The best part about living in Southwest Florida is the glorious weather we experience year-round and although the beautiful white sandy beaches offer a lovely respite from the indoors, there are many other outdoor activities to enjoy. Soak up the sun by attending some of the best festivals held annually in Naples Florida.
The Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival will be held on March 24 - 26, 2017 at Veterans Community Park in Marco Island, FL. This event is a full weekend of great music, beer and wine, and a plethora of seafood options, including fresh fish, grouper, crab cakes, stone crab, shrimp, crawdads, chowder, and many more. The children will be able to play in the kid’s zone and everyone can peruse the more than 60 arts and crafts vendors. Tickets are $10 per person for a single-day admission and $16 per person for a two-day admission.
Learn more about the Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival.
The Mercato Spring Fling & Food Festival happens on April 2, 2017 and will feature samplings from Mercato restaurants, live music, and fun and games for all ages. Giant checkers, corn hole, and other outdoor games will be available, as will a Kid Zone complete with a bounce house, face painting, a stilt walker, balloon artist, and snow cones. Admission is free.
Learn more about Mercato Spring Fling & Food Festival.
The StayInMay Arts Festival runs from April 25 - May 14, 2017 in multiple venues across Naples, Florida. It highlights art, chamber music, cinema, culinary, dance, opera, fashion, theater and orchestra through a series of events and concerts. The goal is to bring together talent from around the globe to the residents of Naples.
Learn more about the StayinMay Arts Festival.
The Taste of Collier is held every year as a “thank you” to year-round residents for their patronage, as well as a way to raise money for local charities. The event will be held on May 7, 2017 at Bayfront of Naplesand will feature live performances by area musicians, crowd-pleasing ice-carving demonstrations, cooking competitions with local top chefs, and of course, savory samples from over 40 of the best local restaurants in Collier County. Admission is $5 and food tickets are also available for purchase.
Learn more about the Taste of Collier.
The Mercato Brew-Hah-Ha Craft Beer Festival is another festival held in the Mercato Shops. The event benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of SWFL and is held in the fall to welcome the new season and allow residents to enjoy more than 60 craft beers while listening to great music and sampling food from the Mercato restaurants. This year, the event will be held on October 21, 2017 from 4pm-8m.
The Naples International Film Festival is partnering with Artis—Naples to bring a full slate of films to Naples, Florida and celebrate independent film and filmmakers to enhance the cultural and artistic life of the community. The event will be held on October 26-29, 2017 and the full lineup will be released in September 2017. Tickets will go on sale at the Artis—Naples box office and online in July 2017.
Learn more about the Naples International Film Festival.
Grab some fresh stone crab claws, listen to music, and take part in the many events and activities during the Stone Crab Festival on October 27-29, 2017. This event is held in multiple locations throughout Naples, Florida, including Tin City, Bayfront, Port of Naples Marina, and the Experience Naples location, home of Naples Trolley. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local non profits, such as Freedom Waters Foundation.
Learn more about the Stone Crab Festival.
The Florida Panther Festival is held at the Naples Zoo to provide residents and visitors the opportunity to learn more about the Florida panther, one of the world's most endangered mammals and the state land animal for Florida. Visitors can enjoy fun and interesting educational activities and see Uno, a Florida panther that was blinded by a shotgun blast and now lives at the zoo, serving as an ambassador for the rare, endangered cats. This year’s event will be held on November 4, 2017. Admission is free for Collier County residents. Visitors to our area will be charged the regular zoo admission fees.
Learn more about the Florida Panther Festival.
The Marco Island Craft Beer & Fine Food Festival combines more than 25 craft beers from six Florida breweries with more than 20 food samples from six Marco Island restaurants, including Chop 239, CJ’s on the Bay, Kretch’s Restaurant, Mango’s Dockside Bistro, Sandbar, and The Speakeasy. Join us on November 5, 2017 to sample the many offerings and enjoy great live music.
Learn more about the Marco Island Craft Beer & Fine Food Festival.
Learn about the history of Naples, Florida during the Old Florida Festival on November 18-19, 2017. The Collier County Museum hosts the event and brings history to life with more than 90 historical re-enactors, craft-workers, demonstrators, folk musicians and storytellers depicting everyday life on the Southwest Florida frontier, from the Calusa and Seminole Indians to World War II. This year’s event includes mounted Spanish Conquistadors, Seminole War Soldiers, a Civil War camp, cannons, Cracker Cowboys, displays including face painting and a sugarcane grinding molasses cooking demonstration.
Learn more about the Old Florida Festival.
If you’re interested in learning even more about the history of Naples, come to the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center on December 2, 2017 for the 5th Annual Swamp Heritage Festival. This event celebrates the history of the natural environment in our city through park rangers, volunteers, local experts, and residents sharing their love for the history and culture of Southwest Florida with programs, activities, and thought-provoking presentations. Admission is free.
Learn more about the Swamp Heritage Festival.
In February of every year, the St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church hosts their Greek Festival, allowing residents to enjoy the best of Greek food, dance, music, arts, and entertainment. Admission is $5 per person and children 12 and under are free. Tickets are good for the entire weekend.
Learn more about the St. Katherine Greek Festival.
Revel in the Naples lifestyle by enjoying some of the favorite local festivals throughout the area. If you decide you want to stay, consider Mediterra Naples as your luxury home community. Our award-winning community encourages an active and healthy lifestyle with miles of walking and bicycling paths, two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses, a Sports Club with a full calendar of fitness activities, tennis, bocce courts, and a regular schedule of unique activities in the 32,000 square foot Clubhouse.