PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!Costume Run & Contest Free, laid-back costumed run: no timing, just a great opportunity to have fun with other local runners and walkers in a relaxed, fun atmosphere! Meet at The Foot Landing and run to the Burg'r Bar at 317 Tamiami Tr., approximately 2.1–3.1 miles. Costume contest follows the run, with prizes for best female, male, and child. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome. First wave (walkers/strollers) leaves at 6:15 pm; second wave (runners) leaves at 6:30 pm. Free public parking in the city parking garage above The Foot Landing. Visit facebook.com and search "Costume Run & Contest" for details or call 941.347.7751. Oct. 26, 6:00–8:00 pm. 117 Herald Ct., Ste. 118, Punta Gorda

Creepy Tales with Florida Author Scott C. Marlowe Hee-bie-jeebie time! Scott will weave together fiction and truth, telling stories of strange creatures in Florida and other south-ern locales: the North Port Lizard Man, the Pig Man, the hairy Bardin Booger, and werewolves, to name a few. Featuring his new book, Weird Monsters, with tidbits from his Cryptid Crea-tures. RSVP required: 941.205.2560 or copperfishbooks@comcast.net. Oct. 27, 6:00 pm. Copperfish Books, 103 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

2nd Annual Charlotte County Haunted House All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County. Tons of family-friendly activities in addition to the Haunted House! Visit facebook.com/charlottestonecrabs or call 941.206.4487 for more information. Oct. 27–29, 6:00–9:00 pm. Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte

Halloween Bingo Extravaganza Ten door prizes, and the first sixty tickets buyers receive a free six-on game card. No quarter Bingo. No outside food or drink. Tickets: $30 per person; available at theculturalcenter.com, at the Account-ing Office 9:00 am–4:00 pm, Monday–Friday or by calling 941.625.4175, ext. 212. Oct. 28; doors: 9:30 am; games: 11:00 am. The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

Chilling Tales Explore stories of strange and unexplained phenomena lurking in the corners of regional history. For more information, contact the Charlotte County Historical

Center at 941.629.PAST(7278). Oct. 28, 3:00–4:00 pm. Grace Street Annex, 514 E. Grace St., Punta Gorda

Halloween Costume Dance Party Featuring music from Erich. Cash bar. Costume contest: 7:30 pm; prizes for best, most creative, and best couple. Prize: one year of free ad-mission to the Friday Night Dance, valued at over $350! Call 941.625.4175 or visit theculturalcenter.com for details. Tickets: $7 at the door. Oct. 28, 7:00–10:00 pm. The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

The Rocky Horror Picture Show The ultimate cult classic and a completely campy, interactive experience not to be missed! Visit rockyhorror.com for information on the film phenome-na; visit englewoodeventcenter.com for show information; call 941.270.3324 with questions. Free admission! Oct. 28, 10:00–11:59 pm. Englewood Event Center, 3069 McCall Rd., Englewood

Bert's Halloween Birthday Bash Oct. 28, 5:00–7:00 pm, Oct. 29, 9:00 am–5:00 pm, Oct. 30, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Visit facebook.com/BlackWidowHarleyDavidson for details or call 941.883.8000. Bert's Black Widow Harley-Davidson, 2224 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte

Haunting on the Harbor Halloween is everywhere, from the 6,000 square foot haunted house to the kid's play area. Add live music and entertainment and fair food and beverages and you've got a don't-miss party! Admission: $3; under 12: free. Visit puntagordahaunting.com for details. Oct. 28, 5:00–11:00 pm, Oct. 29, 5:00–10:00 pm, Oct. 31, 5:00–11:00 pm. Corner of US 41 and US 17, Downtown Punta Gorda

Spooktacular Halloween Psychic Fair Numerologist, tarot card reader, mediums, crystal energy, chair massage, a palm reader and more! Costumes are encouraged and refresh-ments will be provided. Walk-ins welcome or call ahead for an appointment: 941.623.4563. Oct. 29, 10:00 am–2:00 pm. Down To Earth Apparel & Gifts, 2792-B Tamiami Trail Plaza 444, Port Charlotte

Dean's Halloween Bash Featuring a children's costume parade and contest with prizes, kid's face painting, zombie dancers, live music from Zombie University, and an adult costume contest with prizes for funniest, scariest, sexiest, and best overall! Visit facebook.com/Deanstexmex/events or call 941.575.6100 for details. Oct. 29, 1:00 pm. Dean's South of the Border, 130 Tamiami Tr., Punta Gorda

Happenings HappeningsDon't miss: Villains Storytime and Halloween Spooktacular

events in Kid Stuff; a 5K run for a great cause and a fun new bike ride in Movement, and a new golf event in Get

Out/About Town!

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Trunk or Treat Great fun for families, with trick-or-treating from the trunks of cars, free popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, snow cones, bounce house and games! Call 941.637.1717 for details. Free and open to the public. Oct. 29, 5:30–7:30 pm. Friendship Church, 12275 Paramount Dr., Punta Gorda

SNL Halloween Party at Hurricane Charley's Dress up and join the crew as one of your favorite Saturday Night Live char-acters! Featuring food and drink specials, an adult costume contest with prizes, Suncoast Photo Fun, a psychic, and live music from American Made. Visit facebook.com/Hurrican-eCharleysRawBarandGrill or call 941.639.9695 for details. Oct. 29, 6:00–11:59 pm. Hurricane Charley's Raw Bar & Grill, 300 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

Halloween Extravaganza Live music, DJ Mad Mel, bar and food specials, Emcee Alyssa Lemay and special appearance by "The Sanderson Sisters," from Hocus Pocus! Costume contest: best: $500; runner-up: $350; group: $200; funniest: $100. $12 at the door; 21+ only. Visit englewoodeventcenter.com for details. Oct. 29; doors: 7:00 pm; show: 8:00 pm. En-glewood Event Center, 3069 McCall Rd., Englewood

Emil's DC's Annual Halloween Costume Party DJ Carl Benson, lots of prices, food and drinks specials. Visit emilssportsbarandgrill.net/monthly-happenings for details on this and upcoming events! Oct. 29, 8:00 pm–midnight. 24901 Sandhill Blvd., Unit 14, Punta Gorda

Haunted Brewhouse Party at Fat Point Brewing Don't miss the biggest party of the year! Special beer releases, annual costume contest, great music, delicious food trucks, and so much more. Visit facebook.com/FatPointBrewing for details. Oct. 29, 8:00 pm–midnight. 611 Charlotte St., Punta Gorda

Annual Halloween Party Costume contest prize is a bottle of wine! Entertainment provided by Kooky Spooky Ladies; show up to see who they are! Oct. 29, call for time: 941.627.WINE(9463). D’Vines Wine & Gift Emporium, 701 JC Center Ct., #2, Port Charlotte

Hurricane Charley's Featuring a 'spooktacular' children's menu 4:00–6:00 pm, food and drink specials, and live mu-sic from the Kollections, 6:00–11:00 pm! Oct. 31, 4:00 pm. Hurricane Charley's Raw Bar & Grill, 300 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

21st Annual Dearborn Street Halloween Safewalk Featuring live music by Travelin' Tom’s Tunes, pumpkin patch photo prop, and pet costume contest at EARS Animal Rescue & Thrift Shop! Visit oldeenglewood.com for details. Oct. 31, 5:00–7:00 pm. W. Dearborn St., Englewood

Kidx Club Mall-O-Ween Free trick or treating! Come dressed in your best costume to collect candy and other goodies throughout the mall. Visit portcharlottetowncenter.com for details. Oct. 31, 5:00–7:00 pm. Port Charlotte Town Center mall, 1441 Tamiami Tr., Port Charlotte

Halloween Party at the Ray Great costume contest and priz-es, dancing, pints, and live music from Jeff Vitolo & the Quar-ter Mile Rebels! Visit jeffvitolo.com for details on the band and celticray.net for details on the pub! Oct. 31, 9:00 pm. Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

Dean's Halloween Bash Part Two Featuring live music from Gashouse Gorillas and an adult costume contest with prizes. Visit facebook.com/Deanstexmex/events or call 941.575.6100 for details. Oct. 31, call for time. Dean's South of the Border, 130 Tamiami Tr., Punta Gorda

BOOMERANGS: EVENTS TO COME BACK FOR!Trucks Gone Wild Fall Classic Get muddy again! Nov. 4–6: redneckmudpark.com and facebook.com/RedneckMudPark

Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida Dedication and VetFest Wall dedication, festival, several live concerts, and a street fair in downtown Punta Gorda. Nov. 5–12: vietnamwallofsouth-westflorida.org

Art on the Harbor Beautiful art and craft and authors with their books, right on the water! Nov. 6: artontheharbor.com

2nd Annual Harvest for the Harbor Elegant outdoor farm-to-table dinner celebrating the Harbor’s harvest and local farm-ers. Nov. 11: checflorida.org

Englewood Beach Waterfest: Paddlefest 6-mile, 3-mile, and 1.5-mile races, PaddleFit Challenge Games, Rockin’ Relay and much more! Nov. 12 and 13: englewoodbeachwaterfest.com

5th Annual Tippecanoe Trail and Mud Run Fun obstacles in a beautiful setting! Nov. 12: charlottecountyfl.com/communi-tyservices/calendars.asp

Englewood Beach Waterfest: Racefest World Championship of the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA); over 40 boats running up to and over 130 miles per hour! Nov. 18–20: en-glewoodbeachwaterfest.com.

