Fort Myers offers professional performing arts that rival much larger metropolitan areas, providing cultural enrichment without the crowds and costs of major cities. Florida Repertory Theatre, housed in the historic 1908 Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers, has earned recognition from the Wall Street Journal as "one of America's top repertory companies." The professional company presents a September-to-May season of classics, contemporary works, and new plays in an intimate setting where every seat provides excellent sightlines.
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre combines dining with professional musical productions, presenting eight Broadway shows per season with a live orchestra. The 450-seat main stage has welcomed over 170,000 guests annually since 1993, while the 100-seat Off Broadway Palm Theatre offers more intimate productions. The dinner theater format creates complete evenings out, with meals paired to productions.
The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus hosts touring Broadway productions, national concerts, and major performances. This 1,800-seat venue brings world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida throughout the year. The Gulf Coast Symphony, Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra, and Gulf Coast Jazz Collective together present over 100 performances annually, offering classical, jazz, opera, and musical theater at venues including the Barbara B. Mann Hall and the Music & Arts Community Center.
The Laboratory Theater of Florida presents edgier productions including Shakespeare adaptations, experimental works, and contemporary plays that challenge audiences. For those seeking variety beyond traditional theater, Southwest Florida offers opera performances, dance companies, and visiting national acts at Hertz Arena in Estero.
The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center anchors Fort Myers' visual arts community from a stunning restored 1933 federal building in the downtown River District. The center presents rotating exhibitions, independent films, concerts, dance performances, and special events throughout the year. Sidney's Rooftop Sculpture Garden offers 360-degree views of downtown alongside impressive sculptural works, providing an evening venue for live music and events.
Alliance for the Arts on McGregor Boulevard serves as the region's nonprofit arts hub, offering rotating gallery exhibitions, art classes for all ages, live theater, concerts, monthly night markets, and youth camps. The 10-acre campus includes outdoor performance space and provides accessible entry points for community members exploring visual and performing arts. Classes range from watercolor painting to needle felt to collage, accommodating various skill levels and interests.
The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida SouthWestern State College and FGCU Art Galleries present contemporary works from local, national, and international artists. These academic galleries provide free access to professional exhibitions while supporting emerging artists and student work. Cape Coral Art Center offers 15,000 square feet of studios, galleries, and an art supply store, serving as a resource for intermediate to advanced artists since 1977.
The downtown River District features more than 50 murals highlighting Fort Myers' history, created in partnership with Lee County and the Fort Myers Mural Society. Many include interactive elements that invite viewers to become part of the scene. The monthly Downtown Fort Myers Art Walk on the first Friday of each month brings artists and artisans to the streets, with extended gallery hours throughout the district.
The Edison Festival of Light stands as Fort Myers' premier cultural celebration, honoring Thomas Edison through three weeks of events each February. Since 1938, the festival has grown from a small memorial service into Southwest Florida's signature community gathering. The Grand Parade of Light, designated the largest night parade in the Southeast, features over 100 units including floats, marching bands, performers, and dignitaries winding through downtown Fort Myers. The two-hour extravaganza draws spectators from throughout the region who stake out viewing spots weeks in advance.
Festival events beyond the parade include the STEMtastic Day of Discovery with hands-on science activities, the Junior Parade showcasing local children's creativity, a 5K run through the River District, classic car shows at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, and Thomas Edison's Birthday Celebration. The Regional Science & Engineering Fair challenges thousands of students to pursue independent research, connecting Edison's legacy of invention to the next generation.
ArtFest Fort Myers fills downtown with 200 professional artists from across the country each February, creating Florida's premier juried art festival. Works span painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and mixed media. Live entertainment, food vendors, and interactive art experiences for children complement the exhibition. The festival also hosts South Florida's largest high school art exhibit and competition.
Additional annual celebrations include the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival in March, Greek Fest showcasing Hellenic culture and cuisine, Taste of the Beach featuring local restaurants, the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest bringing national songwriters for intimate performances, and the Sand Sculpting Championships on Fort Myers Beach drawing over 15,000 visitors for remarkable sand art creations.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates remains Fort Myers' most significant cultural attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to the 20-acre property where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford spent their winters. Edison's Seminole Lodge and Ford's adjacent estate include historic homes, Edison's Botanic Research Laboratory with original equipment, extensive botanical gardens, and one of the largest banyan trees in the continental United States. The museum chronicles Edison's inventions and the friendship between these two giants of American innovation. STEAM camps and educational programming extend the legacy to children throughout the year.
