COMMUNITY GUIDE 2019 | 15
Annual Events ��
Each season in Charlotte County brings activities of interest to
all ages. Below are examples of popular events for residents and
visitors. Please visit the Community Calendar on our website,
www.charlottecountychamber.org, for exact dates and many more
activities.
JANUARY activities include an array of concerts, expos, exhibits,
and the first of two Sullivan Street Craft Fairs and the Charlotte Harbor
Chili Challenge & Beer Fest with live music. The 1st Annual Trek
for CHEC Run/Walk Race Event (formerly known as Hands Across
the Harbor), will be held on the grounds of the Charlotte Harbor
Environmental Center. In addition to the main events, there will be
food trucks, children’s activities, raffles, a band, and much more.
Delve into delicious freshly-made foods, spectacular live musical
performances by top Florida musicians and shopping a marketplace
of arts, crafts and select fine products at the Englewood Seafood &
Music Festival in Pioneer Park, Englewood.
The Charlotte Harbor Regatta, held in FEBRUARY, showcases
the level and diversity of sailing on Charlotte Harbor. The Charlotte
County Fair, featuring 4H exhibits, rides and concessions, is held this
month, as is the Punta Gorda Wine & Jazz Festival and don’t miss
Funk Fest Punta Gorda, a music festival that takes place at Punta
Gorda City Marketplace. February also offers Florida Frontier
Days, where skilled crafters and performers provide hands-on
historic preservation activities. Then there is Hops and Horns which
features over 30 craft beers and is a family friendly event with a Kids
Zone. The Annual Greek Festival is also held in February, as is the
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Expo
and Tradeshow.
MARCH events include The 12th Annual Taste of Punta Gorda with
local restaurants serving “tastes” of signature dishes. Other events
include the colorful reenactment of Ponce de Leon’s landing with
his Conquistadors and the annual Conquistador Cup Regatta, the
Historic Home and Building Tour and the Peace River National Arts
Festival. The Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves Spring Training and
the annual Snowbird Baseball Classic is a hit with baseball fans.
APRIL events include The Punta Gorda Block Party which is held
on the last Saturday of April. Also in April is the Blues, Brews &
BBQ Festival, you will sample an abundance of craft ales, music and
BBQ selections and you don’t want to miss Peace River Revival Music
Festival in Punta Gorda.
MAY visit the Hibiscus Festival and don’t forget about Fishermen’s
Village Key Lime Festival.
SUMMER activities include the Tarpon Festival in Boca Grande,
including a World Class Art Festival. Picnic in Paradise Bluegrass
Festival, family friendly activities, blue grass and country music,
luscious summer food specials is held in JUNE, along with the 2nd
Annual Caribbean American Heritage Celebration. JULY features
a festive, activity-packed Fourth of July celebration and the 2nd
International Culture Fest. The annual Freedom Swim across Charlotte
Harbor kicks off the festivities. Food booths, and entertainment
during the evening lead up to a fireworks display in the sky above
Charlotte Harbor.
Pioneer Days in SEPTEMBER celebrates the founding of
Englewood.
Music, food and crafts are plentiful in OCTOBER at the Sullivan
Street Craft Fair II held in Punta Gorda. Every OCTOBER is
OKTOBERFEST held in downtown Punta Gorda. Also in October is
Harboritaville - Magic on the Water, Haunting on the Harbor, and The
Big Orange Fest all held in Laishley Park along with the Caribbean
Jerk & Culture Fest. The Visual Arts Center sponsors an annual Fine
Arts Festival in the FALL. Each year’s theme centers around a famous
artist, including Van Gogh, Dali and O’Keefe.
Held in NOVEMBER, it is one of the oldest annual art exhibits
in Charlotte County and is on display at the Visual Arts Center.
The two-day Florida International Air Show features the finest in
aerobatics and ground displays. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Air
Force Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights are often Air Show
participants. The Englewood Beach Waterfest, features the World
Championship of the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) with over
40 boats anticipating to run at speeds exceeding 130 mph. Also enjoy
Ecofest, Education with a Twist, a family-friendly celebration of the
natural beauty of our area. Enjoy Mindi and Friends, Punta Gorda
Wine & Food Festival and the Lighting of the Village at Fishermen’s
Village illuminates over one million lights and traditional holiday
themed decorations with music and entertainment and more.
Setting the stage for the WINTER months is the spectacular
Christmas Parade which officially heralds the holiday season in
Charlotte County, sponsored by the Charlotte County Chamber of
Commerce. Holly Days, an open house by Punta Gorda merchants,
the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association’s Boat Parade, and the Kiwanis
Christmas Card Lane are also annual holiday events.
On the third Thursday of every month, the merchants in Punta
Gorda hold Alive After Five from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a new theme
every time, this event draws people from all over Southwest Florida.
Concerts, ballet, Broadway shows, dancing and a variety of
entertainment are available at the Cultural Center of Charlotte
County and the Center for Performing Arts and Education.
Check the community calendar on our web site at www.
charlottecountychamber.org for more information.
/www.charlottecountychamber.org
/charlottecountychamber.org