Holiday Lighting of the Village Celebration Fishermen's Village illuminates over one million lights and tropical themed decorations! Nov. 19: fishville.com

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Holly Jolly 2016 The granddaddy of all local holiday sales! Nov. 19: visualartcenter.org

Punta Gorda Founders Day Week is chock-full of great, his-torical activities and events! Dec. 1–7: puntagordachamber.com/punta-gorda-founders-week

Englewood Winter Fine Arts Festival West Dearborn Street becomes a “pedestrian-only” exhibit area! Dec. 3 and 4: old-eenglewood.com

Christmas Lights Canal Cruises with King Fisher Fleet Three trips a night! Dec. 3–31: kingfisherfleet.com

Ugly Christmas Sweater Run by The Foot Landing and Fish-ermen's Village. Featuring a 1- to 3-mile run or walk and Ugly Sweater Contest. Dec. 14: fishville.com

FESTIVALS • DANCES • PARTIES • GATHERINGS • ETCEnglewood Beach Waterfest: Ecofest Free, family-friendly, hands-on celebration of the natural, unspoiled beauty of the area. Over 20 exhibitors will present fun and interest-ing things to look at, think about and even touch! Featured presenters: Sean and Brooks Paxton, The Shark Brothers! Exhibitors will be positioned along the mangrove-lined trails at Lemon Bay Park, a 210-acre nature-based park with 1.7 miles of shoreline on the beautiful Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve and inside the center. Visit englewoodbeachwater-fest.com for more information. Oct. 29, 11:00 am–4:00 pm. Lemon Bay Park, 570 Bay Park Blvd., EnglewoodWar on the Peace Dragon Boat Festival Exciting boat races and Punta Gorda's full agenda of Halloween activities includ-ing circus fun, arts, crafts, food vendors and games for kids! Visit waronthepeace.com for details. $2 voluntary donation for non-paddlers; kids under 12: free Oct. 29, 8:00 am–4:00 pm. Laishley Park, 100 Nesbit St., Punta Gorda

Dancing with the Charlotte Stars: The Big Reveal Masquer-ade RSVP deadline: Oct. 23: facebook.com/dancingwith-thecharlottestars. Bring your mask and find out who's danc-ing next! Visit dancingwiththecharlottestars.com for more information. Oct. 25, 6:00–8:00 pm. Donato's Italian Restau-rant, 1900 Tamiami Tr., Port Charlotte

Southwest Florida Pet Rescue Festival presented by Port Charlotte Honda, hosted by The Animal Welfare League, and emceed by ABC7 News Anchor Krista Foglesong! More than 25 animal shelters and rescue groups with up to 200 adopt-able animals will be on site. This year is bigger and better than ever, featuring a Doggie Fun Zone obstacle course; mini dog races; the world-famous/world champion K9 frisbee team Disc-Connected K9s putting on three shows; free con-cert from the Brass Heart Band; vendors; food and beverage; beer garden; Police and SAR K9 demos; The Calendar Girls; Public Safety displays; and much more! Visit petrescuefes-tival.org for details. Oct. 29, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte

4th Annual Cruise On Into Season Fashion Show Presented by The Englewood Chapter of Gulf women’s Council of Re-altors. Aside from the show, enjoy dinner and live entertain-ment! Tickets: $40 per person; proceeds benefit Kids Needs of Greater Englewood and the Charlotte Arts & Humanities Council. Contact Priscilla Borci at 941.661.8477 or priscilla@beckborci.com for details. Oct. 27, 6:00–9:00 pm. Englewood Event Center, 3069 S. McCall Rd., Englewood

D'Vines Wine & Gift Emporium presents Wine Away Wednes-day, Oct. 26, all day: wines-by-the-glass receive a pull tab offer or the manager’s monthly wine flight for $12; and New Arrivals Wine Tasting, Oct. 28, 7:00–9:00 pm, featuring live music from Homegrown Sounds. Call 941.627.WINE(9463) for details. 701 JC Center Ct., #2, Port Charlotte

Bar Bingo with DJ Carl Benson Winner receives a gift basket from Krista's Cheese Kakery! Visit emilssportsbarandgrill.net or call 941.764.0640 for details. Wednesdays, 8:00 pm. 24901 Sandhill Blvd., #14, Punta Gorda

Raffle for Waterfest Win up to $500 and help support Engle-wood Beach Waterfest 2016! $5 per ticket. Call 941.473.0171 or visit howardsinenglewood.com. Wednesdays until Nov. 16, 7:30 pm. Howards Restaurant, 70 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood

History Quest: Historical Geocaching and Questing Explore local historic sites using questing and geocaching! For details, contact the Historical Center at 941.629.PAST(7278) or visit CharlotteCountyFL.gov, and click the Playing tab. Check the site often for updated listing of quests and geocaches. Ongo-ing. 514 E. Grace St., Punta Gorda

Friday Night Dance Featuring top local entertainers including Erich, Jay Smith, Mc2 and more. $7 admission. Visit thecul-turalcenter.com for more information. Fridays, 7:00–10:00 pm. The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

ON STAGEMurder Mystery Dinner Theater: Murder at the Speakeasy The Cultural Center will be transformed into a 1920s speak-easy for this inaugural event. Help find out who’s on the level and who’s on the lam by trading clues with fellow guests, gathering information, and solving the crime before the mur-derer hotfoots it out of there! Dress to impress: flapper dress-es, zoot suits, feather boas and headbands, pinstriped suits, and fedoras, etc. are encouraged, or dress as a private detec-tive. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. Cash bar, light appetizers, three-course dinner.. Seating is assigned. Tickets on sale until Oct. 28, 11:00 am; online tickets sales end Oct. 27, 4:00 pm: $39 per person, available at theculturalcenter.com or at the box office. No refunds or exchanges. Oct. 29, 6:00 pm. The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

Black Diamond Burlesque Journey back to an age of more innocent sensuality, with the un-draped glamour of striptease and the frivolity of vaudeville. Learn more at blackdiamond-burlesque.com. VIP Glitter Zone: $38 plus tax and fee; general admission: $28 plus tax and fee; available at englewoode-ventcenter.com or call 941.270.3324. Oct. 28, 7:00–9:30 pm. Englewood Event Center, 3069 S. McCall Rd., Englewood

Stage Play: Hypnosis The Great Gordo is an alcoholic stage hypnotist in the twilight of his career who chooses a mild-mannered cop as his next “victim.” Mind games ensue and there can only be one winner… Hilarious mix of thriller and farce! Adults: $18; students: $12. Visit lemonbayplay-house.com for details and tickets. Runs until Nov. 6, various times. Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W. Dearborn St., Englewood

Stage Play: Wife Begins at 40 Nothing seems able to re-vive George and Linda Harper's stale, 17-year marriage, and they're faced with divorce until hilarious circumstances intervene! Tickets: adults: $20; students: $10, available at charlotteplayers.org. Runs until Oct. 30, various times. The Langdon Playhouse, 1182 Market Cir., Port Charlotte

Visani Comedy Zone presents British Rock Star Tribute: Rod Stewart and Elton John, Oct. 24, 7:30 pm (doors: 5:00 pm), starting at $40; and Dale Jones with Steve Netta, Oct. 25–29, various times, starting at $10. For details and tickets to any show, visit visani.net. Call 941.629.9191 for more informa-tion. 2400 Kings Hwy., Port Charlotte

Gilded Grape Winery & Wine Bar presents Jazz Night with Chris G., Oct. 28, 6:30–9:30 pm, and Steve Widmeyer, One Voice, One Guitar, Oct. 29, 6:00–9:00 pm. Enjoy a global selection by the glass or by the bottle and a variety of beer

and craft beers! Visit gildedgrape.com or call 941.235.WINE(9463) for details. 4069 Tamiami Tr., Port Charlotte

Charlotte County Jazz Society Jam A whole new season of fun with jazz in a beautiful new venue with a varied luncheon menu and bar plus a great atmosphere and plenty of room! Admission: members: free; non-members: $5. Visit ccjazz.org for details and tickets. Oct. 30, 1:00–4:00 pm. Kingsway Country Club, 13625 S.W. Kingsway Cir., Lake Suzy

A Tribute to Motown and Beyond with the Brown Suga Duo Don't miss an evening of great Motown music along with other great hits from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Advance tick-ets: $12; $10 for Cultural Center members (limit two); day of show: $12/no discounts; available at theculturalcenter.com, at the box office 9:00 am–4:00 pm, Monday–Friday and one hour before any show, or by calling 941.625.4175. No refunds or exchanges. Oct. 28, 7:00 pm. The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

