Get the Party Going

The City of Fort Myers is putting $40,000 into promoting events downtown, previously handled by a group of merchants, on the theory that they will help the city in the long run by spawning more downtown activity.

Officials anticipate the funding will pay for 26 events in the next year, one every two weeks, organized around such other occasions as the Edison Festival of Light, Taste of the Town, ArtFest or shows at Harborside Event Center.

Officials want to draw people downtown, boost businesses and, if they can, get private sponsors to pay for it. That was the problem when the merchants tried organizing events: They couldn’t get the sponsors, and that proved too expensive for the city, says Don Paight, executive director of the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency.

"For car shows, we go to dealerships or detailing companies or companies that do engine work, like March Performance of Naples," he says. "At our big car show in December last year, we drew 1,500 hot rods and show cars, and we’re expecting a lot more this year from all over the state, so that benefits the car companies."

At Riverfest last year, developer Phil Hugh, who renovated the Holiday Inn downtown and is now building the Hotel Indigo, agreed to sponsor all the rides for kids. "That might normally cost a family $30," explains Paight, "but Phil made it happen for free, to the tune of about $5,000."

More businesses are keeping their doors open for the events, which are typically on weekends and in the evenings. They have generated some record-breaking business for Enjewel, says shop owner Lynne Routhier. "People come down here and spend a ton of money. Even if they don’t, they might go home and tell somebody about [your shop]."

Routhier has decided to stay in the same location as a result. "I wasn’t going to re-sign [the lease], but I’ve changed my mind, because everybody’s working together now, and it’s making a huge difference," she says.


Downtown Events

November
Nov. 2–Dec. 1: "Portholes," art show,
Art League of Fort Myers. 275-3970.
www.artleagueoffortmyers.org
Nov. 4: Taste of the Town, 277-1197.
Nov.8–11: Fort Myers Boat Show, Harborside Event Center and City Yacht Basin. www.fortmyersboatshow.com
Nov. 10: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.

December
Dec.2: Rock ’Til You Drop Car Show & Concert. 997-0047. www.fortmyersrock.com
Dec.7–Jan.13: "Small Packages," art show, Art League of Fort Myers. 275-3970. www.artleagueoffortmyers.org
Dec. 8: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.

January
Jan. 5–6: Winter Home & Garden Show, Harborside Event Center. 466-6300. www.expotradeshows.net
Jan. 12: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.
Jan. 16–17: Senior Expo ’08, Harborside Event Center. 466-6300. www.expotradeshows.net
Jan.18–Feb.23: River District Art Show, Art League of Fort Myers. 275-3970.
www.artleagueoffortmyers.org

February
Feb.2–3: ArtFest, Edwards Drive. 768-3602. www.artfestfortmyers.com
Feb. 8–9: Edison Festival of Light, Light up the Town, Centennial Park. 334-2999. www.edisonfestival.org
Feb. 9: Cruise-in and Block party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.
Feb. 10: Edison Festival of Light Junior Run and Parade, streets of the River District. 334-2999. www.edisonfestival.org
Feb. 10: Edison Festival of Light Junior Coronation, Centennial Park. 334-2999. www.edisonfestival.org
Feb. 16: Edison Festival of Light 5K Run and Grande Parade, streets of the River District. 334-2999. www.edisonfestival.org
Feb. 16: Edison Festival of Light Stadium Show and Fireworks, Edison Stadium, Fort Myers High School. 334-2999.
www.edisonfestival.org
Date TBA: The News-Press MarketWatch, Harborside Event Center, 267-2638.

March
March 8: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.
March 15: Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Harborside Event Center and Centennial Park. 479-4636. www.lee-county.com/library
March 29–30: Spring Home & Garden Show, Harborside Event Center. 466-6300. www.expotradeshows.net

April
April 6: River & Blues Fest, Centennial Park. 334-7007. www.riverandbluesfestival.com
April 12: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.

May
May 10: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.

June
June 14: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.

July
July 4:Riverfest, Centennial Park. 332-6813.
July 12: Cruise-in and Block Party, 5–8 p.m., First and Hendry streets. 229-8526.