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 October 2024. Each of the events listed is open to the public; some are free events, while others require tickets or RSVPs.
Featured Events
Boo-tanical Weekend
Dates: Oct. 11-13
Location: Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs
Description: Wonder Gardens will host a three-day Halloween-themed event with family friendly activities, free with paid admission to the gardens. The event includes games, crafts, local vendors, face painting and more! Select activities are subject to an additional fee. As in previous years, Wonder Gardens will join zoos, animal-lovers and thoughtful consumers nationwide by choosing Halloween candy brands that support sustainable palm oil production and distribution. Paper bags will be provided for children to collect candy.
The event on Oct. 11 provides a unique opportunity for guests to visit the garden in the evening, when it is typically not open, to explore the lushly landscaped botanical gardens and interact with rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable birds and reptiles. Costumes are optional, but encouraged
LINK: Halloween Nights
Spirit of Children
Dates: Oct. 1-31
Location: Online and in person
Description: Spirit Halloween is again donating 10% of sales in October to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida through Lee Health Foundation. Shoppers simply need to provide the code linked below when checking out. Coupons can be redeemed at stores in Naples, Estero and Port Charlotte.
LINK: Spirit of Children Campaign
Hoots & Hisses
Date: Oct. 26
Location: Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Description: The Conservancy’s nature-focused Halloween event will include activity and craft tables, face painters, story times, movies in Eaton Conservation Hall, animal encounters, the Glen Beitman Super Science Show, educational exhibits and more. Costumes are encouraged. Other activities include electric boat rides, Dalton Discovery Center and John and Carol Walter Discover Wing exhibits, and the Little Explorer Play Zone.
LINK: Hoots & Hisses
Additional Client Events in October 2024
Oct. 2
The Women in Business Committee of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Purses for a Purpose mix and mingle networking event. Guests will enjoy a silent auction, raffles, and opportunities to bring home vintage and gently loved purses. Light refreshments will be provided.
LINK: Purses for a Purpose
Oct. 3
Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County will host its fourth Annual Golf Tournament at The Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers. In addition to playing 18 holes of championship golf, players can participate in on-course activities and challenges, register for raffle prizes, enjoy dinner and try their luck with a closest-to-the-pin helicopter ball drop assisted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
LINK: Annual Golf Tournament
Oct. 4
The Belltober Beer Festival at Bell Tower will celebrate local fall-themed craft beers and feature live performances, games, vendors, and a mac and cheese contest in which restaurants compete to win the golden pumpkin. All proceeds will benefit United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades.
LINK: Belltober
Oct. 5
Building on the success of The Wonder Gardens’ popular Brews for the Birds craft beer events, Wine and Wonder Uncorked will be an evening for wine drinkers to enjoy a sampling of eight specially selected, premium wines from renowned vineyards while listing to disco music in the lush gardens.
LINK: Wine & Wonder
Oct. 6
The World Famous Cigar Bar Charity Golf Tournament in Estero will benefit Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children. Participants will enjoy lunch, a day of golfing and giving back, and an exclusive after party featuring a silent auction, premium imported cigars, spirits and a catered dinner.
LINK: Charity Golf Tournament
Oct. 7
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is hosting an Oct. 7th We Remember event marking the one-year anniversary of the attack on Israel with a community remembrance ceremony. The federation also is selling Bouquets of Hope to raise money for the Israel Emergency Relief Fund.
LINK: We Remember
Oct. 8
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s October Luncheon will feature Sen. John Martin and offer networking opportunities for both current and future chamber members. Martin will engage members in an educational, nonpartisan discussion on what they can expect for the upcoming legislative session.
LINK: October Luncheon
Oct. 12
ECHO will host a day of gardening events at its North America Impact Center that features gardening workshops, tours of ECHO’s Global Farm and a plant sale. Workshops include Florida gardening, seed saving and propagation of plants by cutting, seed germination and division.
LINK: Get into Gardening
Oct. 12
The fifth annual Lee County Senior Expo features over 100 vendors, live entertainment, door prizes, giveaways, food trucks, and a variety of resources for veterans and seniors. Lee BIA Builders Care is among the groups that will have a presence at the event.
LINK: Senior Expo
Oct. 13
The Coconuts 4 A Cure 5K race will generate support for the Breast Cancer Compassionate Care Fund at the Lee Health Cancer Institute. Runners will receive a race T-shirt, medal and pink accessories to wear during the race.
LINK: Coconuts 4 A Cure
Oct. 15
Community Cooperative’s 18th Annual Becoming Cosmopolitan Mad about Hunger event features a mad tea party and treats, cocktails, a silent auction and a good time for guests whose support helps end hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida.
LINK: Mad about Hunger
Oct. 17
The Lee County Bar Association is recognizing its Pro Bono Superheroes at the organization’s Pro Bono Awards Happy Hour at Bay Street Yard in Fort Myers. The program honors individuals who represent those in the community who need support to break through their legal issues.
LINK: Pro Bono Awards Happy Hour
Oct. 17
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce welcomes business leaders and community members to Business Unplugged, a casual networking event for chamber members and guests to make connections to expand their business and professional outlook. Guests are encouraged to bring raffle prizes showcasing their business.