Paisley Craze Band: Linda Ronstadt Tribute with Mi-chael White as Aaron Neville Paisley Craze are: Donna Lamoureaux, vocals; Bob Dielman, guitar and vocals; Dave Mankes, Keyboards and vocals; Steve Camilleri, drums; Marty Bednar, bass and vocals. Reserve seat tickets: $15; $13 for Cultural Center members (limit two); day of show: $15/no discounts; available at theculturalcenter.com, at the box office 9:00 am–4:00 pm, Monday–Friday and one hour before any show, or by calling 941.625.4175. No refunds or exchanges. Oct. 29, 7:00 pm. The Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

Joint Concert An evening of classical and popular music featuring the Florida Gulf Coast University Symphony and the symphonic bands of Port Charlotte High School, under the direction of Dr. Mark Chestnut and José Lopez. Free admission. Visit thecpac.net for details. Oct. 24, call for time: 941.637.0459. Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 701 Carmal-ita St., Punta Gorda

In Concert: Van the Man Enjoy favorites such as Brown Eyed Girl, Domino, Into the Mystic, and many more! Featuring Char-lotte High School’s elite performance vocal group Charisma. Tickets: $20, available at thecpac.net, by phone at 941.505.SHOW(7469), or from individual drama or vocal students. Oct. 29, 7:00 pm. Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 701 Car-malita St., Punta Gorda

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

LIVE MUSIC VENUESThere's a ton of live music in all genres in Charlotte County! Visit individual websites and Facebook pages or call for line-ups.The Bean Depot Cafe 941.627.3344 /TheBeanDepot 4370 Garden Rd. Port CharlotteBert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson 941.883.8000 blackwidowh-d.com 2224 El Jobean Rd. Port CharlotteBeyond the Sea Restaurant 941.474.1400 beyondtheseafl.com 3555 S. Access Rd. EnglewoodCarmelo’s Italian Ristorante 941.621.4091 carmelosristorante.com 209 W. Olympia Ave. Punta GordaCeltic Ray Irish Pub 941.916.9115 celticray.net 145 E. Marion Ave. Punta GordaThe Cultural Center 941.629.4175 theculturalcenter.com 2280 Aaron St. Port CharlotteDean’s South of the Border 941.575.6100 deanssouthoftheborder.com 130 Tamiami Tr. Punta GordaDowntown Gatorz 941.347.7518 /DowntownGatorz 502 King St. Punta GordaD’Vines Wine Bar & Gift Emporium 941.627.9463 dvineswineandgifts.com 701 JC Center Ct. Port CharlotteThe End Zone Sports Grille 941.473.9663 Search by name 2411 S. McCall Rd. EnglewoodEnglewoods on Dearborn 41.475.7501 englewoods.tripod.com 9362 W. Dearborn St. EnglewoodFarlow’s on the Water 941.474.5343 farlowsonthewater.com 2080 S. McCall Rd. EnglewoodFishermen’s Village 941.639.8721 fishville.com 1200 W. Retta Esplanade Punta GordaThe Fishery 941.697.2451 thefisheryrestaurant.com 13000 Fishery Rd. PlacidaFlounders Restaurant and Tiki Bar 941.46 0.8280 floundersonthebeach.com 1975 Beach Rd. EnglewoodGilded Grape Winery & Wine Bar 941.235.9463 gildedgrape.com 4069 Tamiami Tr. Port CharlotteGilchrist Park /groups/PuntaGordaGuitarArmy 1000 W. Retta Esplanade Punta GordaGulf View Grill 941.475.3500 thegulfviewgrill.com 2095 N. Beach Rd. Englewood Harpoon Harry's 941.637.1177 harpoonharrys.com 1200 W. Retta Esplanade Punta GordaHurricane Charley’s 941.639.9695 HurricaneCharleys.com 300 W. Retta Esplanade Punta GordaJacks on Marion 941.637.8800 jacksonmarion.com 201 W. Marion Ave. Punta GordaJD’s Bistro 941.255.0994 jdsbistroandgrill.com 1951 Tamiami Tr. Port CharlotteLock ‘N Key 941.474.1517 lockandkeyrestaurant.com 2045 N Beach Rd., EnglewoodMango Bistro 941.681.3500 mangobistro.com 301 W. Dearborn St. EnglewoodMS Rascal’s Loony Bin 941.255.5999 msrascalsloonybin.com 1182 Tamiami Tr Port CharlotteNav-a-Gator Grill 941.627.3474 nav-a-gator.com 9700 S.W. Riverview Cir. Lake SuzyThe Orange House Wine Bar 941.505.8233 theorangehousewinebar.com 320 Sullivan St. Punta GordaPortside Tavern 941.629.3055 theportside.com 3636 Tamiami Tr. Port CharlotteRicaltini’s Bar & Grille 941.828.1591 ricaltinis.com 1997 Kentucky Ave. EnglewoodThe Rooftop Terrace/Wyvern Hotel 941.637.5858 TheWyvernHotel.com 101 E. Retta Esplanade Punta GordaSunset Grill on the Harbor 941.743.2800 sunsetgrilloth.com 23241 Bayshore Rd Port CharlotteTrabue Restaurant 941.639.0900 trabuerestaurant.com 258 W. Marion Ave. Punta GordaTT’s Tiki Bar 941.637.6770 docksideandtiki.com 33 Tamiami Tr. Punta GordaVino Loco 941.473.8466 vinolocowine.com 420 W. Dearborn St. EnglewoodWhite Elephant Pub 941.475.6801 whiteelephantpub.com 855 Gulf Blvd. EnglewoodZydeco Grille 941.828.1472 zydecogrille.com 8501 Cape Haze Plaza Placida

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

GET OUTAbout Town

New! Hospice Cup Golf Scramble by Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. $75 per player, includes hole-in-one contest sponsored by Charlotte County Ford, greens fees, cart, continental breakfast, and lunch. Prizes for closest to the pin, closest to the line, longest drive, and Mulligans. All are welcome! 100% of net proceeds will remain here, benefiting Tidewell Hospice of Charlotte County. Visit charlotteharboryachtclub.com for details and to register. No rain date, no refunds. Oct. 29, 7:15 am–1:30 pm. St. Andrew’s South Golf Club, 1901 Deborah Dr., Punta Gorda

New! Body Building Pro Bikini Competition NPC Champion Harbor Classic: Open Men and Women Bodybuilding, Fit-ness, Figure, Bikini, Men and Women's Physique, and Classic Physique. Featured guest poser IFBB Pro Branch Warren. Details at timgardnerproductions.com. Oct. 28 and 29, 6:00 pm. Charlotte Harbor Convention Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda

Southwest Florida Food Tours offers a variety of innovative, interesting, and delicious culinary adventures including Tour d'Europe; Harbor Sights & Bites Tours—both lunch and dinner options with a boat ride; the original Bites of Punta Gorda Cu-linary Walking Tour; the decadent wine-and-chocolate experi-ence of The Austrian Temptation, and the exclusive elegance of A Taste of Austria. Visit swffoodtours.com for details, schedule, and to purchase tickets, or call 941.276.6384 for more information. Various times and locations, Punta Gorda

Englewood Drum Circle Every Sunday, year-round (weath-er permitting), about one hour before sunset. Everyone is welcome to drum, hoola hoop, dance or just enjoy as the sun sets. You don’t have to know the rhythm to drum along! 941.445.1365 or danceenglewood.com for more information. Note: parking fee is .75 per hour. 2100 N. Beach Rd., Engle-wood Beach

Nature AdventuresKayak Tour of Shell Creek with Gaea Guides This three-hour tour of the undisturbed wilderness of Shell Creek and its sur-rounding areas is a wonder! A University of Florida-certified Master Naturalist guide will lead an exploration of cypress and oak trees, many fish species, and various birds, including the rare limpkin. You’ll be on the water for about two hours; bring your own water, and lunch or a snack. Tickets: $40 (gratuity not expected but appreciated), available at gaeagu-ides.com or call 239.694.5513 for more information. Oct. 24, 10:00 am–1:00 pm. Hathaway Park, 35461 Washington Loop Rd., Punta Gorda

Peace River Weekly Paddle Group Bring sun screen, hat, and two bottles of water per person; expect to get wet! Kayak and equipment rental with loading/launching service: $20 per per-son; no charge if bringing own kayak. Online waiver required if renting; registration required for all. Visit kayakecotours.com to complete waiver and sign up; call 941.249.4579 with questions. Tuesdays, 8:30–11:00 am. Kayak Eco Tours, Nav-A-Gator Grill & Marina, 9700 S.W. Riverview Cir., Lake Suzy

Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary "The wildest retirement home in Punta Gorda," is a non-profit sanctuary for abused and unwanted exotic animals. Adults: $10; seniors 55+ and kids 8–17: $5; children 7 and under: free. Cash or check only. No pets allowed. Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 am–4:00 pm; weekday visits by appointment only. 239.543.1130 or oc-tagonwildlife.org. 41660 Horseshoe Rd., Punta Gorda

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) Offers guided walks, wading trips, Mom-and-Tot educational events, lectures and exhibits, and even boat rides and kayak trips! All activities are led by CHEC naturalists. Always wear sturdy shoes and bring drinking water. Children must be accom-panied by an adult at all times. Call 941.475.0769 or visit checflorida.org for complete schedule, information, volunteer opportunities, and directions.

Daily Pelican Feedings Come to the “pelican yard” every afternoon around 2:30, weather permitting, to learn about native Florida wildlife. Many wild pelicans and great blue her-ons stop by for lunch! Permanent residents are available for viewing in attractive, spacious habitats based on their native environments. $5 donation requested. No pets allowed. Call 941.637.3830 or visit peaceriverwildlifecenter.org for more information. Open seven days a week, 365 days a year, 11:00 am–4:00 pm. A great place for families! Peace River Wildlife Center, 3400 Ponce de Leon Pkwy., Punta Gorda

Florida Tracks & Trails Florida’s biggest outdoor adventure park is open weekends! Overnight stays, ATV rentals, 22 miles of trails, five tracks, seven paintball fields, mudzone, pro shops, family-friendly lake with white-sand beach, general store and tiki bar with food and drinks. Adults: $30, children: $15. Call 1.844.RIDE FTT(743.3388), or visit floridatrack-sandtrails.com for more information. 39450 Bermont Rd., Punta Gorda

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

ART AND CRAFTEvents And Exhibits

Plein Air Painting Join the Peace River Painters for plein air (“in the open air”) painting in Hathaway Park, which features a dock, trail, beautiful river scenes, picnic tables, lots of shade, and free parking and restrooms. Don't forget your bug repel-lent! Optional critique at 11:30 am; participate, comment, ask questions, learn or just listen! Free and open to all artists; all mediums welcome. Visit peaceriverpainters.com or email peaceriverpainters@gmail.com for details. Oct. 24, 8:30 am. 35461 Washington Loop Rd., Punta Gorda

Visual Arts Center Fine Arts Festival 2016: Great Art, Great Fun, Great British Isles! Featuring the art of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with events celebrating the Victorian Era. Oct. 24: Victorian hat making workshop; Oct. 28: Re-

ceiving artwork in Rebecca Hall; Oct. 31: Unveiling of large mural, ribbon cutting, libations and preview of artwork in Rebecca Hall; Nov. 1: Victorian jewelry making; Nov. 2: Victo-rian luncheon and one-woman show, Muses to the Masters: A Pre-Raphaelite Tea Party; Nov. 3: Book discussion at Cop-perfish books: Cracking the Code of the Canon: How Sherlock Holmes Made his Decisions; Nov. 7: Monotype printing work-shop; Nov. 8: Viewing and discussion of the film Effie Gray; Nov. 11: An Evening at Ascot horse (tricycle) race, followed by appetizers by Trabue, cash bar, Irish music by Trinity and Irish dancing by Gillian McCormack of Fiddle N’Feet. Visit visu-alartcenter.org for complete details and times. Visual Arts Center, 210 Maud St., Punta Gorda

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Hooked on SUP All instructors carry Paddle Fit Level 2 and/or Level 3 and World Paddle Association Class 1 certifications. Visit hookedonsup.com or call 941.504.1699 for details, tour times, and to book. In most cases, a specific tour can be scheduled. Unless otherwise noted, no experience is necessary and price includes all equipment and a lesson. Must be able to swim.

Stump Pass Beach Guided Adventure Tour Expect to come back feeling like a local! Dolphin, manatee, sea stars, birds of prey, and local fish are abundant and the water is usually crystal clear. Snorkel & Paddle Tour at Stump Pass Beach State Park Instead of paddling on the water, jump right in! No live shelling, but bring a small net bag to collect empties. Your guide will help determine what's okay to take. Must be 13 years or older. Boca Grande "Old Florida" Wildlife Tour One of the most diverse wildlife areas around: grass flats and sand bars teem with fish, birds, manatee, dolphins and the occasional sea turtle. Note: there is a $6 toll to cross the bridge.Don Pedro Island Mangrove Tunnel and Beach Picnic Tour A pristine mangrove tunnel with starfish, upside-down jellyfish, coral, sponges and seahorses leads to a quiet hidden lagoon. Kids under 12 should ride with an adult.

Palm Island/Coconut Canal Live Seashell Tour Learn to identify local fish, sea creatures, and wading birds. Dolphin and man-atee are regular sights! No live shells or animals can be taken from the water.Woolverton Trail Mangrove Tunnel Guided Tour Historic mangrove tunnels are home to many fish and bird species, including migratory white pelicans and Roseate Spoonbills. Dolphin and manatee are also frequent sights!

Light Up the Night Your kayak or paddleboard will be lit from underneath! Float through mangrove tunnels and into the lagoon while your vessel illuminates starfish, live shells, sponges, and tons of fish species; it feels like a private aquarium!

PaddleFit Technique—Paddle Training Break down the stroke to understand each phase, what it should look like, and how proper technique at all times will help you go faster and stay healthy. Weekly classes; distance and speed will accelerate.

PaddleFit Basic Intro To SUP, aka “Virgin Hookers” Fun Class Start with land-based safety and instruction then launch into calm water; build confidence while learning basic paddle strokes and turns, along with SUP safety rules and etiquette.

Hooked on SUP, 6950 Placida Rd., Englewood

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Artist Reception: Karen Gettle Bell by Art in Public Places. Charlotte Arts celebrates Karen Gettle Bell, and she'll play the violin! Oct. 24, 5:00–7:00 pm. Charlotte Memorial Funer-al Home and Cemetery, 9400 Indian Spring Cemetery Rd., Punta Gorda

Watercolor and More at UU Gallery Don't miss six talented artists/instructors from the Visual Arts Center displaying their art. The exhibit runs until Nov. 29 and features the watercolors of Patt Bacon, Jim Beech, Nancy Colby, and Don Melander; the jewelry of Belinda Duclos; and the sculpture of Susan Shore. Free and open to the public! Call 941.627.4303 for details. Oct. 21, 4:00–6:00 pm. Unitarian Universalist Fel-lowship, 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte

Art Exhibits: Visual Arts Center presents work from the Florida Watercolor Society on display Oct. 29–Nov. 30 in the Goff Gallery; and Mayhem, Chaos & Confusion in the First Federal Gallery, on display until Nov. 4. Free and open to the public and much of the art is for sale! Visit visualartcenter.org or call 941.639.8810 for details. Sept. 15, 5:00 pm. Visual Arts Center, 210 Maud St., Punta Gorda

Art Exhibit: Gina Battle, Direction and Destiny Featured in the Mangrove Gallery until Nov. 10. Free and open to the public. Visit ginabattleart.com or ringling.edu/eac for details. Engle-wood Art Center, 305 S. McCall Rd., Englewood

The Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society strives to preserve the area's rich history through mural art. To date, 28 murals have been completed, establishing Punta Gorda as one of the leading mural towns in the country! Private Tours available for groups of 10–20. Visit puntagordamurals.org for more information. Punta Gorda

Radio Show: Exposed: Behind the Doors Get an inside view of the arts in Charlotte County, from literary to visu-al to performance! Hosted by Marie LaBrosse, Advanced Toastmaster: marie@kdwradio.com or call 941.815.6230 or 941.624.2912. Listen online at kdwradio.com. Wednesdays, noon–1:00 pm. WKDW 97.5 FM

Paint PartiesArt by the Glass A creative evening out! No experience need-ed; all supplies included. Choice of premium wines, beer and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. Visit artbytheglassllc.com, call 941.780.1743, or email artbytheglassllc@gmail.com for details, party schedule, and upcoming paintings. 1700 Tamiami Tr., Unit F4, Port Charlotte

Bisque IT Art Studio Creative Spirits Canvas Painting and Paint & Pour Wine Glass Painting. Creativity unlocks as you’re guided step-by-step through each painting! No experience needed, BYOB. Price includes all materials. Registration and prepayment required: 941.624.5955. Visit bisqueitstudio.com for schedule, tickets, and to view paintings. 1931 Tamiami Tr., Port Charlotte

Painting with a Twist “Uncork” your inner artist! Bring your own wine, beer, soda and snacks; everything else needed to complete your masterpiece—including a talented local artist to take you from blank canvas to finished artwork—will be provided. Visit paintingwithatwist.com for schedule, details, to register, and to view upcoming paintings; call 941.764.3914 for more information. 18700 Veterans Blvd., Ste. 8, Port Charlotte

Art in Public Places Charlotte Arts stages up to 150 free exhibits annually, in all media. Most pieces are available for purchase. Visit charlottearts.org for details on featured artists; email info@charlottearts.org for information about exhibiting or hosting. Locations:

Englewood Englewood/Charlotte Library • West Charlotte County

AnnexPort Charlotte

Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County • Char-lotte County Admin. Center • Charlotte County Fiscal Services • Charlotte County Human Resource Center • Charlotte County Public Schools Admin.• Charlotte

Technical Center • Cultural Center Of Charlotte County • Family Services Center • Mid-County Library • Port Char-lotte Library • Royal Palm Retirement Centre • Southport

SquarePunta Gorda

Bayfront Health • Campbell’s Enrolled Agents Co. • Cayo Costa Dental • Charlotte County Justice Center • Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center • Char-lotte Memorial Funeral Home • Herald Court Centre • Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home • Punta Gorda

Herald/Charlotte Sun (The Purple House)

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Creative ClassesArts Alliance of Lemon Bay Visit artsallianceoflemonbay.org or call 941.475.7141. 452 W. Dearborn St., Englewood

The Boca Grande Art Center's classes begin November, 2016. Visit bocagrandeartcenter.org for details.

