Looking for things to do on Sanibel and Captiva Islands in 2025 and 2026? You’ve come to the right place! From beloved traditions like the Sanibel Luminary Stroll, SCCF’s Beer in the Bushes, and Zonta’s Peek at the Unique Home Tour, to art festivals, live music, community fundraisers, and coastal conservation events — there’s always something happening across our islands.
Whether you’re planning a vacation, exploring a move to Southwest Florida, or just spending the weekend, this local calendar highlights the best island events, fundraisers, and festivals from Sanibel to Captiva, Fort Myers, and beyond. Bookmark this page and check back often as dates and details are updated regularly.

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SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLAND EVENTS BY NAME: (Scroll down to view events by date)

  • Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium Events:

    • Great Hall of Shells Donor Gallery Reception - November 6, 2025

    • Shells, Science, and Community Day - November 15, 2025

    • Museum Member Holiday Shell-A-Bration - December 4, 2025

    • Museum Member Gallery Reception - January 8, 2026

    • Gala February 7th, 2026

    • Third Thursdays Evening Hours - January 22, February 19, March 19, 2026

    • Annual Members Meeting - February 25, 2026

    • Prosecco & Pearls - March 26, 2026

    • Volunteer Appreciation Dinner - March 31, 2026

  • Beach Parking Permit Renewal November 9, 2025

  • BIG ARTS Major Events:

    • BIG ARTS Film Festival - November 14 & 15, 2025

    • Holiday Open House - December 9, 2025

    • BIG ARTS Community Chorus & Concert Band Performance - December 11, 2025

    • Free Event - Holiday Family Film Night - POLAR EXPRESS - December 22, 2025

    • Passion and Courage: The Esperanza Woodring Story - February 11, 2026

    • Annual Benefit March 7, 2026

    • BIG ARTS Community Chorus & Concert Band Performance - March 25, 2026

    • Free - Friends & Family Day with Steve Trash Show - April 11, 2026

  • Captiva Civic Association aka CCA Events:

    • ABC Gala- Feb 26th, 2026

    • 2025 & 2026 Art Opening Receptions: Nov. 20, January 5, Febuary 5, February 19, March 19

    • Porch & Patio Series 2025/2026 Dates: December 10, January 29, March 11, April 15, 2026

    • Halloween Party Oct. 31, 2025

    • Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting - January 20, February 9, March 23, April 6, 2026

    • Paint & Sip w Sissi Janku - March 26,2026

  • Captiva Holiday Village - Thanksgiving - New Years Day

  • Captiva Island Historical Society Events:

    • History and Stories to Cabbage Key on the Lady Chadwick - November 10, 2025

    • Creativity and the Art of History - January 14, 2026

    • Golf Cart Walking Tour of Captiva - January 28, 2026

    • Passion and Courage: The Esperanza Woodring Story (Documentary) - February 11, 2026

    • Guardian of History Award Dinner (Honoring Tony Lapi) - March 16, 2026

    • Al, Bix, Ding and Kent: Captiva’s Awesome Foursome - March 31, 2026

  • Easter Sunrise Service - Every Easter Sunday on the Causeway Island

  • Farmers Market - Every Sunday, Oct - April, 8 am-1 pm Dunlop Road at City Hall

  • Friends in Service Here aka F.I.S.H. Events:

    • Jog & Jam - November 1, 2025

    • Angel FISH Luncheon - November 10, 2025

    • Community Thanksgiving - November 25, 2025

    • JOG N JAM Concert - December 6, 2025

    • Gala Fundraiser - March 15, 2026

  • Fourth of July Events:

  • Evenings at the Bailey Homestead - TBD 2025 Contact SCCF 

  • Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday for breakfast - Sanibel Community House

  • Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner February 22, 2025

  • Luminary Strolls

    • Sanibel Luminary - The 1st Friday in December Every Year

    • Captiva Luminary - The 1st Saturday in December Every Year

  • MOAA Golf Tournament aka Bob Janes Memorial Golf Tournament - April 2025 - TBD

  • National Seashell Day - June 20th, Every Year.

