Season coming to an end!

Well, our season will be coming to an end here very soon. After Easter, the island population tends to decrease tremendously from about 30,000 to 14,000.

Four miles wide by six miles long, tucked away in the mangrove islands of southwest Florida's coast, Marco Island is a world-class resort destination surrounded by miles of pristine, uninhabited islands, bays, creeks, and the Gulf of Mexico. To the north is the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and its Briggs Memorial Nature Center. To the south lies the sprawling 10,000 Islands with over 70 coastal miles of fly fishing heaven, inhabited only by the tiny fishing villages of Goodland, Everglades City, and Chokoloskee. Included in this southerly stretch is Collier-Seminole State Park, the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Big Cypress National Preserve and the 5000 square mile Everglades National Park, ensuring continued protection against coastal development.

Events coming up:

Saturday & Sunday March 28 & 29 First Annual Marco Island Seafood Festival.
11.00 am – 7.00 pm. Entry $ 5.00.VETERANS PARK & ELCKAM CIRCLE. Ten seafood vendors will offer fresh fish, stone crab, shrimp, blue crab, fish chowder, and much more! ENTERTAINMENT: JRobert & Raiford Starke Band. Country Classics & fiddle. IKO-IKO. Little Silver Records. Blues Critics Choice Awards “Song Of The Year” for 2007. Award-winning "soulful swampadelic" Americana/Rock, Iko-Iko is about great songs and performances. Gary & Kerri. Acoustic Party Duo, Just released a new album titled "Nice To Meet You" Fakahatchee/ 2B Productions. The most dynamic Country Western Rockabilly Show Group. Albert Castiglia singer & guitarist. His 2008 CD “These Are The Days” was nominated for “Song of the year” by the Blues Foundation.

Elckam Circle between Park Ave & Joy Circle will be closed to house the food vendors. The event takes place in cooperation with the City of Marco Island, assistance from the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, the Marco Island Police Department and the Marco Island Fire Department. Free off-site parking and transportation will be available from the NCH Marco Healthcare Center.This event is organized jointly by the Sunrise Rotary Club, the MarcoIsland Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island to benefit humanitarian projects. http://www.marcoislandseafoodfestival.com/

Downtown Spring Art Festival

Downtown Naples Association
March 28, 2009 - March 29, 2009
5th Ave SNaples, FL 34102

Come and enjoy the beautiful downtown 5th Ave area and experience this 2 day event with local and nationwide artists from around the country.
Location: All along 5th Avenue
Hours: 10am - 5pm each day

www.DowntownNaplesAssociation.com

Below is a list of Holiday Happenings for Marco Island and Naples, Florida


Holiday Events in Marco Island and Naples:
Marco Island:
· Santa’s arrival at the Shops of Marco, South Barfield Drive and San Marco Road, 6 p.m., Nov. 28.
· Town Center Plaza Holiday Walk on Elkcam Circle, Dec. 3.
· Annual tree lighting ceremony at Veterans’ Community Park on West Elkcam Cir., 6 p.m., Dec. 6.
· Holiday Salute to Veterans & Community Concert at Veterans’ Community Park, 6:30,
Dec. 11
· Annual Marco Island Christmas Street Parade 6:30 p.m., Dec. 13.
· Family Movie at the Tree, “The Polar Express,” at Veterans’ Community Park 6 p.m., Dec. 19.
· 21st Annual Christmas Island Style Boat Parade, 6 p.m., Dec. 20
· Santa’s Calling at the YMCA, 6 pm., Dec. 21.

Naples:
· Celebration of Lights 11/25-29 except Thanksgiving; Third Street South welcomes
Naples with entertainment with music, snow and shopping!
· Village Nights Grand Illuminations, Dec. 3, 5-9pm, The Village on Venetian Bay 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. Tree lighting, music, carolers and strolling Entertainment
· Christmas Walk/Tree Lighting, Dec. 4th 6-9pm Downtown Naples lights up for the holidays with open houses at businesses and entertainment along Fifth Avenue South. Santa Claus and the Mayor of Naples light the tree at Sugden Plaza 6:30 pm, followed by entertainment.
· Christmas Parade, Dec. 9th, 6-8pm DownTown Naples Fifth Ave. South
· Tuba Christmas: Dec. 10th, 6-7:30pm A tuba band plays Christmas carols at Sugden Plaza on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples while band members compete for the Best Dressed Tuba Award.
· Christmas Concert at Cambier Park Dec।12th 7-9pm
· Dec. 13-Jan 3 Holidays at the Estates
Spend the holidays with southwest Florida's first "snowbirds," the Edison and Ford families at the 33rd annual Holidays at the Estates at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. Holidays at the Estates attracts 30,000 visitors each December to view the lights and seasonal decorations that fill 20 acres of gardens, the recently restored Edison buildings and the Estates historic homes. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.