Monday Night Football Double Header

A Monday Night Football Double Header tonight!  Both games kickoff at 8:15pm eastern time.  Having two games to watch is cool but not at the same time in prime time!  It's okay on Sunday afternoon when up to eight games are going at the same time.  But night time its different.  The NFL will occasionally play two games on a Monday night.  They used to be back to back.  East coast - West coast.  One early game and one late game.  Then they began to stagger the games.  Now, we have two games at the same time.  Why?  Why would the NFL cannibalize the ratings for each game by having them on at the same time?  Do they think appealing to 4 fan bases instead of two is the way to go?  This is a national broadcast.  Millions of people watch Monday Night Football no matter who is playing.

One game may have more local interest than the other in Southwest Florida.  The Miami Dolphins are hosting the Tennessee Titans.  We think  Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is the NFL MVP heading into the last month of the season.  The other game features a rejuvenated Jordan Love and his Green Bay Packers at the New York Giants.  Enjoy the games.  Get prepped with a quiz from Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida.

It's the most wonderful time of the year to get out and enjoy the live Christmas shows in Fort Myers and all across Southwest Florida.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a child was singing along to my favorite Christmas songs during a live show.  I will never forget the first time I walked into Radio City Music Hall in New York City as a little girl for The Christmas Spectacular.  The Rockettes are still my favorite to this day, which I am certain is a favorite shared by many.  As an adult, I still treasure the looks on my own children's faces when I was fortunate enough to take them for their first time when we visited New York City.  Such great memories

While it may not be New York City, we've got some really good options across Southwest Florida this holiday season, from symphonies to ballets to parodies to musicals and more.

Make plans for a date night, a family fun outing or a girl's night!  Take time to enjoy some of these live Christmas shows happening right here in Fort Myers and surrounding areas.

If live shows aren't your thing or for even more Christmas events happening in the area, click here for a list of Holiday Events Happening in Southwest Florida in 2023.

Showing at Broadway Palm Dinner Theater now thru December 25th!

Based on the popular film, this hilarious musical comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.

https://broadwaypalm.com/shows/elf/cast/

Sunday, December 3rd at 7pm |  Barbara B. Mann PAH

Celebrate the spirit of the season with Gulf Coast Symphony’s annual holiday tradition! The festive sounds of the season ring through the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, as the Gulf Coast Symphony presents your most favorite symphonic pops holiday medleys.

https://www.bbmannpah.com/events/detail/deck-the-halls-1

Thursday, December 7th at 7pm | Barbara B. Mann PAH

The two-act ballet is a multi-faceted arts educational experience for students of all ages and arts disciplines at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts. As an Arts Schools Network “Exemplary School”, the Academy is thrilled to celebrate the talents of our students through the arts by bringing over 200 students ages 6-14 to the stage.

https://www.bbmannpah.com/events/detail/north-fort-myers-academy-of-the-arts-the-nutcracker-3

Saturday, December 16th at 2pm & 7:30pm | Barbara B. Mann PAH

This holiday season, join the Gulfshore Ballet and the Gulf Coast Symphony as the lights dim, the music soars, snowflakes swirl, flowers dance, and a little girl dreams about a whole new world. Tchaikovsky holiday classic presented with new choreography created by Gulfshore Ballet Artistic Directors Iliana Lopez & Franklin Gamero.

https://www.bbmannpah.com/events/detail/nutcracker-with-gulfshore-ballet

Friday, December 29th at 1pm & 5pm

Experience the extraordinary international cast and Ukrainian Principal Artists performing at the peak of classical European Ballet. Be transported by the magic of jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger-than-life puppets and stunning hand-crafted sets and costumes. 

https://www.bbmannpah.com/events/detail/nutcracker-1

Sunday, December 31st at 3pm | Barbara B. Mann PAH

European singers, dancers, and full orchestra. With timeless music, dazzling costumes, breathtaking dance, stunning floral designs, Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert returns to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW for an unforgettable New Year’s celebration that will enchant and delight audiences of all ages.

https://www.bbmannpah.com/events/detail/salute-to-vienna-2

December 7th - 10th at Fort Myers Youth Theatre

Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. 

December 14th - 31st at Fort Myers Youth Theatre

Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth.

December 8th - December 23rd at The Laboratory Theater of Florida

The Die Hard you know and love: actions, explosions… dance numbers? In this nostalgic homage to one of the greatest action movies of the 80’s, grizzled cop John McClane fights terrorists and tries to understand his business-driven wife. Jokes galore in this parody of a Christmas classic… and yes, it is a Christmas movie.

https://laboratorytheaterflorida.com/box-office/

December 13th - 17th | Arts Center Theatre Marco Island Town Center

Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features 17 Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake

https://www.marcoislandart.org/events-calendar/

December 7th - 10th | Center for Performing Arts, Moe Auditorium & Film Center in Bonita Springs

The Charles Dickens holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, complete with vintage commercials for fruitcake (extra fancy), and the magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring.

https://artcenterbonita.org/inspire_events/a-christmas-carol-a-live-radio-play/