  • Pfeifer Realty Group's Open House Parade - February & March 2026 TBD

  • Pine Island Sounds- SCCF - Nov. 17th, 2024 Dec. 15, 2024, January 12, and February 15th 2025

  • Play for PINK - Annual Sanibel Golf Tournament to benefit Breast Cancer Research - March 2025 TBD

  • Project Refuge Annual Trash Fashion Show for Ding Darling Wildlife Society -April 2, 2025

  • Rotary Club meets every Friday morning at the Sanibel Community House

  • Rotary Club Annual Arts & Crafts Fair February 15th & 16th 2025

  • Rotary Golf Tournament - March 2025 TBD

  • Sam Galloway, Jr. and Friends Soup Kitchen benefitting Community Cooperative - March TBD 2025

  • Sanibel Historic Village Events:

    • Sanibel Cracker Christmas - December 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

    • Luminary Open House - December 5th, 2025

    • Olde Sanibel Cracker Fest - January 30, 2026

    • Annual Membership Meeting - March 9, 2026

    • Twilight Talks - October 28, December 16, 2025, January 20, April 7, May 5, 2026

  • Sanctuary Charity Classic - January 17th 2026

  • Sanibel Captiva Cares - March 4, 2026 Dinner at Cielo

  • Sanibel Hearts Club - Every Friday from 12-3pm at the Community House

  • Sanibel Luminary Festival - Always the 1st Friday Evening in December

  • Sanibel Music Festival - Tuesdays and Saturdays in March

  • Sanibel Shell Fair, Shell Show and Festival - March 6th - 8th 2025

  • Sanibel Sea School Winter Camp - Dec. 30 - Jan. 3, 2025

  • Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation aka SCCF Events:

    • Wines in the Wild by SCCF - November 14, 2025

    • SCCF Bird Walk - Bailey Homestead November 22nd, 2025

    • SCCF's  Coastal Watch Party - TBD

    • SCCF Annual Meeting - December 9, 2025

    • Cause on the Causeway Sea School Benefit - January 17, 2026

    • Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture Series - February 6, 2026

    • Nature Art Exhibit Bailey Homestead - February 10 thru March 6th, 2026

    • SCCF's Volunteer Recognition Party - March 13, 2026

    • SCCF's Pine Island Sounds Sunset Concert Series - Nov. 16th, 2024 Dec. 14, 2024, January 25, 2025 and February 22, 2026

    • Beer in the Bushes - April 4, 2026

  • Sanibel Community House aka SCA Events:

    • Shellcrafters meet every Monday at the Community House

    • Sanibel Shell Fair, Shell Show and Festival - March 5th - 7th 2026

    • Happy Hour at the Community House: June 17, July 22, August 19, September 19, 2025

    • Fall Festival October 24, 2025

    • Community Social - October 27, 2025

    • Tennis Tournament - December 6 & 7, 2025

    • Wine Tasting - November 3, November 10, 2025

    • Tree Lighting After Party - November 29, 2025

    • Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair - November 15 & 16, 2025

    • Art Opening Reception - January 7, 2026

    • Community House Gala - January 22, 2026

    • Wine Dinner - January 29, 2026

  • Sanibel Public Library Events:

    • Author Series: Evening with the Author - December 17, 2025, January 19, February 17, March 24, 2026

  • Spring Training at Jet Blue Stadium with the Boston Red Sox Always Starts in March

  • Spring Training at Century Link Stadium with the Minnesota Twins Starts in March

  • Tween' Waters Christmas Tree Lighting - Always the Friday after Thanksgiving

  • Zonta's Peek at the Unique Tour of Island Homes March 14th, 2026

ISLAND EVENTS BY DATE: (Scroll up to see events by name)

NOVEMBER 2025:

  • 1st JOG N JAM 10K/5K Race - Community House

  • 3rd Wine Tasting 101 Part 1 - Community House

  • 6th Great Hall of Shells Donor Gallery Reception - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 8th Free Community Day - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 9th Mangrove Loss/Restoration, Skye McDonald-Newman SCCF - Community House

  • 10th AngelFISH Luncheon at the Sundial

  • 10th History and Stories to Cabbage Key (Lady Chadwick Boat Trip & Dinner)

  • 10th Wine Tasting 101 Part 2 - Community House

  • 13th Lessons in Leadership with David Drews - Community House

  • 14th Wines in the Wild- Bailey Homestead Preserve

  • 15th BIG ARTS Film Festival

  • 15th Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair - Community House

  • 15th Shells, Science, and Community Day - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 16th Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair - Community House

