5 Things To Do 4th Of July Weekend In Southwest Florida

The official holiday may be on Thursday, however, the festivities go on for days for many people. If you have time off work or friends in town, here are 5 things to do 4th of July weekend in Southwest Florida.

The patriotic party continues into the weekend with a unique show in Naples. Drones in Paradise promises to be an evening full of free family fun. The night is highlighted by a colorful drone show in the sky. Scroll down for more details.

ArtWalk returns to downtown Fort Myers on Friday. To the dismay of many businesses, the event was canceled last month due to traffic congestion that has spilled over from the closure of the U.S. 41 bridge into downtown. To encourage you to attend this month and enjoy downtown this weekend, the city is temporarily suspending parking fees after hours.

Remember that if you attend one of these public events to leave your personal fireworks at home. If you are having a celebration at home and need some recipe ideas, click here for some fun and tasty desserts and click here for some great side dishes.

Finally, if you have any upcoming events that you would like to share, please send them here. Here are your Weekend Vibes for July 5th through 7th. 5 things to do 4th of July weekend in Southwest Florida. If you can, get out and support local events and business.

*Please note, events are subject to change. Especially considering the weather. It never hurts to confirm with a phone call or a quick check of social media and event websites.

Art Walk is back. It was canceled last month. The first Friday of the month, downtown Fort Myers comes alive with art. The galleries feature special exhibits, see artists in action and enjoy all kinds of activities. The event runs from 5-9pm. More information here.

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels have a three day celebration beginning on Thursday with fireworks as they take on the Bradenton Marauders. More fireworks occur after the game Friday night and there is a pregame happy hour. Saturday, the first 500 fans through the gates get red, white and blue Mighty Mussels hats. Players will be wearing custom patriotic jerseys that will be auctioned after the game to support Keep Lee County Beautiful. The July 6 game is also Bark in the Park, a special day when pooches are allowed inside Hammond Stadium. More info here. 

This deliciously fruity event takes place at the Naples Botanical Gardens on Saturday. Not only can you sample tropical fruits from around the world but you can also learn about growing them and more. Tasting begins at 9am and runs through 5pm. The event is included with the cost of admission. The gardens are on Bayshore Drive. More info here. 

Forget the fireworks. How about a patriotic drone show? It's happening at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples on Saturday. Watch as hundreds of drones light the night sky with colorful displays. There are all kinds of family activities in addition to the show. Kids can enjoy a bounce house there is laser tag, and an outdoor movie, "Night at the Museum". The fun gets started at 6pm Saturday and goes through 11pm. Drones take flight at 9. Free. More info here.

Patriotic fun continues in Port Charlotte on Saturday. It all happens at Gilchrist Park with food and family fun. You'll get to participate in some classic lawn games too. The event is 10am to 1pm. Free. More info here.