Every month, Priority Marketing’s clients and partners host a wide range of special events, seminars, workshops, activities and fundraising opportunities. Check out the list of client events in February 2024.
FEATURED EVENTS
Spring training is just weeks ago, and Southwest Florida is preparing for the arrival of the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. In addition to their preseason preparations and games, both teams are ingrained into the fabric of the community’s business and philanthropic culture.
The ticketed events listed below are open to the public and support local organizations:
Boston Tee Party
Date: Feb. 15
Description: The 31st annual Boston Red Sox event series, which benefits Golisano Children’s Hospital, kicks off with the Boston Tee Party. The evening features heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and spirited auctions, with bidding opportunities that include autographed sports and entertainment memorabilia, fine jewelry, and luxurious spa and destination packages.
LINK: Boston Tee Party
Minnesota Twins Golf Classic
Date: Feb. 15
Description: The 26th annual Minnesota Twins Golf Classic, which supports Lee Health Cancer Institute, will be held at Topgolf and includes golf, in-game competitions, prizes and an opportunity to interact with multiple Twins celebrities. Participants of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate.
LINK: Twins Golf Classic
Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic
Date: Feb. 16
Description: The second event of the Boston Red Sox event series continues with the Celebrity Golf Classic, a big-league golf tourney featuring Red Sox players, MLB greats and sports celebrities. On-course contests and an after-tournament dinner add to the excitement.
LINK: Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic
Talking Baseball Luncheon
Date: Feb. 22
Description: The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s February luncheon, titled Talking Baseball, will be held at JetBlue Park and focus on spring training baseball in Southwest Florida. Attendees will have opportunities to network with fellow business leaders and learn from the monthly sponsor, HBKS Wealth Advisors.
LINK: Talking Baseball Luncheon
Evening at the Ballpark
Date: March 14
Description: Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County’s Evening at the Ballpark at JetBlue Park includes appetizers, drinks, activities and games, along with autographs from current Red Sox players and photos with World Series trophies. Then, guests will move inside the stadium for a memorabilia auction, dinner and a Baseball Legends Panel featuring some of the game’s greatest athletes.
LINK: Evening at the Ballpark
Dinner on the Diamond
Date: March 19
Description: The final event of the Red Sox Event Series, Dinner on the Diamond at JetBlue Park, is a family-friendly event that includes dinner, Red Sox celebrity appearances, autograph signings, a silent auction of sports memorabilia and other surprises.
LINK: Dinner on the Diamond
ADDITIONAL CLIENT EVENTS IN FEBRUARY 2024
Through Feb. 14
Norman Love Confections has unveiled its 2024 Valentine’s Day Collection, which will be available in local chocolate salons through Valentine’s Day. The collection features 10 heart-shaped dark, white and milk chocolates in a variety of flavor combinations: Passion Orange, Crème Catalan, Tropical Rum, Chocolate Strawberry, Smoked Sea Salt, Champagne, Café Amore, Banana Foster, Kahlúa® Caramel, Mocha Almond.
LINK: Valentine’s Day Collection
Feb. 1
The Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office are hosting their Annual Meeting, which features a State of the Economy report that recaps growth, business opportunities, a vision for 2024 and a “passing of the gavel” celebration to recognize outgoing and incoming leadership.
LINK: Annual Meeting
Feb. 1
The Lee County Black History Society is hosting an Artist Talk with Challen Rivera to kick off Black History Month. The free talk will be held at the Williams Academy Black History Museum, which is featuring an art exhibit “African Americans and the Arts.”
LINK: Artist Talk
Feb. 1 & 12
The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples’ 2023-24 Jewish Book Festival, which showcases Jewish authors and books to enrich and engage the community, continues with a discussion led by Jane Saginaw, author of “Because the World is Round,” and Benyamin Cohen, author of “The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms, and Our Minds.”
LINK: Jewish Book Festival
Feb. 2
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s Champions for Health: Fort Myers Sports Extravaganza is a free event that offers opportunities to meet former Olympians and professional athletes while learning to promote overall wellness and health.
LINK: Fort Myers Sports Extravaganza
Feb. 2
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties will celebrate the grand reopening of its North Fort Myers ReStore, which was damaged during Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The store is seeking donations of furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas and patios, as well as household appliances, building supplies and home decor.
LINK: ReStore Grand Reopening
Feb. 3
The 5th Annual Lee County Chili Challenge, presented by Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz and Stu’s Motorcycles, will tickle the tastebuds while bringing together fire, EMS, police and military chili teams to raise money and awareness for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Injured Warriors Fund of Florida and Collier-Lee Honor Flight.
LINK: Lee County Chili Challenge
Feb. 3
The Lee County Black History Society’s annual Prayer Breakfast will be held at Roberto Clemente Park and feature a keynote address by16-year-old artist Nalin Isme, who has exhibited his contemporary work throughout Florida and published a children’s book.
LINK: Prayer Breakfast
Feb. 5 & 26
Senior Choice at Home will host two Dine & Discover luncheons at The Players Club at Lely Resort in Naples to provide seniors and their families with the opportunity to learn more about continuing care options that work for them and their health care needs, as well as a complimentary meal to enjoy during each session.
LINK: Dine & Discover
Feb. 7
Lee County Legal Aid Society hosts its quarterly Law at the Library session, a no-cost, limited legal services clinic for county residents ages 50 and older. Advance registration is required.
LINK: Law at the Library
Feb. 7
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business is hosting its annual Sweethearts and Scholarships Wine & Dessert Auction to support the Women in Business scholarship fund, which is designed for nontraditional students with financial need.
LINK: Sweethearts and Scholarships
Feb. 7
The theme of Kids’ Minds Matter’s 2024 Signature Event is “Your Story Matters” and is designed to help write a new chapter for Southwest Florida children and families. Guest speakers include Kelly Maguire, a youth mental health advocate, and Michael Rizzo, a licensed school psychologist.