  • 17th National Take a Hike Day - Always Celebrated on this day

  • 18th Generosity Breakfast: National Philanthropy Day - Sundial

  • 20th Art Opening Reception - Captiva Civic Association

  • 22nd Winter Wonderland - Community House

  • 22nd Enchanting Winter Wonderland: A Festival of Trees - Community House

  • 25th Community Thanksgiving - Community House

  • Thanksgiving Day - Always the 4th Thursday in November

  • 28th Tree Lighting at 'Tween Waters Resort Captiva

  • 29th Tree Lighting After Party - Community House

DECEMBER 2025:

  • 1st Welcome Back Cruise - McCarthy's Marina

  • 1st - 31st Sanibel Cracker Christmas - Sanibel Historical Village and Museum

  • 2nd 100+Women Business Meeting at the Sanibel Captiva Realtors Association

  • 4th Wildlife Conservation Day

  • 9th SCCF Annual Meeting at the Bailey Homestead Preserve

  • 3rd "Ding" Darling Archway Ribbon CuttingJ.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

  • 4th Museum Member Holiday Shell-A-Bration - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 6th JOG N JAM Concert at Tween Waters

  • 6th Tennis Tournament at Beachview Tennis Club

  • 7th Tennis Tournament at Beachview Tennis Club

  • 8th Holiday Reception on Lighthouse Way- Lighthouse Way

  • 9th Free Event - Holiday Open House at BIG ARTS

  • 10th Jingle & Mingle Porch & Patio at the Captiva Civic Association

  • 11th BIG ARTS Community Chorus & Concert Band Performance

  • 14th National Dolphin Day

  • 15th Holiday Wine Preview - Captiva Civic Association

  • 17th Nonprofit Holiday Potluck - Sanibel Community House

  • 17th Author Series: Evening with the Author - Sanibel Public Library

  • 22th Free Event - Holiday Family Film Night - POLAR EXPRESS BIG ARTS

  • 22nd Earth Day

  • 26th, National Audubon Day

JANUARY 2026:

  • 1st National Polar Bear Plunge Day

  • 5th National Bird Day

  • 5th Art Opening Reception - Captiva Civic Association

  • 5th Mitigating the Impacts of Future Storm Surge Events - Community House

  • 7th Art Opening Reception - Community House

  • 8th Museum Member Gallery Reception - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 10th Wild about CROW - The Forest Country Club

  • 10th National Save the Eagles Day

  • 14th Creativity and the Art of History - Captiva Civic Association

  • 15th Trivia Night- The Sanctuary Golf Club

  • 17th Cause on the Causeway

  • 18th Charity Classic Foundation Golf Tournament- The Sanctuary Golf Club

  • 19th Author Series: Evening with the Author

  • 22nd Camp Riverside Retreat - LaBelle

  • 20th Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting - Captiva Civic Association

  • 15th State of the Islands Breakfast SanCap Chamber

  • 22nd Author Tony Lapi, “Memories of ‘Tween Waters Inn” based on his book Tales of an Island Innkeeper

  • 22nd Third Thursdays Evening Hours - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 23rd Community House Gala - Community House

  • 25th United Way Golf Tournament` - Dunes Golf Club

  • 27th Community Social

  • 28th Golf Cart Walking Tour of Captiva (CIHS)

  • 28th Volunteer Expo - Sanibel Community House

  • 28th Mixed Member Guest Golf Tournament - The Sanctuary Golf Club

  • 29th Porch & Patio - Captiva Civic Association

  • 29th Wine Dinner - Community House

  • 29th & 30th Author, Photographer, and Conservationist Kirsten Hines, Birds of Florida at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

  • 30th Annual Sanibel Historical Village & Museum Benefit – Olde Sanibel Cracker Fest Benefit at the Sanibel Community House

  • 31st SSF Pickleball Tournament at the Sundial

FEBRUARY 2026:

  • 4th Go Wild for "Ding" - The Legacy at the Community House

  • 5th Art Opening Reception - Captiva Civic Association

  • 5th Happy Trails Bingo - St. Michael Church

  • 6th Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture Series - Sanibel Community House

  • 7th Annual Gala to benefit the Sanibel Community House

  • 9th Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting - Captiva Civic Association

  • 10th 100+ Women Who Care Sanibel-Captiva at the SanCap Realtors Association

  • 11th Passion and Courage: The Esperanza Woodring Story (Documentary) - BIG ARTS

