This March, expect St. Patrick’s Day festivals with live entertainment and Irish fare, Easter egg hunts and your favorite Disney characters hitting the ice.
March 1
Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour at Hertz Arena, Estero
Preschoolers ages 2 to 6 can dance, sing and learn about different cities around the world with YouTube sensation Blippi and his friend, Meekah, in this interactive show. The musical also shows off impressive vehicles, like larger-than-life monster trucks and excavators. Learn More
March 2
Opera Naples Family & Community Day at Cambier Park, Naples
Resident artists perform a production on anti-bullying for elementary and middle school-aged kids. Attendees can learn how to play a Boomwhacker (long hollow tubes of various sizes that make music) or make their own instruments and try on costumes. Little bookworms engage in storytime, and active kids can enjoy the bounce house and get their faces painted. Learn More
March 2
Southwest Florida Reading Festival at Fort Myers Regional Library
The 25th annual outdoor event welcomes readers of all ages to meet more than 25 best-selling authors of adult, children and teen novels. In addition to book signings and meet and greets with authors, pre-K kids enjoy a reading zone and arts and crafts with their teen siblings. Older kids can submit their work to be judged in the youth writing and coloring contests. Every kid and teen attendee goes home with a free book. Food and beverage trucks throughout the festival satisfy munchies. Learn More
March 8 — April 5
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers
Based on the award-winning children’s book, the musical adaptation follows a winged volunteer who flitters all over town when the bus driver has an emergency that threatens to make the passengers late. Enjoy a buffet lunch before the show that includes kid-friendly fare, like pizza, tacos, fries, fresh fruit, and cake. Learn More
March 11
Mini Chef’s St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Feast at Lake Kennedy Center, Cape Coral
For little ones ages 3 to 6, an instructor guides each tiny cook through making rainbow-themed dishes, like ‘leprechaun’ quesadillas—using cheeses of varying colors—and parfaits made with vivid Fruity Pebbles cereal, fruit and yogurt. Learn More
March 11-15, 18-20
Spring 2024 Camp WILD at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
This all-day camp welcomes campers ages 5 to 10 to enjoy animal encounters, creative educational projects and hands-on activities with daily lessons in subjects like meteorology, engineering and ecology. Sign up your kiddo for a day or the week. Learn More
March 14
Parent and Tiny Tot Time — SomeBunny Loves Me at Four Freedoms Park, Cape Coral
Park staffers read Easter-themed books to kiddos during storytime. Littles can also participate in arts and crafts and an Easter egg hunt. Learn More
March 14-17
Disney on Ice: Find Your Hero at Hertz Arena, Estero
Experience the magic of Disney as characters from tales including Frozen and Moana glide along the ice skating rink to beloved plots following all of your favorite characters in a single show. Learn More
March 16
Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Third Street South
Park your lawn chairs along Third Street South to watch themed floats glide from Crayton Cove to Naples City Hall for two hours as they toss candy and beads out to spectators. For a special treat, former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier serves as the parade’s grand marshal. Learn More
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Block Party in the River District, Fort Myers
Celebrate the Emerald Isle as locally based rock and soul band Deb & Dynamics, Celtic dancers, a flash mob and a bagpiper liven the River District. Tiny attendees can enjoy cotton candy, a photo booth, sparkly tinsel highlight installations from a hair stylist, and caricature art. Learn More
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Fishermen’s Village, Punta Gorda
Celtic bands and artists from all over the country, such as Irish singer Jeffrey Walton and The Florida Bagpiper, take turns performing at Sunset Beach Club while the village’s restaurants offer traditional Irish dishes. For the little ones, vendors offer face painting and toys. Learn More
March 30
Cape Coral Rotary Cardboard Boat Regatta at Seahawk Park in Cape Coral
Watch a fleet of ships crafted solely from cardboard and made to look like larger-than-life seaplanes, submarines and Viking ships race against each other in this light-hearted regatta. Learn More
March 30
Hop to the Top 5K Fun Run at North Collier Regional Park, Naples
The 8th annual event encourages runners to don their favorite tutus and run, or hop, to support the Fort Myers-based nonprofit Wellfit Girls, which helps teen girls by fostering leadership skills, empowerment and fitness practices. Keep an eye out for the elusive Easter Bunny on the trail. Learn More
Recurring
March 2 and 9
Herpetology for Kids at CREW Flint Pen Strand Trails, Bonita Springs
Local herpetologist and ecologist Shane Johnson guides curious kids around the trails to get a glimpse of local reptiles and amphibians. This hands-on expedition allows adventurers to interact with nature under the supervision of a trained expert. Learn More
March 16
Calusa Coast Event Series: Family Fun Day at Marco Island Historical Museum
Young archaeologists ages 7 to 12 discover the invention and innovation of the Calusa tribe. Younger kids make axes out of organic materials like wood, twine and shells; compare other tools, such as a conch shell hammer, to modern ones; and use air dry clay to construct their own gorgets, which they can take home. Older kiddos can learn about the historical trade routes and migration patterns of the indigenous tribe from the Florida Public Archaeology Network. Learn More
March 20
Preschool Program: Anchors Aweigh at Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples
Little sailors ages 3 to 5 enjoy themed arts and crafts, science experiments, story time and a pirate-themed dance party. Learn More
March 29
Curious Chemistry Camp at Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
In this month’s one-day S.T.E.A.M. class, little scientists in kindergarten through fifth grade join this chemistry lesson that uses everyday household items to learn about the periodic table of elements, the history of science, atomic theory, the scientific method and the states of matter with hands-on experiments to make slime and toothpaste. Learn More
