Best things to do this weekend in Lee County: Broadway Palm's Elvis musical, Art Walk

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including Fort Myers Art Walk and an Elvis Presley musical at Broadway Palm dinner theater.

Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks: Paranormal Cirque III, actor-comedian Katt Williams and big art festivals in Cape Coral and Bonita Springs.

EVENT SUBMISSIONS: Got anything cool happening next weekend or later? I’m always looking for concerts, festivals and other great events for my weekly Top 5 things to do. To be considered, email me the details at [email protected] or message me at facebook.com/charles.runnells.7.

1. Broadway Palm's 'Elvis: A Musical Revolution'

The official Elvis Presley “bio-musical” takes audiences from The King’s childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, to his triumphant “‘68 Comeback Special” and beyond. It’s packed with beloved rock hits, including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” Now through Feb. 17. $60-$85. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com

2. Masterworks 2: Beethoven No. 5 & the British Invasion

Violinist Charles Yang of classical crossover trio Time For Three joins the Southwest Florida Symphony on Ravel’s “Tzigane,” The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and The Animals’ version of the standard “House of the Rising Sun.” The symphony also performs Beethoven’s famous “Symphony No. 5” and Caroline Shaw’s “Entr’acte.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6. $25-$115. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

3. Romantic comedy 'Butterflies Are Free' at Players Circle

The 1969 Broadway hit involves a young, blind songwriter who defies his overprotective mother by moving into his own apartment. He develops a close relationship with the sexy actress next door, but then his mom arrives and chaos ensues. Jan. 5-28. Discount previews Jan. 2-4. $35-$55. Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 800-3292 or playerscircletheater.com

4. Fort Myers Art Walk

The monthly event in downtown Fort Myers features new art exhibits at downtown galleries, receptions and art vendors outside on First Street. This month's exhibits include Southwest Florida painter Joan Sonnenberg at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and a group show featuring mixed-media works on paper at DAAS CO-OP. 5-9p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk

5. 'A Cracker at the Ritz' at Arts Bonita

Satirical duo Compton & Bennett return with their popular musical poking fun at Southwest Florida. They perform twice a month at Arts Bonita. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9. $35-$45. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org

MORE THINGS TO DO

Memories of Elvis Rockin’ Birthday Bash at Mann Hall

Popular Elvis tribute artist Chris MacDonald celebrates The King’s birthday early with an eight-piece band, video clips and many costume changes. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. $36-$63. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

AR mural in downtown Fort Myers

The Fort Myers Mural Society unveils a new augmented reality (AR) mural billed as the first of its kind in Fort Myers. The mural uses the Electrifly Augmented Reality Art phone app to reveal animated imagery. The project ? a partnership with Grand Illusion, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and BrandXR ? will be unveiled at 5 p.m. during Art Walk and be displayed all year long. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. Free. Grand Illusion, 2443 First St., downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersmuralsociety

Fort Myers Music and Seafood Festival

The fourth-annual fest pairs fresh seafood and other dishes with live music from Florida R&B, jazz, rock, reggae and Caribbean bands. 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5-7. Free admission. The 1400 block of Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers. paragonfestivals.com

'It Makes Me Wonder': Kim McAninch art exhibit at the Alliance

Sarasota artist Kim McAninch shows off about 50 of her landscape paintings. Opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. The exhibit continues through Jan. 27. Free. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org

Home & Garden Show in downtown Fort Myers

The 28th-annual Fall Home & Garden Show returns with more home-improvement products and presentations from contractors, remodelers and home specialists. There will also be hourly prize drawings. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 6-7.  Free. Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Centennial Park, 2000 W. First St., downtown Fort Myers. expomanagementinc.com

Canadian Brass at Mann Hall

The Grammy and Juno-nominated band has played Carnegie Hall and toured China. Their repertoire ranges from Bach and Handel to Joplin, Gershwin and Ellington. Part of the annual Community Concerts Series. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7. $25-$55. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

Florida Rep's 'The Mountaintop'

Katori Hall’s surrealistic drama imagines what happened in Martin Luther King Jr.'s motel room on the night before his assassination. It’s April 3, 1968, and an exhausted King has just delivered his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. Then he meets a mysterious maid in his room at Memphis’s Lorraine Motel. Now through Jan. 14. $65. Artstage Studio Theatre at Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

LOOKING AHEAD

Off Broadway Palm's 'Run For Your Wife'

A London cab driver leads two separate lives with two separate wives in this Ray Cooney farce. He sees one in the morning and one at night. Then he’s mugged and police return him to the wrong home at the wrong time. Hilarity ensues. Jan. 11-Feb. 25. $55-$70. Off Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com

Paranormal Cirque III at JetBlue Park

The R-rated, horror-themed circus show returns to south Fort Myers. Expect adult language, off-color jokes, blood, gore and general spookiness. Plus acrobatics, contortionists, aerialists and other circus acts dressed as zombies, vampires, ghosts and witches. Thursday through Monday, Jan. 11-15. $20-$60. Plus $5 parking on site. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, south Fort Myers. 941-704-8572 or paranormalcirque.com

Lab Theater's 'Stew'

A fast-paced family dramedy about a mother, a daughter and grandchildren making a meal on an important Saturday morning. As the stew heats up, so does the unease and tension in the kitchen. Jan. 12-Feb. 3. $35. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com

Grammy-nominated string band Della Mae in Fort Myers

All-woman string band Della Mae was founded in Boston by lead vocalist/guitarist Celia Woodsmith and two-time grand-national champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12. $45-$50. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers.  333-1933 or sbdac.com

Florida Rep's 'Beehive: The 60s Musical'

A jukebox musical packed with songs from The Chiffons, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Connie Francis, Janis Joplin and more female music icons from the ‘60s. A cast of six women performs more than 24 hits with big hairdos and '60s fashions. Jan. 12-28. Discount previews Jan. 9-11. $63-$69 (prices subject to change based on demand). Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

Cape Coral Art Festival and Marketplace

More than 300 artists show and sell their work at the popular outdoor event. Plus live entertainment, food and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 13-14. Free. Cape Coral Parkway between Del Prado Boulevard and Southeast 10th Place, downtown Cape Coral. capecoralartfestival.com

Bonita Springs National Art Festival

The first in a series of three art fests happening between January and March at Riverside Park. More than 200 artists are featured in the juried event. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 13-14. Free with a suggested $5 donation. Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, downtown Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artcenterbonita.org/artfest

Katt Williams at Hertz Arena

The actor, comedian and self-described "pimp" brings his Dark Matter Tour to Southwest Florida. Katt Williams has appeared in the movies "Friday After Next," "Epic Movie" and "Norbit," as well as the acclaimed TV show "Atlanta" (for which he won an Emmy Award for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series). 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. $59-$250. Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero.  948-7825 or hertzarena.com

— Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at [email protected]. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers Art Walk, Broadway Palm Elvis musical: Things to do in SWFL