  • 13th Tenative Event TBD - CCA

  • 15th Rotary Arts and Crafts Festival - Sanibel Community House

  • 17th Author Series: Evening with the Author TBD

  • 19th Art Opening Reception - Captiva Civic Association

  • 19th & 20th Wildlife Ambassador and Photographer, Ron Magill, “Animals Have Emotions” based on his book The Pride of a Lion: What the Animal Kingdom Can Teach Us About Survival, Fear and Family (A True Animal Survival StoryJ.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

  • 19th Third Thursday Evening Houses - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 20th Art Opening Reception - Community House

  • 23rd Camp Riverside Retreat - LaBelle

  • 25th Annual Members' Meeting - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 26th CCA ABC Gala - Captiva Civic Association

  • 28th Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner - Community House

MARCH 2026:

  • 4th SanCap Cares Dinner at Cielo - Cielo Restaurant

  • 7th Annual Shell Festival - Community House

  • 7th BIG ARTS Annual Benefit - BIG ARTS

  • 10th 100+ Women Who Care Sanibel-Captiva - SanCap Realtors Association

  • 11th Porch & Patio - Captiva Civic Association

  • 13th SCCF Volunteer Recognition Party - Bailey Homestead Preserve

  • 14th Zonta Peek of the Unique - Community House

  • 16th Guardian of History Award Dinner (Honoring Tony Lapi) - Sanibel Community House

  • 15th FISH OF SANCAP Gala

  • 19th Art Opening Reception - Captiva Civic Association

  • 19th Third Thursdays Evening Hours - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 21st Taste of the Islands - Sanibel City Hall

  • 23rd Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting - Captiva Civic Association

  • 25th BIG ARTS Community Chorus & Concert Band Performance - BIG ARTS

  • 26th Paint & Sip w Sissi Janku - Captiva Civic Association

  • 26th Prosecco & Pearls - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 30th Golf Tournament - Shell Point Golf Club

  • 24th Author Series: Evening with the Author TBD

  • 31st Volunteer Appreciation Dinner - Shell Museum & Aquarium

  • 31st Al, Bix, Ding and Kent: Captiva’s Awesome Foursome - Captiva Civic Association (CCA)

APRIL 2026:

  • 4th Beer in the Bushes - SCCF Head Quarters

  • 6th Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting - Captiva Civic Association

  • 7th 100+ Women Who Care Sanibel-Captiva - SanCap Realtors Association

  • 11th Free Event - Friends & Family Day with Steve Trash Show - BIG ARTS

  • 12th Shipwrecked Yacht Rock Party - McCarthy's Marina

  • 15th Porch & Patio - Captiva Civic Association

  • 18th I Am Special Camper Reunion TBD

  • 27th Summer Wine Preview- Captiva Civic Association

  • Arbor Day Last Friday in April

MAY 2026:

  • 4th National Bird Day

  • 1st Art as Therapy Exhibit Opening Reception - BIG ARTS

  • 2nd Sanctuary Golf and Gala benefitting the Sanibel School Fund

  • 4th National Bird Day

  • Memorial Day - Last Monday in May

  • National Flip Flop Day - Wednesday after Memorial Day

JUNE 2026:

  • 1st Worldwide Coral Reef Awareness Day

  • 8th Worldwide Ocean's Day

  • 14th National Flag Day

  • 16th, Worldwide Sea Turtle Day Learn More About How to Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest at SCCF

  • 18th National Go Fishing Day

  • 20th National Seashell Day Occurs on the First Day of Summer

JULY 2026:

  • 3rd International Plastic Bag Free Day

  • 4th Fourth of July Parade

  • 4th Fourth of July Road Rally - Friends of Randy - Timbers Restaurant

AUGUST 2026:

  • National Sand Castle Day First Saturday in August

  • 7th National Lighthouse Day

  • 11th National Play in the Sand Day

  • 30th National Beach Day - Occurs on the same day each year.

SEPTEMBER 2026:

  • Labor Day always the first Monday in September

  • 15th National Greenpeace Day

  • 21st National Clean Up the Beach Day - Celebrated on the Third Saturday in September

  • 28th A Day to Remember and be Grateful

  • National Public Lands Day always the 4th Saturday in September

OCTOBER 2026:

NOVEMBER 2026:

  • 17th National Take a Hike Day - Always Celebrated on this day

  • Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

DECEMBER 2026:

  • 4th Wildlife Conservation Day

  • 14th National Dolphin Day

  • 22nd Earth Day

  • 26th, National Audubon Day