Top 5 things to do this weekend in SW FL: SpaceCon, Summer Beer Fest at Fort Myers Brewing

Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·5 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including comedian Dat Phan, Summer Beer Fest and SWFL SpaceCon's first visit to Cape Coral. Plus a look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks.

EVENT SUBMISSIONS: Got anything cool happening next weekend or later? I’m always looking for concerts, festivals and other great events for my weekly Top 5 things to do. To be considered, email me the details at crunnells@gannett.com or message me at facebook.com/charles.runnells.7.

13 best concerts in SWFL this June: Lady A, Ricky Skaggs, Scott Stapp, more

Ladies, rejoice! Big bathroom upgrade part of major Mann Hall renovations

1. SWFL SpaceCon comes to Cape Coral

Cosplay is a big part of SWFL SpaceCon.
Cosplay is a big part of SWFL SpaceCon.

The sci-fi and comic-book convention comes to Cape Coral for the first time. Expect celebrity guests, panel discussions, vendors, gaming tournaments and demos, cosplay and more. This year’s celebrities include Hollywood stuntman Brett Heneise (“V.R. Troopers,” “Star Trek Deep Space 9,” “Star Trek Voyager”), actor Ellie Darcey-Alden (Young Lily Evans in “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2”) and voice actors D.C. Douglas (Yoshikage Kira “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable,” Albert Wesker in the Resident Evil games) and Ogie Banks (Clawd Wolf “Monster High,” Luke Cage and Miles Morales in “Ultimate Spider-Man”). 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 10. $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

Read more about SWFL SpaceCon: Cape Coral gets its own comic con. Here's everything you need to know.

2. Comedian Dat Phan of ‘Last Comic Standing’

Dat Phan was the first winner of “Last Comic Standing.” He returns for more stand-up comedy at Snappers. Larry Venturino opens. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday and 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8-10. $25-$30. Snappers Laugh In Comedy Café, 8595 College Parkway, Unit 270, south Fort Myers. 479-5233 or snapperslaughin.com

3. Summer Beer Fest at Fort Myers Brewing Co.

Celebrate the summer with four days of live music, more than 50 specialty beers, food truck rallies and more. Thursday through Sunday, June 15-18. Free. Fort Myers Brewing Co., 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Unit 28, south Fort Myers. 313-6576 or fmbrew.com

4. Cultural Park Theater’s 'Crimes of the Heart'

Last chance to see the heartwarming, Tony Award-nominated comedy-drama. The story involves three sisters reuniting in Mississippi after one of them shoots an abusive husband. Now through Sunday, June 11. $26. Cultural Park Theater, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. 772-5862 or culturalparktheater.com

5. Lab Theater’s 'Save Hamlet'

A publicity photo for Lab Theater's world-premiere comedy, "Save Hamlet."
A publicity photo for Lab Theater's world-premiere comedy, "Save Hamlet."

Mark Harvey Levine’s world-premiere spoof of Shakespeare's most famous play. The joke-packed comedy sees Hamlet’s friends fighting evil kings, the narrative and even giant pool noodles. The play was a runner-up for Lab Theater’s 2022 Louise Wigglesworth Excellence in Playwriting Award. Now through June 24. $35 ($10 for students). The show contains raunchy humor but is rated for all ages. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com

MORE THINGS TO DO

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 'Cinderella'

The famous fairytale gets a modern twist in The Belle’s new musical. June 9-18. $28 ($10 for students). The Belle Theatre, 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite 135, in The Towers at Santa Barbara shopping center, Cape Coral. 323-5533 or thebelletheatre.com

Cape Coral Museum of History birthday celebration

The Cape Coral museum celebrates its 43rd anniversary with a vintage car show (9 a.m. to noon only), a free open house, live entertainment and more. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Free. Cape Coral Museum of History, 544 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. 772-7037 or capecoralmuseum.org

"Seven Months Since” exhibit at Tribby

Kurt Gulledge's “Beginning Again” is one of many Hurricane Ian-themed artworks in the exhibit "Seven Months Since" at Tribby Arts Center.
Kurt Gulledge's “Beginning Again” is one of many Hurricane Ian-themed artworks in the exhibit "Seven Months Since" at Tribby Arts Center.

Artists and writers from Shell Point Retirement Community reflect on Hurricane Ian and look to the future in this new exhibit. Sixty-six artists and photographers will display their works, alongside haikus, short narratives and other written works from nine resident writers. Now through June 22. Free. The Shell Point, Legacy, and Overlook Galleries in Tribby Arts Center at Shell Point Retirement Community, 17281 On Par Blvd., south Fort Myers. 415-5667 or tribbyartscenter.com

Dance Bochette’s Festival of Dance

The Fort Myers dance school’s annual show takes place at Broadway Palm. This year’s theme is “Hitch Your Wagon To A Star.” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 13. $40 admission includes a light meal and cash bar. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422

LOOKING AHEAD

Jurassic Quest at Lee Civic Center

The Jurassic Quest tour features a fearsome T-Rex that stands about 12 feet tall.
The Jurassic Quest tour features a fearsome T-Rex that stands about 12 feet tall.

The giant animatronic dinosaurs are back for another visit. This touring show features life-sized, moving, roaring dinos. Plus dino rides, fossils, inflatables and more. Friday through Sunday, June 16-18. $22 for regular admission, $35 for kids admission and unlimited rides and activities (ages 2-10 only). Rides and activities cost extra. Parking is $6. Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. jurassicquest.com

Dueling Pianos at Davis Art Center

Pianists Tommy Smith and Paul Nicodemi take audience song suggestions and play them live on two back-to-back grand pianos. The concert opens the Davis Art Center’s Sounds of Summer Series. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 16. $10-$15. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers. 333-1933 or sbdac.com

Juneteenth Community Festival in Clemente Park

Members of the Quality Life Center dance group perform at 2022's Juneteenth Community Festival at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers.
Members of the Quality Life Center dance group perform at 2022's Juneteenth Community Festival at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers.

Celebrate the holiday with vendors, live entertainment, arts and crafts, kids games, a bounce house, food and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17. The annual festival is presented by the Dunbar Festival Committee, the Lee County Black History Society, The African Coalition of Southwest Florida and the City of Fort Myers. Free admission, although advanced registration is requested. Roberto Clemente Park, 3265 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers. facebook.com/dunbarfestivalcommitteeinc

— Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. For news tips or other entertainment-related matters, call him at 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. You can also connect with him on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers, Cape Coral things to do: SWFL SpaceCon, Summer Beer Fest