Looking for community events in Southwest Florida this week? Between October 19 and 25 the region has a full calendar: the Naples Stone Crab Festival returns to the Tin City waterfront, the American Cancer Society's Making Strides walk gathers at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Boo at the Zoo closes its season at the Naples Zoo, and both Bonita Springs and Marco Island light up for Halloween. Here are seven picks I verified from each organizer's official page, with the date, time, venue, cost, and a link for every one.
Key Takeaways
- The Naples Stone Crab Festival runs Friday through Sunday, October 23-25, at Tin City on the Naples waterfront, with free admission and pay-as-you-go food and drinks.
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Southwest Florida walks Saturday, October 24 at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, free to participate with advance online registration.
- Boo at the Zoo runs the final weekend Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the Naples Zoo, included with regular admission.
- Boo-tanical Evening at Wonder Gardens is Friday, October 23, 5:30 to 8:30 PM in Bonita Springs, included with paid admission.
- Happy Haunts, the free immersive Halloween stroll through downtown Bonita Springs, runs nights from October 22 through October 31 at Riverside Park.
- The Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular is Saturday, October 24, 4 to 6 PM at Mackle Park, free and open to everyone.
- Saturday morning is farmers market day: Third Street South in Old Naples, Vanderbilt Farmers Market in North Naples, Fort Myers on First Street, and Bonita Springs at the Promenade at Bonita Bay.
The Week's Picks
Naples Stone Crab Festival at Tin City
The signature festival of the week returns to the historic Tin City waterfront: fresh stone crab claws and other seafood, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and food trucks along the marina. The festival kicks off with an opening night Friday evening, then runs full days Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free; food and drinks are pay-as-you-go. Tin City sits at the edge of Old Naples, a neighborhood covered in our Naples area guide.
Venue: Historic Tin City, 1200 5th Avenue South, Naples
Dates: Friday to Sunday, October 23-25
Time: Friday 5 to 9 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM
Cost: Free admission; food and drinks sold separately
Official page: naplesgov.com Stone Crab Festival
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Southwest Florida
The American Cancer Society's community walk raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research, rides, and support services, and it is free to join. Teams from around the region, including local real estate groups, have been collecting donations since the summer. There is no registration fee and no fundraising minimum; everyone who walks must register online or check in on arrival. The event is presented by STOCK Development and takes place on the campus of Paradise Coast Sports Complex.
Venue: Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Boulevard South, Naples
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: Check-in and opening ceremony from 7 AM; the walk follows in the morning
Cost: Free to participate; advance registration required, donations encouraged but optional
Official page: Making Strides of Southwest Florida registration
Boo at the Zoo at the Naples Zoo
The zoo's family Halloween event closes its season this weekend: trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under, costumed characters, and live shows along the garden paths at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. It is a mostly outdoor morning, so sunscreen and water are a good idea. The zoo sits on Goodlette-Frank Road near the Gordon River, a few minutes from downtown Naples.
Venue: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25
Time: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: Included with admission: about $26.95 adults 13 to 64, $17.95 ages 3 to 12, free ages 2 and under
Official page: napleszoo.org Boo at the Zoo
Boo-tanical Evening at Wonder Gardens
Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs stays open after hours for a Halloween evening: family games and activities, face painting, candy, costume photo opportunities, and special animal enrichment, with team members in costume and guests encouraged to dress up too. The event is included with paid regular admission or membership. Wonder Gardens is the historic botanical garden and wildlife park on Old 41 Road in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs, an area introduced in our Bonita Springs area guide.
Venue: Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 5:30 to 8:30 PM
Cost: Included with paid admission or membership; regular admission about $14 to $19, free ages 2 and under
Official page: wondergardens.org Boo-tanical Weekend
Happy Haunts Immersive Halloween Stroll in Downtown Bonita Springs
The City of Bonita Springs' free family Halloween experience opens Thursday night and runs through Halloween: an immersive walk through Riverside Park and the downtown streets with Halloween lights, music, video projections, photo opportunities, and spooky décor along the river. It is free and open to everyone, and it is a walk rather than a candy event. Trick-or-treating happens separately on Old 41 on Halloween evening.
Venue: Riverside Park and downtown Bonita Springs, 10450 Reynolds Street
Dates: Thursday, October 22 through Saturday, October 31
Time: Décor lit nightly starting at 5:30 PM, with most listings showing 7 to 10 PM
Cost: Free
Official page: City of Bonita Springs Halloween page
Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular at Mackle Park
The City of Marco Island's Parks and Recreation Department hosts a free family Halloween afternoon: games, crafts, inflatables, a critter show, a pumpkin patch, Halloween music, and treats, with a costume contest for the youngest visitors. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Mackle Park sits on Andalusia Terrace near the center of the island, covered in our Marco Island area guide.
Venue: Frank E. Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 4 to 6 PM
Cost: Free admission; food and beverages sold separately
Official page: City of Marco Island events calendar
Saturday Farmers Markets and the SNIP Collier Pumpkin Patch
Saturday morning has a market for every corner of the region, and they are free to browse. In Old Naples, the Third Street South Farmers Market runs 7:30 to 11:30 AM year-round, with produce, flowers, and baked goods along the street. In North Naples, the Vanderbilt Farmers Market at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road runs Saturdays 8 AM to 1 PM. In Fort Myers, the Fort Myers Farmers Market takes over the Downtown Culinary District on First Street from 9 AM to 1 PM. And in Bonita Springs, the Bonita Springs Farmers Market runs Saturdays at the Promenade at Bonita Bay from 8 AM to noon. Nearby in North Naples, the SNIP Collier Pumpkin Patch at Mercato on Strada Place runs Saturday 12 to 7 PM, with pumpkins at a flat $10 and proceeds supporting SNIP Collier's spay and neuter work.
Venue: Four markets across the region, plus Mercato in North Naples
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: Third Street South 7:30 to 11:30 AM; Vanderbilt 8 AM to 1 PM; Bonita Springs 8 AM to noon; Fort Myers 9 AM to 1 PM; pumpkin patch noon to 7 PM
Cost: Free to browse; pumpkins $10 at the SNIP Collier patch
Official pages: Third Street South market, Vanderbilt Farmers Market, Bonita Springs market, Fort Myers market, and the SNIP Collier Pumpkin Patch at Mercato
How I Put This List Together
I keep this roundup to community events I can confirm from the organizer's or municipality's own pages, and I link to the official source for every pick. Festivals, farmers markets, fundraisers, and cultural events all make the list when the listing is current and dated. Times and prices can shift, so it always pays to check the official page before you head out.
A note on fair housing: every event, neighborhood, and home in Southwest Florida is open to everyone, and I am glad to help you find the community that fits you, whatever your story. These events are a good way to meet neighbors and get a feel for an area you might call home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Naples Stone Crab Festival free to attend?
Yes. Admission to the Stone Crab Festival at Tin City is free Friday through Sunday, October 23-25. Food, drinks, and vendor purchases are pay-as-you-go.
Do I need to register for the Making Strides walk in Naples?
Yes. Participation in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Southwest Florida is free, but everyone who walks must register online in advance or check in on arrival. There is no registration fee and no minimum fundraising amount.
What free Halloween events are happening in Southwest Florida this week?
Happy Haunts, the City of Bonita Springs' immersive Halloween stroll at Riverside Park, is free nightly October 22-31, and the Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular at Mackle Park is free Saturday, October 24 from 4 to 6 PM.
Which farmers markets run Saturday in the region?
Third Street South in Old Naples runs 7:30 to 11:30 AM, the Vanderbilt Farmers Market in North Naples runs 8 AM to 1 PM, the Bonita Springs Farmers Market at the Promenade at Bonita Bay runs 8 AM to noon, and the Fort Myers Farmers Market on First Street runs 9 AM to 1 PM.
A note from the author: I'm Catalina Quintero, a bilingual REALTOR with The Miranda Group at Premiere Plus Realty, Co., serving Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, and Marco Island. I put this community events roundup together each week from current, published listings so you can find something nearby. If you're exploring Southwest Florida with a move in mind, email or text me any time.
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Contact Catalina Quintero at (239) 206-6909 or use the contact page to schedule a consultation.