IMAG History & Science Center provides interactive exhibits, a 3,000-gallon aquarium with touch tanks, and live animal encounters that engage visitors of all ages. The center combines natural history, science education, and Southwest Florida heritage in accessible formats designed for family exploration.
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium offers nature trails, a butterfly aviary, and planetarium shows connecting visitors to Florida's natural environment and the night sky. The Williams Academy Black History Museum preserves and presents African American heritage in Southwest Florida. The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, inspired by local students studying the Holocaust, has expanded with updated displays and new galleries exploring this critical history.
Day trips extend cultural access significantly. Naples (40 minutes south) offers world-class galleries along Fifth Avenue and the Naples Art District, plus the extensive Artis-Naples complex. The Ringling Museum in Sarasota (90 minutes north) houses one of the nation's most impressive art collections along with the historic Ca' d'Zan mansion and circus museum.
Fort Myers supports an active literary community through bookstores, libraries, and author events. The Lee County Library System operates branches throughout the region, providing programming, book clubs, and author visits. Independent bookstores host readings and signings, while the Florida Repertory Theatre occasionally presents staged readings of new works.
Lecture series at various venues bring thought leaders to Southwest Florida. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center presents speaker events alongside its arts programming. BIG ARTS on Sanibel Island hosts lectures and discussions with renowned national speakers as part of its cultural calendar. Florida Gulf Coast University contributes academic programming open to the community.
The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest creates intimate opportunities to hear the stories behind songs from the writers themselves, providing intellectual engagement alongside musical performance. Similarly, the Fort Myers Film Festival celebrates independent cinema with documentaries, shorts, and feature films, accompanied by industry panels and discussions that explore the art of filmmaking.
Fort Myers' dining scene has evolved into a genuine culinary destination, with restaurants ranging from Gulf seafood houses to upscale farm-to-table establishments. The River District concentrates dining options within walkable blocks, allowing evening progressions from pre-theater appetizers to post-show desserts. Fresh Gulf seafood anchors many menus, while Cuban and Latin American influences reflect the community's diversity.
Food festivals punctuate the calendar, including Taste of the Beach showcasing local restaurants, the Shrimp Festival celebrating Gulf harvests, and food truck rallies at local breweries. The farmers market at Lakes Park runs Wednesday mornings October through June, providing access to local produce and artisan products.
Cooking classes and food-focused events provide participatory cultural experiences. Local chefs offer instruction in everything from sushi rolling to Southern cuisine. The brewery scene, led by Fort Myers Brewing Company and Millennial Brewing, creates social gathering spaces that often feature food truck partnerships and community events.
Fort Myers provides cultural enrichment that surprises many newcomers expecting only beaches and golf. The combination of professional performing arts, vibrant visual arts, signature festivals, and culinary experiences creates a cultural calendar that keeps residents engaged year-round. For physicians seeking intellectual and artistic stimulation beyond clinical practice, Southwest Florida delivers far more than the stereotypical retirement community image might suggest.
Fort Myers and Lee County are part of the Diocese of Venice, with numerous parishes serving the region's substantial Catholic population. St. Francis Xavier Parish, established as a mission in 1878 and as a parish in 1910, stands as the area's oldest Catholic church and welcomes over 1,500 families from diverse backgrounds. The parish operates St. Francis Xavier Regional School, providing Catholic education from early childhood through eighth grade. Mass is offered daily with multiple weekend options including a Haitian service.
Additional Catholic parishes throughout the Fort Myers area provide accessible worship regardless of where you choose to live:
The Diocese of Venice supports an active Catholic community with Knights of Columbus councils, Catholic Charities programs, and various ministries. Catholic schools at elementary and secondary levels offer faith-based education throughout the region.
Fort Myers supports a wide range of Protestant denominations, from historic mainline congregations to growing contemporary churches. The diversity of options ensures that families from virtually any Protestant background will find a welcoming congregation.
McGregor Baptist Church, located on McGregor Boulevard, has served Fort Myers since 1949 and offers traditional and contemporary worship services along with extensive children's and youth programs. First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers hosts community events including the annual Mrs. Edison's Hymn Sing during the Edison Festival of Light. First Assembly of God provides Pentecostal worship with multiple services and a strong missions focus.
