Top 10 things to do this weekend in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

Looking for some entertainment in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and the rest of Southwest Florida?

Here are 10 fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including comedian Brian Regan, singer Tommy Vext of Bad Wolves and the annual Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival.

If you’re unvaccinated, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask, avoiding mass gatherings and staying at least 6 feet from others. Vaccinated people are also advised to wear masks in public, indoor places in states where COVID cases are surging. For more CDC guidelines, visit bit.ly/3fohmDC.

1. Brian Regan

The rubber-faced comedian returns to Mann Hall. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. $45-$56. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

2. “William Wegman & Jack Massing: Two Clever By Half”

 The two artists are collaborating in this new exhibit described as a “call and response project” and “an experimental visual discussion in a studio setting within the Gallery.” Wegman is best known for his humorous paintings, photos, videos and drawings of Weimaraner dogs. Massing collaborated with his late partner, Michael Galbreth, for more than 35 years as the conceptual art duo The Art Guys. Wegman and Massing will premiere and create work during a residency at the gallery, allowing visitors to see the work being created during regular gallery hours. Now through Dec. 4. Free admission. Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway S.W., Building L, south Fort Myers. 489-9313 or rauschenberggallery.com

3. Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival

 The annual event returns for its 15th year with a week’s worth of live and virtual events, including film screenings, an opening reception, filmmaker meet-ups, morning coffee talks and a closing awards reception. The fest — now expanded to five days — features local, national and international filmmakers. Sept. 14-19. Films and film packages are $8 each. CDC guidelines will be followed. Beach Theater, 6464 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. 980-4381 or FMBFilmFest.com

4. “4 Beekman”

The Charlotte Players open their 2021-22 season with this romantic comedy. Newly married couple Deanne and Robert return home from their honeymoon to discover Robert has accidentally bought the same apartment Deanne once shared with her ex-husband. On top of that, her ex-husband has bought the apartment next door. Performed by The Charlotte Players. Sept. 10-19. $22 ($11 for students). Langdon Playhouse, 1182 Market St., Port Charlotte. 941-255-1022 or charlotteplayers.org

5. Vintage Market Days

This touring vintage and vintage-inspired market features clothing, jewelry, original art, antiques, home décor, outdoor furnishings and more. Plus live music and food trucks. Sept. 10-12. $5-$10 (free for ages 12 and younger). Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. vintagemarketdays.com

6. Funny Shorts Live!

Ongoing series featuring five 10-minute humorous plays, many of which appeared in the center’s annual Stage It! 10-Minute Plays competition and festival. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. $20. Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artcenterbonita.org

7. Battle of the Arts 5

For this monthly networking and fundraising event, a group of artists get together and paint for three hours to make impromptu works of art. Visitors buy tickets to vote for their favorite art of the night, and that money goes to a local nonprofit. Prizes will be given for the people’s choice winner and also the winner chosen by a group of celebrity judges. The winning artists from each month compete in the final art battle in December. This month’s beneficiary is New Horizons of Southwest Florida. 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Free. Both inside and outside at Artsemble Underground Gallery at Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., south Fort Myers. 248-9063 or artsembleunderground.com/battle-of-the-arts

8. Tommy Vext

 The heavy metal singer-songwriter is best known as the former lead singer for Bad Wolves, Snot and other bands. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. Doors open at 7 p.m. $23 for general admission, $55 for reserved seating. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com

9. Tapa Hop Pub Crawl

Take trolleys to eight Fort Myers Beach restaurants for various tapas at this 18th annual event. 3-10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. $45-$50 (including tapas). Raffles will be held all night. There is also a poker run for $5 per sheet. Check-in happens at Fish-Tale Waterfront Dining. 7225 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. 454-7500 or fortmyersbeach.org/events/tapa-hop-2021

10. “The Color Purple”

The Lee County premiere of the Broadway musical about an African-American woman’s journey to independence in the early 20th century. It’s based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and its 1985 film adaptation. Mature themes. Now through Oct. 2. $30-$37. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com

'The Color Purple': Southwest Florida premiere of Tony-winning revival comes to Fort Myers