LINK: Business Unplugged
Oct. 18
Senior Choice at Home will host a Dine and Discover event at Wyvern Hotel in Punta Gorda for seniors interested in aging at home. The event will include an informative presentation on the program, a complimentary lunch and a question-and-answer session for attendees.
LINK: Dine and Discover
Oct. 23
Better Together’s Church Partner Job Fair Training in Cape Coral offers an introduction to a comprehensive set of steps that church families can take to create job fairs in their communities.
LINK: Church Partner Training
Oct. 24
Better Together is partnering with Grace Church for a Second Chance Job Fair in Fort Myers that connects hiring employers and job seekers. Free one-on-one job coaching sessions are available that include resume reviews and polishing interviewing skills.
LINK: Job Fair
Oct. 24
Business Before Breakfast, a monthly networking session with light refreshments and hot coffee, has a theme of “What you do early today can improve all your tomorrows.” The program includes a brief presentation by event host Into the Jordan Ministries. Early rising guests are encouraged to bring business cards.
LINK: Business Before Breakfast
Oct. 25
The Industry Appreciation Awards, a program produced by the Horizon Foundation, Horizon Council and Lee County Economic Development Office, will honor Lee County’s top businesses and business leaders in nine categories: Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Large Manufacturer of the Year, Small Manufacturer of the Year, Diverse Business of the Year, Partnership Award, Supplier Diversity Award, Innovative Technology Award and Community Spotlight Award.
LINK: Industry Appreciation Awards
Oct. 25-27
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament supports the nonprofit’s efforts to protect our most valuable natural resource – our water. The three-day event includes a kickoff celebration, fishing tournament and awards reception.
LINK: Charity Fishing Tournament
Oct. 26
Lee County Bar Association is presenting its “Under the Stars” Bench Bar Gala in Fort Myers. The formal event includes a cocktail reception, plated dinner, dancing and more to honor the judiciary and thank them for their ongoing service and commitment to justice.
LINK: Bench Bar Gala
Oct. 26
The Faces of Pace Celebration & Gala, which benefits Pace Center for Girls, Lee, will feature dinner, dancing, live music and a live auction. This year’s event focuses on unmasking girls’ potential and will include messages of success from current and former Pace Lee students.
LINK: Faces of Pace
Looking Ahead
Mark your calendar for these signature events:
November
- Nov. 1: Speakeasy Casino Night (Premier Mobile Health Solutions)
- Nov. 1: 1st Annual Charity Golf Ball Drop (beneficiary: Cancer Alliance Network)
- Nov. 3: Retro Revival celebration (Cancer Alliance Network)
- Nov. 12: Fashion Show (Golisano Children’s Hospital)
- Nov. 12-14: International Agriculture Conference (ECHO)
- Nov. 14: Seeing the Bigger Picture (Guadalupe Center)
- Nov. 22-24: Harvest Nights Music Festival (benefits Guadalupe Center, Cancer Alliance Network)
December
- Dec. 6: Willy Wonka Holiday Party (Lee Health Cancer Institute)
- Dec. 7: Matzah Ball (Jewish Federation of Greater Naples)
- Dec. 9: Jewish Book Festival 2024-25 kickoff (Jewish Federation of Greater Naples)
- Dec. 12: Holiday Party (Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce)
- Dec. 13: Brews for the Birds (Wonder Gardens)
- Dec. 13: Charity Clay Shoot (Lee BIA Builders Care)
January
- Jan. 10: Elevate Gala (Guadalupe Center)
- Jan. 11: Annual Meeting (Conservancy of Southwest Florida)
- Jan 24: 8th Annual MarineMax Yacht Gala (Golisano Children’s Hospital)
- Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Everglades Coalition Conference (Everglades Coalition)
- Jan. 30: 2nd Annual Bourbon & Bubbly (Golisano Children’s Hospital)
- Jan 31: 2nd Annual Caring for the Cape (Lee Health Foundation)
February
- Feb. 6: Annual Meeting (Horizon Foundation)
- Feb. 8: Wine, Women & Shoes (Naples Cancer Advisors)
- Feb. 8: Reel in the Sunshine Fishing Expo (Sunshine Ace Hardware)
- Feb. 13: Enchanted (Wonder Gardens)
March
- March 6: Magic Under the Mangroves (Conservancy of Southwest Florida)
- March 11: Fashion Show & Luncheon (Lee Health Cancer Institute)
- March 12: Signature Gala: The Ripple Effect: Mental Health and Family Support (Kids’ Minds Matter)
- March 14: Hope Shines Luncheon (NAMI Collier County)
- March 14: Golden Circle Luncheon (Guadalupe Center)
- March 22: Big Green EGGfest (Sunshine Ace Hardware)
- March 29: Wine & Wonder (Wonder Gardens)
- March 29: SanCap Cares Island Celebration (Golisano Children’s Hospital)
April
- April 25: Hope Shines Walk (NAMI Collier County)
- April 25: Tutor Corps Celebration Dinner (Guadalupe Center)
May
- May 1: SWFL Community Prayer Breakfast
Note: Event dates subject to change. Additional events will be added as dates are confirmed.
