Looking for some fun in Southwest Florida?
Here are our top things to do this weekend and next week, including country superstar Luke Bryan and the annual SWFL SpaceCon. Plus a look at what’s ahead in June.
To submit events, email the details to reporter Charles Runnells at [email protected].
1. Luke Bryan plays JetBlue Park
The country-music superstar will be the first major musical act to play a concert inside JetBlue Park’s baseball field — the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox. He’ll be joined by opening acts Conner Smith, Ashland Craft, Adrien Nunez and DJ Rock. Bryan’s many country hits include “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” “Play It Again,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “Drunk On You” and “Knocking Boots.” He’s also well-known as an “American Idol” judge. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14. $73-$137. JetBlue Park at Fenway South, 11500 Fenway South Drive, south Fort Myers. RedSox.com/LukeBryan
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.2. Theatre Conspiracy’s ‘The 39 Steps’
A campy, funny recreation of the Alfred Hitchcock suspense classic about a bored man who meets a mysterious female spy. After the spy ends up dead in his apartment, the man becomes the sole suspect in her murder and goes on a madcap adventure. June 13-22. $38. Off Broadway Palm at the Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. theatreconspiracyfl.com
3. Babefest at Nice Guys Pizza
The diversity-first music fest returns for its eighth year with thrashy, riot grrrl-style North Carolina punk band Babe Haven. Plus opening acts Except You, Peace Cult and CAAM. The fest is organized by Love Your Rebellion, a local nonprofit created to empower marginalized groups through art, literature and music. 7 p.m. Friday, June 13. $22-$28. Nice Guys Pizza, 1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., downtown Cape Coral. loveyourrebellion.org
4. SWFL SpaceCon in Cape Coral
The sci-fi and comic-book convention beams down to Cape Coral for the third year in a row. Expect celebrity guests, panel discussions, vendors, gaming tournaments and demos, cosplay and more. This year’s celebrities include voice actor Alex Mai (“Borderlands 3,” “My Hero Academia”) and retired Hollywood stuntman Brett Heneise (“V.R. Troopers,” “Dead Above Ground”). Previously announced “scream queen” Crystal Lowe (“Final Destination 3,” “Children of the Corn: Revelation”) is no longer attending due to a scheduling conflict, organizers announced this week. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 14. $12 in advance, $15 at the door ($12 at the door for those in costume). Free for kids younger than 12 with each paid adult admission, $5 for additional kids. German American Social Club, 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. swflspacecon.com
5. Latin jazz with Tito Puente Jr. and Néstor Torres
Drummer Tito Puente Jr. — son of late salsa giant Tito Puente — and Grammy-winning flautist Néstor Torres perform two Latin jazz shows. 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14. $65. Music & Arts Community Center, 13411 Shire Lane, south Fort Myers. 277-1700 or gulfcoastsymphony.org
MORE THINGS TO DO:
- Country-music star Ryan Montgomery: 9 p.m. Friday, June 13. $33. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, Fort Myers. theranchfortmyers.com
- Playwright Joe Simonelli’s ‘Men Are Dogs,’ a comedy about a psychologist staging mock therapy sessions in a support group for single and divorced women. The show resumes Saturday, June 14, and continues all month at Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre inside Durso’s Delites Cafe, Cape Coral. $25. 363-0848 or joesimonelli.net/blank-29
- BIG ARTS Art Vibe, free event featuring live music, food, art demonstrations and the opening of two exhibits showcasing the art of Southwest Florida students. 5 p.m. Friday, June 14, at BIG ARTS, Sanibel Island. Free. bigarts.org
- Singer Paul Todd Jr. performs songs by Bublé, Sinatra, Darin and more: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Tribby Arts Center, south Fort Myers. $35. tribbyartscenter.com
- Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute Commotion: 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, south Fort Myers. $37-$79. bbmannpah.com
LOOKING AHEADJuneteenth Community Festival in Fort Myers
Celebrate the Juneteenth holiday with vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, a Kids’ Zone, a deejay, fireworks and more. 4-8 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Free. Presented by the Lee County Black History Society. The STARS Complex, 2980 Edison Ave., Fort Myers. 332-8778 or leecountyblackhistorysociety.org
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Delivery: VariesYour EmailLittle Mike & The Tornadoes
High-energy Chicago-style blues led by pianist and harmonica virtuoso Mike Markowitz. This is the Queens, New York, band’s first show at Arts Bonita. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21. $38-$48. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org
Broadway Palm musical ‘Legally Blonde’
Last chance to see this hit musical based on the 2001 Reese Witherspoon movie. The story follows a sorority girl who gets dumped by her social-climbing boyfriend and follows him to Harvard Law School. Along the way, she makes new friends, discovers a part of herself she never knew existed and realizes there’s more to life than “Cosmopolitan” magazine and getting married. Now through Saturday, June 28. $65-$85. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email [email protected]. Follow on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells).