The new season brings sun-drenched days and Gulf breezes to the region. From the cheerful St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Fort Myers to Sanibel Island’s annual Shell Festival, communal activities for urge kids to enjoy the springtime air. Mark your calendars for these March events.
March 1
Southwest Florida Reading Festival at Fort Myers Regional Library
The region’s premier literary event gears up for a day of book signings and word-filled wonder. Teens and early lit lovers meet and mingle with The New York Times bestselling authors, like Breakout’s Kate Messner and One of Us is Lying series author Karen M. McManus. While strolling, children choose from a wide selection of stories ready to draw them in and admire the winning works of Lee County students on display from the Aspiring Authors writing contest. Learn More
March 1
Herpetology for Kids at CREW Land & Water Trust, Bonita Springs
Rising eco-explorers ages 7 and up brave an adventurous hike in search of camouflaged critters, such as snakes, lizards and frogs. Guided by a local herpetologist, uncover the significance of protecting local creatures, their unique survival adaptations and roles in the food web. Learn More
March 1
Kids Shrimp Run at Fort Myers Beach
Junior racers complete a one-mile dash from Gulf Beach Road to Connecticut Street as part of the Fort Myers Shrimp Festival on March 8. Afterward, runners receive a complimentary T-shirt and stick around to catch awards of the top three finishers. Learn More
March 6-8
88th Annual Shell Festival at Sanibel Community House
The beloved celebration brings families together for a coastal extravaganza. Before the festival, young beachcombers learn about mollusks through the Shell Studies Program to share their findings with visitors in the shell shack. During the main event, kids craft animals from seashells, participate in a shark tooth scavenger hunt and enjoy face painting. Learn More
March 6-9
Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto at Hertz Arena, Estero
Mickey and Minnie Mouse host families to watch Disney’s Frozen and Encanto dazzle across the ice. Step into Arendelle and follow Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven on their daring quest to find Elsa, braving the kingdom’s frigid weather conditions. From there, travel to Colombia alongside the Madrigal sisters as they embark on an adventure to save their magical family home. Learn More
March 12
Mixed Media Sculptures Make-and-Take Workshop at Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum
Inspired by the museum’s concurrently running Entangled in the Mangroves exhibit, budding conservationists draw from the display’s connection to the Everglades and create sculptures embodying Florida’s environment and coral reefs. Learn More
March 15
Family ArtLab at Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers
The organization’s Storytelling Festival ignites this event with engaging tales. After, children participate in a hands-on craft session, creating 3D trioramas from paper based on their favorite narrations. Learn More
March 16
St. Patrick’s Day Block Party on First and Hendry Street, Downtown Fort Myers
Tiny leprechauns get lucky at Fort Myers’ biggest St. Patty’s Day celebration. The kids’ area promises interactive fun from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. with petting zoo animals and teddy bear building. In between the activities, youngsters enjoy live Irish tunes and festive cuisine throughout downtown eateries. Learn More
March 22
Let’s Get Growing! Family Day at Collier Museum at Government Center, Naples
Future homesteaders ages 5 to 12 choose their own vegetable and flower seeds to plant after unearthing knowledge of edible bounty and native blooms well-suited for Florida’s climate. Then, sprouts design and arrange a personal landscape using paper plant cut-outs and participate in the flora scavenger hunt to win planting seeds of the official state wildflower. Learn More
March 29
Cardboard Boat Regatta at Seahawk Park, Cape Coral
Next-generation engineers handcraft seaworthy cardboard vessels in all shapes and sizes, paddling them across the water to the finish line. Some glide with ease, while others plunge gracefully. Learn More
RECURRING
March 3, 17, 24, 31
Rainbowdance at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
The 45-minute classes invite kids 18 months to 5 years for early childhood imaginative play and melodic exploration. Munchkins imitate life experiences (like caring for a plant) through music and movement and sing repetitive songs about different toys to develop language skills. Bounces and belly laugh follow as youth practice motor skills while swaying, jumping, twirling and gliding. Learn More
March 8
Sensory-Friendly Saturdays at Naples Botanical Garden
Families relax and unwind in a disturbance-free environment at this inclusive event. Comfortable blankets laid on the Garden’s Performance Lawn offer tots a place to lounge between outdoor games sessions, like grass bowling, coloring pages and paper-pinwheel crafts. If small ones need a breather, head for the air-conditioned take-a-break space for regrouping. Learn More
March 13, 20, 27
Little Explorers at Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Naples
On every Thursday of the month, The Conservancy’s Explorer Play Zone sparks curiosity with nature discovery and hands-on activities. March 13 and 20 bring stories on wildlife, themed crafts and a scavenger hunt, while routines shift on March 27 as mini naturalists celebrate Manatee Awareness Week with a song-and-dance showcase. Learn More
March 27
Symphony of Imagination: A Journey into Sound Pre-K Class at Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
Early learners create noise with balloons, straws, strings and cups to discover how vibration shapes sound. After, the kids play with tuning forks and conduct experiments related to mechanical waves and harmonics, then sharpen the senses with the mystery tin game, where curious minds touch and listen to guess what’s inside. Learn More