When you visit Lee County and the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, you often look for half-day outings and supplemental things to do for AFTER you’ve climbed out of your kayak or canoe.

What I have listed here is in no way comprehensive. You can get lots to do at www.fortmyers-sanibel.com. But if you want special events that happen in our great county parks, here’s a sampling for you. My blueway volunteer, my parks & recreation colleagues and I compiled this. Read on and have fun.

MARCH
Spring Training, Red Sox, City of Palms Park 2011; new facility 2012, www.leeparks.org or http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos
Spring Training, Twins, Lee County Sports Complex, www.leeparks.org or http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=min
Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, Terry Park and Lee County Sports Complex, www.leeparks.org/cusic
Lehigh Spring Festival, Veterans Park, www.lehighspringfestival.com
Rotary Foundation Family Fun Fest, Estero Community Park & Recreation Center, www.leeparks.org
Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament, Pine Island Commercial Marina, www.leeparks.org
Matlacha Mariners Seafood Festival, Phillips Park, www.matlachamariners.org
Shrimp Festival, Lynn Hall Park, www.fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com
Royal Palm Classic Bicycle Ride, Buckingham Park, www.royalpalmclassic.org

APRIL
The Miracle minor league baseball opener, Lee County Sports Complex, www.leeparks.org or http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t509
Spring Invitational USA Swimming Region Qualifier, FGCU, www.gcst.org
Easter Bunny Express, Lakes Park, www.trainweb.org/lprr
Relay for Life, Estero Community Park & Recreation Center, www.leeparks.org
Walgreens, Walk, Estero Community Park & Recreation Center, www.leeparks.org
Taste of Estero, Estero Community Park & Recreation Center, www.leeparks.org

MAY
Bay to Gulf SUP Race Weekend, first Sunday in May, Bunche Beach, www.leeparks.org
Lakeside Country Bash, Lakes Park, www.lakesidecountrybash.com

JUNE
USA Swimming Open Water National Championships, beach access sites at Fort Myers Beach, www.usaswimming.org
YBOA Basketball Championships, Estero Recreation Center, www.leeparks.org
USA Baseball 14U championships, Terry Park, www.leeparks.org
Taste of Lee, site varies from Terry Park to nearby indoor location, www.youtube.com/user/FloridaLandscape
Professional Games National Showcase, City of Palms, www.leecountysports.org

JULY
Fort Myers Miracle fireworks show, Hammond Stadium, www.minorleaguebaseball.com/
American Liberty Express, Lakes Park, www.trainweb.org/lprr

AUGUST
Pine Island Sound Scallop Search, UF Sea Grant/Lee Co Extension Services, Pineland site, www.lee.ifas.ufl.edu

SEPTEMBER
Gasparilla Island 4 Mile Run & Fun Walk, Boca Grande, www.runbocagrande.com

OCTOBER
Roy Hobbs Baseball Series, Terry Park and others, www.royhobbs.com
Monofilament Madness, various sites, www.klcb.com
North Fort Myers Fall Festival, North Fort Myers Community Park, www.leeparks.org
Lakes Park Halloween Extravaganza and Fall Festival, Lakes Park, http://lakesparkenrichmentfoundation.org
Native Plant Sale, Manatee Park, www.fnpscoccoloba.org

NOVEMBER
Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, Nov. 3-6, 2011, www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com
National Estuaries Day, Bunche Beach, Nov. 5, 2011, or www.leeparks.org or www.estuaries.gov
Lakes Park Farmers Market opener, www.leeparks.org or http://lakesparkenrichmentfoundation.org/
Taste of Matlacha, Matlacha Park, www.matlachacivicassociation.org
Coconut Mountain Bike Series, Caloosahatchee Regional Park, www.goneriding.com

DECEMBER
Lakes Park Train & Christmas Village, www.leeparks.org
Holiday Bliss, Matlacha Park, www.leeparks.org

JANUARY
River, Roots & Ruts Trail Run, Caloosahatchee Regional Park, www.rrrtrail.com
Manatee viewing, Manatee Park, ongoing during cool months, www.leeparks.org
Medieval Faire, Lakes Regional Park, two weekends in January, www.medieval-faire.com
Six Mile Cypress Slough Nature Day, www.leeparks.org or www.sloughpreserve.org
Taste of Pine Island, Phillips Parks, www.PineIslandNews.com/Kiwanis
Flea Market, North Fort Myers Community Park, www.leeparks.org

FEBRUARY
India Fest, Hammond Stadium/Lee County Sports Complex, www.iafortmyers.org
Lee County Senior Games (Feb. 19-March 29), various county parks, www.leeparks.org
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Photo Contest/Reception, www.sloughpreserve.org/
Florida and Lee County Fair 4H events, Lee Civic Center, www.leeciviccenter.com
Pine Island Art Association annual Art Show, Matlacha Park, http://www.pineislandart.com/
Matlacha Mariner’s Mullet Toss, Matlacha Park, www.matlachamariners.org
Pine Island Garden Club Gala, Phillips Park, www.pineislandgardenclub.org
Flea Market, North Fort Myers Community Park, www.leeparks.org
Townsmen Big Band Orchestra, Estero Community Park & Recreation Center, various dates, www.leeparks.org
Boca Grande 5K Run & Fun Walk, Boca Grande, www.runbocagrande.com

NOTE: Please send corrections/updates to Betsy Clayton, coordinator, Lee County Parks & Recreation, bclayton@leegov.com