As fall arrives in Lee County, Florida, the region is preparing for a series of seasonal events and reopenings that highlight both local culture and ongoing recovery efforts following recent hurricanes.
The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will return for its 11th year from September 19-28, bringing dozens of BMI songwriters to perform at various locations including Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers, and Fort Myers Beach. The festival features both free shows and ticketed events with performances by artists such as Frank Myers, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, LOCASH—whose hit “Hometown Home” topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart—and Grammy-nominated Chris Young. “The award-winning Island Hopper Songwriter Fest returns for its 11th year with dozens of BMI songwriters set to play against the tropical island backdrop of the Fort Myers area Sept.19-28 on Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach,” organizers said.
A preview party is scheduled for September 4 at Swamp Cat Brewing Co. in Fort Myers with performances by Sheena Brook and Angie K. Additional unique experiences during the festival include sunset cruises featuring live music and dinner showcases at local hotels.
Several resorts are reopening or planning renovations as part of post-hurricane recovery efforts. Shalimar Beach Resort on Sanibel Island plans a soft opening on September 28 as the first completely rebuilt resort since Hurricane Ian. The new property includes hurricane-resilient construction features such as impact doors and windows, elevated buildings above flood level, and over 500 concrete pilings beneath its foundation.
Other properties reopening include South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island—which has resumed amenities like pools and restaurants—and Best Western Plus Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach after full renovations. Jensen’s Twin Palm Resort and Marina also welcomes guests again with historic cottages dating back to 1977.
New attractions are being introduced across the region. Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral recently opened Paradise Cove—a $4 million wave pool designed to offer multiple wave patterns for visitors—as reported by https://sunsplashwaterpark.com/. Additionally, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve continues its wet walk programs through October 25 allowing guided access into otherwise restricted wetlands (https://sloughpreserve.org/wet-walk-season-2025).
Efforts to protect local wildlife remain a focus during sea turtle nesting season through October 31. Residents and visitors are encouraged to shield beach lighting at night, remove litter from beaches, fill holes left in sand after visits, and observe nesting turtles from a distance without disturbing them.
Dining establishments impacted by storms have reopened or launched anew: The Bubble Room Restaurant on Captiva Island resumes operations after three years of renovations; Key Lime Bistro has reopened in Old Captiva; Sweet Melissa’s returns now located in south Fort Myers; Lazy Flamingo is serving again on Sanibel Island; The Beach Bar reopens with storm-resistant design on Fort Myers Beach; Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar debuts at Bell Tower; Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina opens under Cape Coral Bridge offering food trucks alongside boat slips (https://slipawaycape.com/).
Local initiatives encourage exploration through digital passes such as Sanibel Wild Mile—providing mobile access to attractions like J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge—and Parks, Points & Perks which rewards visits to over thirty parks across Lee County (https://visitfortmyers.com/ParksPass).
Major transportation updates include new air service routes at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) connecting cities like Atlanta via Frontier Airlines; Orlando via Southwest Airlines starting daily service soon; Chicago-O’Hare beginning November via Southwest Airlines; Toronto served year-round by Porter Airlines; additional destinations added by Allegiant Air (https://flylcpa.com/).
Cultural programming continues throughout autumn with festivals such as Edison and Ford Winter Estates Fall Festival (October 18), Cape Coral Oktoberfest (October 17-26), BIG ARTS Film Festival (November 14-15), American Sand Sculpting Championship (November 20-24), Holiday Nights celebrations beginning late November into January at several venues including Sanibel Island Holiday Luminary Stroll.
For more information about accommodations or event details—including updated lineups for music festivals—residents can visit official tourism sites or follow event hashtags online.