Charlotte County Cultural Center Sewing, lapidary, jewelry/silversmithing, stained glass, pottery, and more Visit thecul-turalcenter.com; register by phone at 941.625.4175 ext. 223, or in person Monday–Friday 9:00 am–4:00 pm. 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

The Craftin' Cow A lounge for socializing, creating, and learning, with classes, clubs, and special events. Call 941.505.0155 or search "The Craftin' Cow" on Facebook. 29291 Tribune Blvd., Punta Gorda

Englewood Art Center All media as well as exhibitions and events; four galleries, two well-equipped 2D studio class-rooms, pottery studio, a digital media studio, lending library. Visit ringling.edu/EAC for details or contact at 941.474.5548 or eac@ringling.edu. 350 S. McCall Rd., Englewood

Inspiration Studio Fine art, jewelry making, healing arts and more, and a wide variety of unique jewelry, art and gift items. Available for paint and birthday parties as well! Call 941.321.8585 for details and visit inspirationstudiofl.com for a full class schedule. On the grounds of Pottery Express Bamboo Farm, 25370 Zemel Rd., Punta Gorda

The Open Studio Art, craft, healing and fitness. Visit the-openstudio.org for class schedules and call 941.681.2782 for more details. The Open Studio, 380 Old Englewood Rd., Englewood

The Painted Cabana Everything from fine art to scarf paint-ing and jewelry making. Learn actual techniques and have a great time! Full class schedule available at thepaintedcabana.com. Turtle Crossing Plaza, 16500 Burnt Store Rd, Suite 110, Punta Gorda

The Visual Arts Center Creative workshops and classes in fine art, craft, and technology. Visit visualartcenter.org or call 941.639.8810 or stop by for more information. 210 Maud St., Punta Gorda

GalleriesThe Albritton Gallery Working gallery and studio, home to original work by Margaret and Garry Albritton. Margaret runs the store and works on her art in public view. She’s always happy to discuss her process and answer any questions, so don’t be shy. Call before you go: 941.698.0603 to be sure they’re open; they may be on island time! Visit thealbrittongal-lery.com for details. 13020 Fishery Rd., Placida

Artisans Atelier In-house artisans work right before your eyes! All will answer questions as well as sell their works. Monday–Saturday, 11:00 am–5:00 pm. Call 941.637.8484 or email artisansatelier@yahoo.com for more information. 117 Herald Court Centre, Unit #113, Punta Gorda

The Artists’ Gallery at The Open Studio Find unique hand-made items. You may even encounter an artist or two in their natural habitat! Visit theopenstudio.org or call 941.474.4060 for details. 380 Old Englewood Rd., Englewood

The Arts Alliance of Lemon Bay Everything from jewelry to bags to paintings in all media. Visit artsallianceoflemonbay.org for details. Monday–Saturday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sun-day, 11:00 am–3:00 pm. 452 W. Dearborn St., Englewood

Creations at the Village Seaside Art Gallery offers fine, fun and functional art, meticulously crafted by local artists. Browse a unique selection of paintings, gifts, jewelry, pottery, glass, fiber art, tuned wood pieces, photography, metal work, sculpture and more. Call 941.639.6363 for details. 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Unit C46, Punta Gorda

Erlenbach Modern Art Gallery & Studio Paintings and prints, fused glass and pottery, artisan jewelry, and natural bath and body products. Call 941.227.4335 or visit erlenbach-modern.com or Facebook.com/ErlenbachModernArtGallery for de-tails. 612 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood

Gabriele Childs Studio & Gallery Contemporary art gallery and working studio. Facebook.com: search “Gabriele Childs” and click “Gabriele Childs Studio & Gallery” under “Intro.” 251 E. Olympia Ave., Punta Gorda

The Hatch Gallery was once used by clam farmers and is now an art gallery, filled floor-to-ceiling with whimsical wild-life driftwood art, wood carvings, antiques, and collectibles created by the entire Hatch family. Call 941.697.9531, email HATCH_JON@hotmail.com, or visit jon-hatch-originals.com. 13060 Fishery Rd., Placida

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

The Potter’s Studio and Gallery An inspiring working pottery studio complimented by a unique gallery. Browse innovative and contemporary pieces in every form and style, from func-tional to whimsical. Visit thepotterstudio.com or Facebook.com/ThePottersStudio for details or call 941.661.8925. 1133 Bal Harbor Blvd., Ste. 1151, Punta Gorda

Sea Grape Gallery features two Artists of the Month for October: Anne Tuttle, colored pencil, and Bonnie Benande, stoneware pottery. • Anne strives for a minimalist approach, and a clean, uncluttered look. She also creates delicate Silver-point drawings using a technique that dates back to the Old Masters. • Bonnie incorporates nature and wild creatures into her work and has recently been producing hand-built pieces that are functional and decorative. Call 941.575.1718 or visit seagrapegallery.com for details about the gallery, the artists, and about Sea Grape’s Guest Artist Program, or just stop by to enjoy and explore the art! 113 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

Stoneware Pottery by Jack Vartanian & Friends Art Gallery

Browse functional and decorative pottery and fused glass home decor by Jack—who has been teaching pottery for the last seven years at the Visual Art Center in Punta Gorda—and a creative group of his former pottery students. Visit cargo-collective.com/stonewarepottery for details.1080 Taylor St., Punta Gorda

Sunart Gallery & Framing is a unique family-owned shop offering a fine art gallery, custom framing and handcrafted gifts. Stop in and browse, enjoy the gallery openings and other events, have that precious artwork framed, or just say hello! Call 941.639.3956 or visit sunartgallery.net for more information. 307 Taylor St., Punta Gorda

The Visual Arts Center features art and craft in three exhibi-tion spaces: First Federal Gallery, Goff Gallery, and Rebecca Hall. All exhibits are free and open to the public. Summer hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–2:00 pm. Visit visualartcen-ter.org or call 941.639.8810 or stop by for more information. 210 Maud St., Punta Gorda

KID STUFFStory Times | Read with Dogs | Various Programs

Charlotte County Library System Don't miss all the Hallow-een Spooktacular events and activities and the Creepy Crafts at the libraries this week! Visit youseemore.com/charlotte-county, click "Calendar" for full schedule.• Englewood-Charlotte • 941.681.3736 • 3450 N. Access Rd.• Mid-County Regional • 941.613.3160 • 2050 Forrest Nelson

Blvd.• Port Charlotte • 941.764.5562 • 2280 Aaron St.• Punta Gorda • 941.833.5460 • 424 W. Henry St.

Elsie Quirk Public Library • scgov.net/Library • 941.861.1200

Gotta Catch 'Em All Pokémon Tournament Wild Pokémon have been spotted in the library! Replenish your items and sign up at the Pokétop at front door, then catch new Pokémon and increase your experience. Staff will drop lures in 30-minute increments. Whoever catches the most will be declared the winner and receive a cool prize! Saturdays, ongoing, noon–2:00 pm. Mid-County Regional Library, 2050 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte

Themed Story Times Copperfish Books • copperfishbooks.com • 941.205.2560

Villain Storytime at Sandman Book Company Just in time for Halloween, a group of fairy tale villains take over story-time. It's up to you to save the day from Medusa, The Do-gnapper, The Queen of Hearts, The Sea Witch, Poison Ivy, The

Wicked Witch, and more! Doug the Storyteller from Theatre-Kids will be the reader. Pictures and one-on-one time after the story. Cameras and costumes are welcome. Free and open to the public. Visit facebook.com/sandmanbooks, sandman-books.com, or call 941.505.1624 for details and updates. Oct. 29, 11:30 am–12:30 pm. 16480 Burnt Store Rd., Punta Gorda

CreativityArt by the Glass • Birthday parties • artbytheglassllc.com • 941.780.1743Bisque IT Art Studio • Pottery painting, kid's classes, mom-and-kid events, more • bisqueitstudio.com • 941.624.5955

Painting with a Twist • Kid's events/theme paintings • paint-ingwithatwist.com 941.787.2443

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

ExplorationCharlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) • checflori-da.org • 941.575.5435 or 941.475.0769Horses for a Cure • facebook.com, search "Horses for a Cure, Inc." • 941.916.5712

Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary • octagonwildlife.org • 239.543.1130Peace River Wildlife Center • peaceriverwildlifecenter.org • 941.637.3830

Pools | Playgrounds | ParksPools• Ann Dever Regional Park Pool, 7001 San Casa Dr., Engle-

wood• Port Charlotte Beach Park, 4500 Harbor Blvd., Port Char-

lotte• South County Regional Park Pool, 670 Cooper St., Punta

GordaDetails and complete list of Charlotte County parks: char-lottecountyfl.gov, "Playing" link.