Contemporary non-denominational churches have grown significantly in Southwest Florida. Next Level Church operates multiple campuses throughout the region with modern worship styles and small group programs. Crosspoint Christian Church, Life Church, and The Rock Church of Fort Myers draw younger families with contemporary music, relevant teaching, and active children's ministries. Calvary Chapel Gulf Coast offers verse-by-verse Bible teaching in the Calvary Chapel tradition.
Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, and other mainline denominations maintain active congregations throughout Lee County. New Hope Presbyterian Church (EPC), Riverside Church of Fort Myers, and Vineyard Christian Fellowship represent additional options across the theological spectrum.
Southwest Florida supports a vibrant Jewish community with multiple synagogues representing different traditions. The Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties coordinates community activities and provides a central resource for Jewish families relocating to the area.
Temple Beth El in Fort Myers, affiliated with the Reform movement, offers Friday evening Shabbat services at 7:30 PM and Saturday Torah study at 9:00 AM. The congregation operates a religious school on Sunday mornings and a preschool program (Learning Tree Preschool). Temple Beth El welcomes approximately 600 families and provides a full range of lifecycle services and community programming.
Temple Judea, a Conservative egalitarian synagogue, traces its roots to the early 1970s when Fort Myers Jews seeking more traditional worship began gathering in private homes. Today the congregation serves approximately 120 households and prides itself on being a "family of families" with warm, personal connections among members. Temple Judea is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
The Community Free Synagogue offers an alternative for Jews seeking an independent, non-denominational approach. Weekly Sabbath Eve worship and Torah study are held at the Rabbi's home and on the Unity Campus.
Beth Yeshua Messianic Synagogue welcomes both Jewish and Christian worshippers for Shabbat services on Saturday mornings, providing a home for interfaith families and those drawn to Messianic Judaism.
Chabad of Southwest Florida serves the region through multiple locations, including Chabad Jewish Student Life at Florida Gulf Coast University. Chabad offers traditional Orthodox services, holiday celebrations, educational programs, and outreach to unaffiliated Jews throughout the region.
The Muslim community in Fort Myers has grown steadily, with several mosques serving diverse backgrounds including Arab, Pakistani, and other Muslim immigrants.
The Islamic Center of Southwest Florida (Masjid Ibrahim), located at 3337 Broadway in Fort Myers, serves as the primary mosque for the Fort Myers Muslim community. Established in 2012, the center provides daily prayers, Friday Jummah services, Quranic studies, and Islamic education for children. The mosque organizes community events and social activities that bring Muslim families together.
The Islamic Center for Peace, located on Linhart Avenue in Fort Myers, offers an additional worship space for the Muslim community.
For those living south of Fort Myers, the Islamic Center of Naples (2801 County Barn Road, Naples) provides convenient access to Friday prayers and community programming. The Islamic Center of Cape Coral serves Muslims on the west side of the river.
The Hindu Temple of Southwest Florida serves the region's growing Indian and Hindu community from its location in Fort Myers. The temple provides a serene space for worship, prayer, and meditation, welcoming visitors of all faiths and backgrounds.
The temple hosts traditional Vedic pujas performed by priests who explain the meaning behind rituals, whether for Satyanarayan Katha, Rudrabhishek, or simple Archana services. Major Hindu festivals bring the community together throughout the year, including Diwali, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Holi celebrations filled with devotion, music, and joy.
Beyond worship, the temple offers Bal Vihar classes for children, cultural performances, yoga sessions, and Sanskrit workshops that help families stay connected to Indian heritage and values. The temple actively supports food drives, community outreach, and charity events, embodying the spirit of Seva (selfless service).
The temple unites families from across Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral, Naples, and surrounding areas. For physicians of South Asian background, the temple provides an important cultural anchor and community connection.
Buddhist practitioners will find meditation groups and sanghas in the Southwest Florida region, though formal temple facilities are more limited than in larger metropolitan areas. Unity of Fort Myers and Unity of Bonita Springs offer spiritual community in the Unity tradition, emphasizing practical Christianity and personal spiritual growth. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers provides interfaith community with an emphasis on individual spiritual journeys.
For faith traditions not represented locally, Naples (40 minutes south) and Tampa/St. Petersburg (2 hours north) offer expanded options. The welcoming nature of Southwest Florida congregations across all traditions makes newcomers feel at home quickly, with many faith communities actively reaching out to physicians and families new to the area.
Fort Myers provides faith community options that surprise many newcomers who expect limited religious diversity in Southwest Florida. Whether you seek traditional liturgy, contemporary worship, or connections to ethnic and cultural heritage through faith, you will find welcoming congregations ready to become your spiritual home.