LINK: 2024 Signature Event
Feb. 9 & 23
The Elliott Katz 2024 Lecture Series continues with two presentations in February. The Feb. 9 event, “These Were Not Nice Jewish Boys,” and Feb. 23 event, “They Said It Could Not Happen Here: It Did,” will be held at the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples’ Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center.
LINK: Elliott Katz Lecture Series
Feb. 8-9
Bigham Jewelers is hosting a two-day trunk show that features expanded offerings from renowned international jewelry designer Picchiotti. More than 200 designs will be on display, including engagement rings, wedding bands, cocktail rings, and stackable and statement bracelets.
LINK: Picchiotti Trunk Show
Feb. 10
Sunshine Ace Hardware’s eighth annual Reel in the Sunshine fishing expo will include vendor-led demonstrations, product giveaways and exclusive discounts on fishing apparel, rods, reels, lures, hats, sunglasses and other accessories. A pair of local fishing guides and boat captains are serving as keynote speakers.
LINK: Reel in the Sunshine
Feb. 13
Advocate Radiation Oncology is sponsoring Galentine’s Night in Sarasota, where attendees will enjoy champagne spritzers, appetizers, massages, mini makeovers, complimentary body stretches, shopping and more to raise money for The Payton Wright Foundation.
LINK: Galentine’s Night
Feb. 13
Gulf Coast Village’s annual Mardi Gras celebration includes music, food, dancing and opportunities to learn about Cape Coral’s premier Continuing Care Retirement Community.
LINK: Mardi Gras
Feb. 15
Business Before Breakfast, a monthly networking session with light refreshments, will include a brief presentation by the event host, the City of Fort Myers. Early rising guests are encouraged to bring business cards.
LINK: Business Before Breakfast
Feb. 15
Advocate Radiation Oncology is sponsoring the second annual Purple Tea symposium, where physicians and breast health experts will discuss advancements in the prevention, screening and treatment of breast cancer. The free event will explore new research, statistics and technology.
LINK: Purple Tea
Feb. 15
TPI Hospitality’s Compass by Margaritaville hotel in Naples is accepting reservations starting Feb. 15. The all-suites hotel features the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, event space and ample amenities just blocks from the beach.
LINK: Compass by Margaritaville
Feb. 15
Pace Center for Girls, Lee is hosting a live arts and entertainment event, Live & In Color, that features local musician Slimtronic5k and world-renowned Sanibel artist Lacy McClary. At the show’s end, four paintings will be awarded via a prize drawing; eight paintings will be donated to Pace.
LINK: Live & In Color
Feb. 16
Better Together is hosting Parents’ Night Out in Bonita Springs, where parents, grandparents and other caregivers can access several hours of no-cost care for children ages infant through 17 years old. Better Together will provide background-checked volunteers in addition to dinner, games and fun for children to enjoy while parents are away.
LINK: Parents’ Night Out
Feb. 16
Norman Love Confections will host a chocolate truffle class that helps attendees master the 100-year-old art of truffle making. From the luscious hand-formed dark chocolate to the modern Swiss chocolate shell, students will create these treats with the guidance of master chocolatiers, and then bring their finished treasures home to enjoy.
LINK: Chocolate Classes
Feb. 16-19
The Bobby Nichols – Fiddlesticks Charity is hosting its annual Nichols Cup, which has a theme of “Dare to Dream.” The four-day event includes an auction, fundraising gala, neighborhood celebration and three tournaments for golf, tennis and pickleball.
LINK: Nichols Cup
Feb. 17
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is hosting an online homeownership information meeting over Zoom to explain Habitat’s affordable housing program and outline steps to homeownership. This session will be conducted in English.
LINK: Homeowner Information Webinar (English)
Feb. 21
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is hosting an online homeownership information meeting over Zoom to explain Habitat’s affordable housing program and outline steps to homeownership. This session will be conducted in Spanish.
LINK: Homeowner Information Webinar (Spanish)
Feb. 22-25
Fort Myers Brewing’s 11th Anniversary Celebration will feature plenty of opportunities to toast to Lee County’s first and largest craft brewery, which offers core beers, specialty and seasonal beers, and Spky’d hard seltzers.
LINK: 11th Anniversary Celebration
Feb. 27
Leadership NEXT, a monthly program for advancing business professionals, offers guests an opportunity to develop new knowledge and skills, establish working relationships with colleagues, and engage in valuable programs and discussions that enhance careers.
LINK: Leadership NEXT
LOOKING AHEAD
Keep these major events on your radar for the coming months:
MARCH
- March 7: Community Cooperative – Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit
- March 10: Guadalupe Resale Shop – Fashion Show and Private Sale (details to come)
- March 12: Market Trends of Southwest Florida – Market Trends Real Estate Summit
- March 12: Lee Health Foundation – Colors of the Sea Fashion Show
- March 16: Partners in Care – Scope for Hope 5K/2-Mile Walk/Kids’ Fun Run
- March 21: David Lawrence Centers – Sound Minds Celebration
- March 24: Lee BIA Builders Care – BBQ, Bands & Brew
APRIL
- April 5: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels – 2024 Home Opener
- April 12: Tommy Bohanon Foundation – Playmakers Tailgate Party
- April 13: Sunshine Ace Hardware – Big Green EGGfest
- April 15: Lee BIA Builders Care – BBQ, Bands & Brew
- April 18: Pace Center for Girls, Lee – Grande Dames Tea (details to come)
- April 26: Guadalupe Center – Tutor Corps Celebration Dinner
- April 27: Partners in Care – Head & Neck 5K/2-Mile Walk in Cape Coral