Fish Cove Adventure Golf • coralcaygolf.com/fishcove • 941.627.5393

Playgrounds• Gilchrist Park* • 400 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda*• Laishley Park* Interactive Fountain • 120 Laishley Ct.,

Punta Gorda*Details: ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/visitors

• Kidstar Park • kidstarpark.com • 941.235.3131

Bowling• Treasure Lanes • treasurelanes.com • 941.625.3930• Bowland • bowlandcenters.com • 941.625.4794

DOG DAYSOff-Leash ParksEdgewater Paw Park • 22410 Glass Ln., Port CharlotteAnn Dever Regional Paw Park • 6791 San Casa Dr., Engle-woodHounds of Henry Street • 557 W. Henry St. (W. Henry St. and Shreve St.), Punta GordaBrohard Paw Park/Dog Beach • 1600 Harbor Dr. S., Venice (Dogs are not allowed on Charlotte County Beaches.) Leashed dogs are welcome at most Charlotte County Parks. Visit charlottecountyfl.gov/services/parksrecs for more information.

ShoppingLeashed dogs are welcome at notable shopping venues Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda (fishville.com) and West Dearborn Street in Historic Old Englewood (oldeenglewood.com), as well as at the various Farmers Markets in the area.

Dog-Friendly RestaurantsMany Charlotte County restaurants allow leashed dogs on their patios and outdoor spaces. Call first: pureflorida.com/restaurants is a good place to start!

LECTURE AND LEARNINGThe Lifelong Learning Institute Offers great new lectures, classes, film series, outings, and more! Visit lifelonglearn-ing-charlotte.org for full class schedule, or call LLI at 941.637.3533, email charlotte.lli@fsw.edu, or drop by Tues-day, Wednesday, or Thursday, 10:00 am–noon or 1:00–3:00 pm, at the Peeples Learning Resources Center Building (Building B), Room #114, Charlotte Campus of Florida South-Western State College, 26300 Airport Rd., Punta Gorda

Beginner Djembe Hand Drumming Per class: $20 in ad-vance; $25 at the door. Payment includes a play-along two-CD set and two optional Jonesin' Jembes Jam Nights at the Rhythm Inlet! Call 941. 623.4563 or visit facebook.com/DownToEarthFL for details. Wednesdays, Oct. 26–Dec. 7,

5:30–7:00 pm. Down To Earth Apparel & Gifts, 2792-B Tami-ami Tr. Plaza 444, Port Charlotte

Library Foundation Literary Series: Gary Mormino, The Beach: Florida History Amid Sand Dunes and Smoked Fish. In co-operation with the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the JF Library Foundation presents historian and author Gary Mormino, winner of the Florida Lifetime Achievement Award in Writing from the Florida Humanities Council, who is in residence at the Hermitage Artist Retreat Oct. 3–30. Free and open to the public. Visit bocagrandehappenings.org for details. Note: there is a $6 toll to cross the bridge. Oct. 27, 4:00–5:30 pm. Johann Fust Community Library, 1040 W. 10th St., Boca Grande

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Radio Show: Solo Travel Girl's Adventures Near and Far, hosted by Jennifer Huber, will share the all fabulous things to do in Southwest Florida and beyond! Contact Jennifer at solotravelgirl@kdwradio.com. If you can't pick up the station, listen online at kdwradio.com. Thursdays, noon–12:30 pm. WKDW 97.5 FM

Radio Show: I'm Me, hosted by artist Gina Battle, will inspire, motivate, and empower women. Contact Gina at Gina@kd-wradio.com with topic ideas. If you can't pick up the station, listen online at kdwradio.com. Mondays, 1:00 pm. WKDW 97.5 FM

Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center, Inc. Regattas, sailing camps, classes, and open sailing. Visit charlottehar-borcommunitysailingcenter.com or call 941.773.6326 or 941.456.8542 or email thesailingcenter.org@gmail.com for details. 19246 Palmdale Ct., Port Charlotte

Florida Gulf Coast University at the Herald Court Centre Lectures, short courses, film series, and enrichment and overseas travel programs. Visit registerra.fgcu.edu to browse

the Charlotte County Course Catalog or call 941.505.0130 for details. 117 Herald Ct., Ste. 211, Punta Gorda

The Learning Place at the Charlotte County Cultural Center Classes and social opportunities year-round in art, dance, technology, language and more! Visit theculturalcenter.com for schedule. Register at 941.625.4175 ext. 223, or in per-son Monday–Friday 9:00 am–4:00 pm. 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

Radio Show: Sleuthing: Eye-Opening Tales of the Past Dis-cover the interesting history of the area! Hosted by Marie LaBrosse, Advanced Toastmaster: marie@kdwradio.com or call 941.815.6230 or 941.624.2912. If you can't pick up the station, listen online at kdwradio.com. Fridays, noon–1:00 pm. WKDW 97.5 FM

Trabue Restaurant offers private cooking classes! Enjoy some wine while Chef Keith whips up some of his favorites and answers questions about preparing meals at home. Visit trabuerestaurant.com for details; call 941.639.0900 to book. 258 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

FILMFilm Series: Documentaries on National Parks Members: $40; non-members: $60. Films begin at 1:00 pm in classroom D104. Oct.26: Grand Canyon National Park; Nov. 2: Yellow-stone National Park; Nov. 9: Paradise Reef; Nov. 16: The Ap-palachian Trail. Visit lifelonglearning-charlotte.org for details and synopses or call 941.637.3533, email charlotte.lli@fsw.edu, or drop by Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, 10:00 am–noon or 1:00–3:00 pm, at the Peeples Learning Resources Center Building (Building B), Room #114, Charlotte Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College, 26300 Airport Rd., Punta Gorda

Classic Foreign Film Series Moderator Naomi Pringle intro-duces each film and a brief discussion follows. $5 per film. Check or credit card only, price includes refreshments. Oct. 25: Everlasting Moments (Sweden, 2008); Nov. 1: Effie Gray (U.K., 2014) Call 941.505.0130 or stop by, Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm for more information or visit registerra.fgcu.edu. Tuesdays, 1:00–3:00 pm, FGCU’s Renaissance Academy, 117 Herald Ct. Sq., Punta Gorda

Monday Night Movies Free movies on the big screen, pop-corn provided! Call 941.861.1207 for details. Mondays, 5:00–8:00 pm, excepting major holidays. Elsie Quirk Public Library, 100 W. Dearborn St., Englewood

Coming Soon! Get Back To Wild Wednesdays Film Series at CHEC The public is invited to join master naturalist Cindy Christel for this "wild" series! Free and open to the public. All films start at 10:30 am. Nov. 2: From PBS: The Private Life of Deer; Dec. 7: From the BBC: Human Planet—Artic; Jan. 4: National Geographic Classics: Sharks; Jan. 18: Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast, a film by Elam Stoltzfus; Feb. 1: From PBS: Fabulous Frogs; Feb. 15: The Gathering Swarms—Bats, Butterflies, and More; Mar. 1: Gala-pagos: Born of Fire; Mar. 15: Life in the Undergrowth: Super Organisms; Apr. 5: Nature: Owl Power. For more information call 941.575..5435 or visit checforida.org. Event Hall, CHEC Administrative Office at Alligator Creek, 10941 Burnt Store Rd., Punta Gorda

Regal Town Center Stadium 16: Boo! A Madea Halloween, I'm Not Ashamed, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Keeping Up with the Joneses, Ouija: Origin of Evil, The Accountant, Kevin Hart: What Now?, Max Steel, Priceless (2016), The Girl on the Train, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, Deepwater Hori-zon, Denial, Masterminds, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (also 3D), The Magnificent Seven (2016), Storks, Sully. 941.623.0114, regmovies.com. Regal Town Center, 1441 Tamiami Tr., Port Charlotte

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

MARKETSEnglewood Farmers Market Fresh and organic produce, baked goods, beef, BBQ, wild salmon, olive oil, herbs, honey and so much more! Thursdays, 9:00 am–2:00 pm, Oct.–May. Visit englewoodfarmersmarket.org for details and free healthy recipes. Old Englewood Village, 300 Block of W. Dear-born St., Englewood

Burnt Store Marina Farmers Market Features fresh produce, peanut butter, dog treats, jam and jelly, mushrooms, micro-greens, flavored vinegar, natural homemade soap, olive oils, and more to come. A great way to support local businesses and have fun at the same time! Receive $1 off every $10 purchase. Visit Facebook.com/BurntStoreMarina for details. Fridays, year-round, 9:00 am–1:00 pm. Cass Cay Parking lot, 3200 Matecumbe Key Rd., Punta Gorda

