GULF HARBOUR
VOL. 25 NO. 2
Soundings
Another Seabreeze Publication
FEBRUARY 2024
www.GulfHarbour33908.com
The 86th Annual Edison Festival Of Lights Parade – Saturday, Feb. 17, 7 To 10 p.m. The Edison Festival of Light is a three-week celebration that takes place each February to honor the contributions that Thomas Alva Edison made to our Fort Myers community! The history and culture of the Southwest Florida area is celebrated with several events including the hands-on STEM focused day where over Edison Festival Of Lights on page 3
Southwest Florida Reading Festival Marks Its 25th Anniversary Saturday, March 2 The 25th Southwest Florida Reading Festival will be held this year on the outdoor downtown campus of the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers, Fla. The event, which is free to the public begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The day is packed with a plethora of events for children and readers of all ages. Parking Paid parking is available on downtown streets. Also a flat rate of $10 will get you into the Main Street Parking Garage at 2286 Main St. Cash or credit cards are accepted.
Food A host of food trucks will be available in addition to a popular deli that will have box lunches for purchase. Download The Mobile App The easiest way to keep track of festival activities is to download the mobile app which will be under the phrase SWFL ReadFest. Festival programs will be available at the event and on the website www.readfest.org. Name A Character Raffle Tickets Enter for a chance to name a character after yourself or a friend in an upcoming book by Alda Dobbs, Alexandra Alessandri, John Patrick Green, Kristan Higgins, Melinda Leigh, Terri Libenson, Sarah MacLean, Nina Moreno, Vanessa Riley or Lauren Wolk! Authors Authors scheduled to attend the reading festival include suspense authors Jeffery Deaver, Lisa Unger and Ben Coes, along with historical fiction writers Sarah Penner and Charles
Todd. Award-winning writer, artist and animated series creator Dan Yaccarino tops the list of youth authors, which also includes Sunshine State Young Readers Award winners Karina Yan Glaser, Karen Kilpatrick, Laura Martin and Joe McGee. Featured teen authors include Florida Teens Read award-winning writer Lamar Giles and fantasy novelist Adalyn Grace. From romance to thrillers, sci-fi to humor, and graphic novels to nonfiction, an array of genres are represented. The Southwest Florida Reading Festival features author presentations and book signings for all ages, writing awards, digital resource demonstrations, crafts and more. In fulfilling the festival’s mission to promote reading, literacy and library services, every child and teen in attendance will receive a free book at the event. Southwest Florida Reading Festival on page 4
Southwest Florida Symphony Presents An Evening In Paris On March 2 The Southwest Florida Symphony (SWFLSO), Lee County’s only professional orchestra and the fourth oldest in the state, will host “An Evening in Paris” on Saturday, March 2 at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club, 10420 Washingtonia Palm Way in Fort Myers. The 2024 gala, hosted by the Southwest Florida Symphony Gulf Harbour Soundings
Crew, begins at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy complimentary valet parking, dinner, live music, dancing, and exciting silent and live auctions. “The annual gala is a key fundraiser for the symphony,” said Liz Marnul, Southwest Florida Symphony board member and gala chair. “We invite the community to attend and help the orchestra continue sharing world-class music for all ages throughout Southwest Florida.” Individual tickets are $125. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are also PRSRT STD available, including: US POSTAGE PAID FT MYERS FL PERMIT 751
• Palais du Louvre’s Cour Napoleon Host and Venue Sponsor, $1,500 – Table for eight with preferred seating and one complimentary cocktail for each guest at “Harry’s New York Bar in Paris;” recognition on the website, in the 2024/25 SWFLSO program book and at the event; eight sets of raffle tickets; and valet parking • Moulin Rouge Entertainment Sponsor, $1,000 – Two tickets with preferred seating and two complimentary cocktails at “Harry’s New York Bar in Paris;” recognition on Southwest Florida Symphony on page 3
IMPORTANT NOTICE! Please submit all articles, announcements, photos and events for Gulf Harbour Soundings to GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com by the 4th of the month preceding the month of publication.