MORE THINGS TO DO

Not enough? Here are a few more events happening in Southwest Florida over the next week:

"And The Nominees Are: In this annual event, youth performers and some of the theater’s most popular adult stars perform a night of Broadway tunes. Sept. 9-19. $27-$29 ($20 for students with ID, $10 for ages 9 and younger). Cultural Park Theater, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. 772-5862 or culturalparktheater.com

The Electric Mud and Dizygote: The Southwest Florida heavy-rock acts team up. The Electric Mud is known for its big, 70s-style riffs. The father-and-son duo Dizygote play loud, lumbering, groovy, detuned metal. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. $5. Ollies Pub, 1019 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral.  540-7867 or facebook.com/olliespubCC 

SWFL Sports Card Show: Vendors buy, sell and trade a variety of baseball cards and other sports cards and memorabilia, from vintage to modern. The event also features food trucks and giveaways. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. $2 (free for ages 12 and younger). Pondella Bingo, 959 Pondella Road, North Fort Myers. 440-5204 or facebook.com/swflcardshow

Movie Lovers Group: The local movie club has a new home at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. They meet every month to discuss new movies being shown in Southwest Florida theaters or streamed online. The next meeting is 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13. Free.  The conference room at the Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 565-0355

LOOKING AHEAD

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest: Country-music stars Jimmie Allen and Michael Ray headline the sprawling, 10-day music festival taking place Sept. 17-19 on Captiva Island, Sept. 20-23 in downtown Fort Myers and Sept. 24-26 on Fort Myers Beach. More than 60 U.S. singer-songwriters perform more than 100 shows this year, including Jay Allen, Dylan Altman, Aaron Barker, Hannah Ellis, Frank Myers and Dave Pahanish. Most shows are free. Ray performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at Pinchers restaurant in The Marina at Edison Ford in downtown Fort Myers. Tickets are $45-$85. Then Allen plays a pool party at 5:30  p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach. Tickets are $45. island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com

Santana: Rock legend Carlos Santana and his band bring their Blessings and Miracles Tour to Hertz Arena. The Grammy Award-winning rock band's hits include “Oye Como Va,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Evil Ways” and “Smooth” (with Rob Thomas). 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19. $36-$126. Parking on site is $25. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

Banda MS: The popular Mexican banda act’s hits include “Hermosa Experiencia,” “No Me Pidas Perdón” and the international smash "Sin Evidencias. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24. $55-$155. Parking on site is $25. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

Tim Cappello: The buff saxophonist is probably best known for his shirtless beach-party performance in the vampire movie “The Lost Boys.” The singer-songwriter has also played with Peter Gabriel, Carly Simon, Tina Turner and Ringo Starr. Doors open at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24. Actual show time not listed. $12-$15. Local ska-punkers Bargain Bin Heroes open the show. HOWL, 4160 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. 332-0161 or facebook.com/HOWLFTMYERS

Randy Houser: Rising country star behind the critically acclaimed 2019 album “Magnolia” and hit songs such as “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” “How Country Feels” and “Goodnight Kiss. Show starts at about 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25. Doors open at 8 p.m. $52.19 or $89.46. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com

Cold: Jacksonville alt-rockers whose hits include the 2003 single “Stupid Girl.” 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. Doors open at 7 p.m. $25. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Dixie LIVE, 1015 SE 47th Terrace, downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/ragemoreevents

Tantric: The Kentucky post-grunge rockers are known for their grooves, melodies and rich vocal harmonies. Their hits include “Down and Out,” “Breakdown,” “Astounded” and “Mourning.” 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. $18. Buddha LIVE, 12701 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 246-1246 or thebuddhalive.com

"Let's Fall in Love": Florida Rep opens its 2021-22 season with this world-premiere cabaret show featuring music from the 1940s, '50s and '60s, including songs from Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Bing Crosby. Chicago-based performer Evan Tyrone Martin stars. Oct. 1-Nov. 7. $55-$59. ArtStage Studio Theatre at Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

— Got anything cool happening next weekend or later? Email me the details at crunnells@news-press.com.