The Saturday Veggie Stand Fresh organic fruits, veggies, juices and smoothies, microgreens, soups, salads, and more, in front of The Real Juice Bar. Saturdays, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Visit theopenstudio.org. 310 Old Englewood Rd., Englewood

Punta Gorda Downtown Farmers Market Voted the best small market in Florida and 15th in the US! Fruits and veg-etables, pickles, jams and jellies, orange juice, German bak-ery goods, fresh pasta, kitchenware, cupcakes, beef, fresh seafood, jewelry, candles, soaps, dip mixes, cheese, olives, orchids, kettle corn, coffee beans, exotic plants, natural facial products, smoothies, and much more, plus live entertain-ment! EBT/SNAP accepted and the Market gives $2 for $1 on purchase of Florida-grown produce, citrus, or honey! Call Jerry Presseller, Manager, at 941.391.4856 for details. Sat-urdays, 8:00 am–noon. Taylor St. and Herald Ct., next to the historic courthouse, Punta Gorda

History Park Farmers Market Most Sundays feature live music by local musicians. Guided garden tours available after the market closes; a $5 suggested donation includes a plant to take home! For more information call 941.639.1887. Sun-days, 9:00 am–2:00 pm. 501 Shreve St., Punta Gorda

MOVEMENTNew! Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office 5K Run for the An-imals Part of the Zoomers Kids; Race Series. Show your love and support of four-legged friends and get healthy at the same time! 5K run/walk or 1-mile family pet walk. Pro-ceeds benefit local shelters and rescue organizations. Visit zoomersrun.com/races for details and to register. Oct. 29, 8:00–10:00 am. Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte

Aqua Zumba So fun, you'll hardly notice you're improving your fitness! Must be 18 or over. $8 per class or purchase a 5-class punch card for $32. Call 941.505.8686 or visit char-lottecountyfl.com/CommunityServices. Saturdays, 10:00–11:00 am year-round. South County Regional Recreation Center & Pool, 670 Cooper St., Punta Gorda

Ballroom Dance Class Drop-in: $15; four class package: $40. Group class, no partner necessary. Call 941.270.4599 or visit danceenglewood.com. Wednesdays, 7:15 pm at Dance Etc., 3372 N. Access Rd., Englewood

Dao Yin Sheng Gong Gentle twisting motions, breath control and acupressure point stimulation. Wednesdays, 10:00 am, $8 per lesson. Richard Curtis: 407.923.8310. Register at the PGICA office or call 941.637.1655. 2001 Shreve St., Punta Gorda

Higher Ground Performing Arts Dance, voice, music and the-ater lessons, as well as Zumba fitness. Visit highergroundper-formingarts.net for details; call 941.625.3622 with questions. 17353 Geddes Ave., Port Charlotte

Indoor Pickleball For ages 15 to seniors. Drop in for some fun competition and make new friends. For more details call 941.681.3742. Tringali Recreation Center, 3460 N. Access Rd., Unit 4. Englewood

It’s a Free Ride! Loaner bicycles can be found at a number of locations including the Bayfront Health’s Wellness Center, Laishley Municipal Marina, Four Points by Sheraton, Fish-ermen’s Village Marina, Isles Yacht Club Marina and The Wyvern Hotel. Details: 941.637.8326 or teampuntagorda.org. Punta Gorda

New! Acme Bicycle Shop presents Townie Tuesday Bring a helmet, lights, and a friend for this no-drop, family-friendly, cruiser-style ride around beautiful Punta Gorda. After-ride festivities include either ice cream or an adult beverage! Be at the shop by 6:00 pm. Call 941.639.2263 for details. Second and fourth Tuesdays: Oct. 25, 6:00–8:00 pm. 615 Cross St., Punta Gorda

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Line Dancing Englewood Country Liners offers ‘improver’ and intermediate line dances. The public is welcome! Contact Nancy at 941.474.6027 or nvargo@verizon.net. Thursdays, 9:30–11:30am. Christ Lutheran Church, 701 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood Peace River Riders You’ve got the wheels, they've got the club! Regularly scheduled rides: Tuesday mornings, Wednes-day evenings, Thursday–Sunday mornings. peaceriverriders-bicycleclub.com Punta Gorda

Qi Gong/Tai Chi Free workshop, come join in! Saturdays, rain or shine, 9:30–10:30 am. Gilchrist Park, by the statue of Ponce de Leon. 400 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

Saturday Morning Bike Ride Coffee at 8:00 am, roll promptly at 8:30 am. Leisure, medium and fast are no-drop; unlimited is until you can’t hang on! No ride when it's raining or really foggy. Helmets are required. 941.639.2263 or acmebicy-cleshop.com. 615 Cross St., #1116, Punta Gorda

Sunday Morning Wake Up Run! There is no set route or pace; go however long and at whatever pace you wish! Please ar-rive at the Gilchrist Park Pavilion by 6:50 am; begin running at

7:00 am. Visit thefootlanding.com for details. Gilchrist Park, 400 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

Tai Chi at the Open Studio Beginner’s Mind Tai Chi Chang, Yang Style. The class is free, but donations are accepted. Tuesdays, 5:30–6:00 pm. 941.474.4060 or visit theopenstu-dio.org for details. 380 Old Englewood Rd., Englewood

Wednesday Night Pub Run, Walk or Stroll 3.0-ish Route is approximately 2.1 to 3.1 miles. All are welcome. Walk-ers/strollers start at 6:15 pm, runners at 6:30 pm. Call 941.347.7751 or visit thefootlanding.com for details. Wednesday evenings. Free registration and free parking in the parking garage above The Foot Landing, 117 Herald Ct., Ste. 1112, Punta Gorda

Yoga on Englewood Beach Yoga for Every Body, 8:30–9:30 am every day—holidays included! Class is free, donations accepted and appreciated. Sunset Yoga 6:00–7:00 pm every Monday and Wednesday. Bring a blanket or sheet and plan to have fun! Note: parking is .75 per hour. 941.474.5511 or englewoodchamber.com for details. 2100 N. Beach Rd., Englewood Beach

SEA TO SHORE Captiva Cruises Don Pedro State Park Island Shuttle and full- and half-day excursions, sunset cruises, lunch and beach/shelling trips and dolphin watch/wildlife adventure cruises to Charlotte Harbor's Gulf Coast Islands. Call 941.889.8000, visit captivacruises.com, or search “Captiva Cruises” on Facebook for details. Cape Haze Marina, 6950 Placida Rd., Cape Haze

Diamond Charter Cruise Private Luxury Yacht Cruises for up to six people: $149 plus tax for 1.5-hour on the water. See dolphins, feel the breeze, and relax! Call 941.639.0969 for reservations and visit diamondchartercruise.com for details. Diamond Charter Cruise, Fishermen’s Village Marina, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

King Fisher Fleet Deep sea and back bay fishing trips, sight-seeing cruises, eco-tours, full- and half-day cruises, sunset and harbor tours. Annual Cruise Pass: unlimited free admis-sion on all regularly scheduled sightseeing cruises for one year from date of purchase; park fees, special events and Christmas Light Canal Cruises not included. Visit kingfisher-fleet.com for details, or call 941.639.0969. Fishermen’s Vil-lage Marina, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Ste. 16A, Punta Gorda

Nav-A-Gator Narrated eco-tour along the calm Peace River and lunch for one low price! Lunch availalbe either before or after the cruise. For details call 941.627.3474 or visit nav-a-gator.com. 9700 SW Riverview Cir., Lake Suzy

Seashore Eco Tours Kayak trips to Don Pedro Island, the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve/Woovlerton Trails, Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island and Stump Pass Beach State Park; paddle board tours of Stump Pass, the Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail and Don Pedro Island. Paddle board lessons also available. Guides are Florida Master Naturalist-certified and trips are all-inclusive. Resevations required. Bring water, sunscreen, inexpensive sunglasses, a strap for glasses, a hat and extra water. Call 855.2PADDLE or 855.272.3353 or book online at SeashoreEcoTours.com. 1540 South McCall Rd., Englewood

Smoke and Roses is a boat load of fun! Sunset cruises, full-day sails to an island, and overnight charters available. The all-inclusive charter includes a private yacht with a captain and first mate to act as your personal tour guides. Avoid the crowds and completely relax in beautiful surroundings! Private parties only, up to six passengers, start at $45 per person including the discount. For reservations and more information, call Agnes Long at 605.366.7673, email info@smokeandroses.com, or visit smokeandroses.com. Summer Sailing Special: 10% off all 2016 summer charters *Not valid on existing bookings, with referral, or on holiday weekends. 140 Leland St. S.E., Port Charlotte

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

MUSEUMSThe A.C. Freeman House was built in 1903 for less than $900. Open Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Guided tours: Monday and Thursday only, 11:00 am–3:00 pm. Pun-tagordahistory.com. 311 West Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

The Blanchard House Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County An open-access, educa-tional institution devoted to the procurement, preservation, study and display of historical and cultural materials related to the contributions of African Americans in the settlement of Charlotte County and Southwest Florida. Current exhibit: The Jim Crow Era: Punta Gorda, Florida 1885–1965. Tues-day–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Call 941.575.7518 or visit blanchardhousemuseum.us for more information. 406 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Punta Gorda

