic talent required.

Bingo with Cats!
Date: Sunday, August 23 | 7:10 PM-8:10 PM
Location: Cattyshack Cat Cafe, 9902 Gulf Coast Main St, Ste D-140, Fort Myers, FL 33913
A bingo night featuring the cafe's resident cats.