El Jobean Post Office and General Store is designated a local historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and reveals the history of Southwest Florida and the community. A book about the area, The History of Early El Jobean, is available in the Charlotte County public library sys-tem. Call 941.766.1117 for more information. 4370 Garden Rd., Port Charlotte

Englewood Area Historical Museum Features books by local authors and Pioneer Crafting Kits for sale. Discover history on local men in WWII and Florida Cow hunters as well as vintage artifacts of earlier Englewood days. Free admission! Visit eahmuseum.org or call 941-208.5942 for details and hours. 1394 Old Englewood Rd., Englewood

The History Park Explore four fascinating historic build-ings: The Cigar Cottage, The Trabue Land Sales Office, The Price House/Gilchrist Inn, and The Calaboose. Tours of the gardens are given Sundays after 1:00 pm, after the History Park Farmer’s Market. Visit puntagordahistory.com for more information. 501 Shreve St., Punta Gorda

Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum The oldest struc-ture on the island has been a comprehensive museum since 1999. Three rooms cover cultural and social history dating from 12,000 BC–present; a fourth contains a “please touch” area. Features a gift shop offering souvenirs, local artwork and jewelry. Call 941.964.0060 and visit barrierislandparksso-ciety.org for open hours and details. Note: there is a $6 toll to cross the bridge. 880 Belcher Rd., Boca Grande

The Punta Gorda Train Depot is the sole surviving depot of the six built by the Atlantic Coast Line in Mediterranean revival style. Over 20 independent booths comprise The Antique Mall, which occupies the large freight room, and the ticket office houses three exhibits: The History of the Railroad, The Fishing Industry, and the Punta Gorda Army Air Field. Sept.–June: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. Call 941.639.6774 or visit puntagordahistory.com for more infor-mation. 1009 Taylor Rd., Punta Gorda

Military Heritage Museum strives to promote understanding and respect for the rich military heritage of the United States and the sacrifices made by America’s veterans, living and dead. Monday–Saturday, 10:00 am–6:00 pm; Sunday, noon–6:00 pm; closed on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call 941.575.9002 (admin) or 941.347.7941 (museum) or visit freedomisntfree.org for more information. Fishermen’s Vil-lage, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Unit 48, Punta Gorda

Rick Treworgy’s Muscle Car City features nearly 200 auto-mobiles of every era, dating back to the 1920s, with a major focus is on GM “muscle cars.” Work up an appetite then enjoy the best omelets, biscuits and gravy, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, and cheesesteak sandwiches in the area, as well as old-fashioned floats, sodas, shakes and homemade ice cream at the ‘60s-themed Muscle Car City Diner, open Tuesday–Sunday for breakfast and lunch. Call 941.575.5959 or visit musclecarcity.net. Muscle Car City, 3811 Tamiami Tr., Punta Gorda

COMING ATTRACTIONSNovember

Placida Art Market opens for the season, Nov. 5: thealbritton-gallery.com

Book Talk: Cracking the Code of the Canon: How Sherlock Holmes Made His Decisions, by Diane Gilbert Madsen, Nov. 3: copperfishbooks.com

Salty Paws Muttini Mingle, Nov. 3: saltypaws.com

Empty Bowls Benefit Dinner, Nov. 3: facebook.com/Charlotte-CountyHomelessCoalition

Soul Asylum at Englewood Event Center, Nov. 4: englewoode-ventcenter.com

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

House Concert with Robert Austin, Nov. 4: danceenglewood.com

Trucks Gone Wild, Nov. 4–6: redneckmudpark.com

Celebrate Cayo Costa, Nov. 5: barrierislandparkssociety.org

Gifted Gator Juried Arts & Craft Show, Nov. 5: 941.637.1655

Make & Take Etched Wine Glasses Party, Visual Arts Center, Nov. 5: visualartcenter.org

Placida Art Market, Nov. 5: thealbrittongallery.com

Moonlight Movie at Bayshore Live Oak Park, Nov. 5: 941.625.7529

Art on the Harbor, Nov. 6: artontheharbor.com

Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida Dedication and VetFest, Nov. 5–12: vietnamwallofsouthwestflorida.org

Stage Play: An Ideal Husband, Royal Palm Players, Nov. 10–13: royalpalmplayers.com

Stage Play: Becky's New Car, Charlotte Players, Nov. 10–20: charlotteplayers.org

Concert: Innana, Sisters in Rhythm, Nov. 11: danceenglewood.com

Creations at the Village Artist Demo, Nov. 12: fishville.com

Punta Gorda Downtown Bash, Nov. 12: facebook.com/PG-DowntownBash/

Drag Queen Bingo at Emil's DC, Nov. 12: emilssportsbarand-grill.net

5th Annual Tippecanoe Trail and Mud Run, Nov. 12: charlotte-countyfl.com/communityservices/calendars.asp

Suncoast Humane Society's Walk to Benefit Homeless Ani-mals, Nov. 12: humane.org

Englewood Beach Waterfest: Paddlefest, Nov. 12 and 13: englewoodbeachwaterfest.com

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Season Opener with Guest Artist Franklin Cohen, Nov. 13: charlottesymphony.com

Beach Run & Pilgram [sic] Paddle, Nov. 13: facebook.com, search "Beach Run & Pilgram Paddle"

Mustang Club of Charlotte County Car Show, Nov. 13: fish-ville.com

Book Launch Party: Cooking with Grandma by Libby Schaefer, Nov. 15: copperfishbooks.com

Stage Play: Mark Twain Performs, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Nov. 19: lemonbayplayhouse.com

Drag Queen Bingo, Nov. 19: charlottecountypridefl.org

Placida Art Market, Nov. 19: thealbrittongallery.com

Xtreme 80s Concert to Benefit Animal Welfare League, Nov. 18: charlotteharborecc.com

Englewood Beach Waterfest: Racefest, Nov. 18–20: engle-woodbeachwaterfest.com

Stage Play: Mark Twain Turns 70, Words and Songs, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Nov. 19: lemonbayplayhouse.com

Festival of Lights—Florida Style! Fishermen's Village, Nov. 20–Dec. 31: fishville.com

'Tis the Season Fashion Show Luncheon by Business & Pro-fessional Women of Charlotte County, Nov. 20: bpwccfl.org

Zoomers 3rd Annual Turkey Raffle Run, Nov. 20: zoomersrun.com/races

18th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Fun Walk, Nov. 24: zoom-ersrun.com/races

John Patti's Calyp-Soul Christmas, Nov. 30: songwritersisland.com

Stage Play: Bob's Your Elf, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Nov. 30–Dec. 19: lemonbayplayhouse.com

DecemberCharlotte County Chamber of Commerce 38th Annual Christ-mas Parade, Dec. 1: charlottecountychamber.org

2nd Annual Madrigal Dinner, Charlotte Players, Dec. 1–3: charlotteplayers.org

Stage Play: Bob's Your Elf, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Dec. 1–18: lemonbayplayhouse.com

In Concert: Sara Evans at Englewood Event Center, Dec. 1: englewoodeventcenter.com

Art by the Glass Paint Night to Benefit Suncoast Humane Society, Dec. 2: humane.org

Christmas Light Canal Cruises by King Fisher Fleet, Dec. 3–31: kingfisherfleet.com

Make & Take Etched Wine Glasses Party, Visual Arts Center, Dec. 3: visualartcenter.org

Englewood Winter Fine Arts Festival, Dec. 3 and 4: oldeengle-wood.com

PureFlorida.com/Events

This Week'sHappenings

Week of Oct. 24–30, 2016

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Performs Nino Rota, Alberto Ginastera, and Ludwig van Beethoven, Dec. 4: charlottesym-phony.com

Paint Party: Lights of Fishermen's Village, Dec. 8: lets-getsplashed.com

Christmas Lights Canal Cruises by Nav-A-Gator, Dec. 9–30: nav-a-gator.com

Mistletoe Ball by Charlotte Homeless Coalition, Dec. 10: face-book.com/CharlotteCountyHomelessCoalition

Memories of Christmases Past by Charlotte Chorale, Dec. 10: charlottechorale.com

Gilded Grape Winery Monthly Wine Tasting, Dec. 10: gild-edgrape.com

Ugly Christmas Sweater Run, Dec. 14: fishville.com

Cheers to the New Year, Charlotte Players, Dec. 31: char-lotteplayers.org

New Year's Eve Celebration at Fishermen's Village, Dec. 31: fishville.com

JanuaryStage Play: Weekend Comedy, Charlotte Players, Jan. 6–15: charlotteplayers.org

Running Through the Decades 5K Dash, Jan. 14: bgcofcc.org

Stage Play: Office Hours, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Jan. 18–29: lemonbayplayhouse.com

Stage Play: Not Now, Darling, Charlotte Players, Jan. 20–28: charlotteplayers.org

Tennis Ball: Féte for Pets by Suncoast Humane Society, Jan. 25: humane.org

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