Spooktacular Halloween Fun TODAY!

It is FINALLY Time for The Chili Cookoff THIS Weekend at The Esplanade!

📅 Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
🕒 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 Location: CJ’s on the Bay, 740 N Collier Blvd., Marco Island, FL
📄 Details: Hosted by the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation with local chefs and chili-aficionados competing for the title of 'Best Chili'.

The Sunrise Rotary club, the Noontime Rotary club, and the Kiwanis Club are pulling together on November 8th on Marco Island at the Marco Island Charter Middle School and hoping to pack meals for those in need through Meals of Hope.  Registration starts at 8:00 AM in the Gymnasium.
The goal is to pack 200,000 meals in just two hours, with each club contributing to raise a total of $60,000.
Volunteers of all ages are invited to join in this impactful event.
By supporting their fundraising efforts, you can help provide meals for hungry children in Collier County, just in time for the holidays.
Join the cause to end hunger and make a difference in your community.
Visit Meals of Hope Marco Island to learn more and get involved.

Stan's Halloween Party

Little Bar Halloween Party 2025

Halloween at The Snook Inn

⏲ October 31st - 6PM to 10PM

🎤 Music by The Rockefellers, with costume contests and prizes!

Trick or Treat Extravaganza on the Blocks Around Tommie Barfield Elementary School THIS FRIDAY!   👻🧙‍♀️🍭

In 2024, I have to say that one of the COOLEST homes for lights was the one lit in the photo and Jack, From The Movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas was a pretty stellar costume and the kids LOVED it!

Haunted Maze - Nightmare Playground "13 Nights of Terror" event held at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, Florida.

Not your usual 'pop-up' type of event.  The Foulds Theatre and campus become a nightmare playground with haunted attractions, live shows, markets, and interactive activities, bringing in thousands of people from across Southwest Florida.  This chilling experience has been planned out, being prepared for quite some time, and should provide fun for all who dare....

Saturday Food Pantry – Drive‑Thru

• 📅 Date: Saturday

• 🕒 Time: 9:00 AM

• 📍 Location: 1818 San Marco Road, Marco Island, FL 34145

• 🎟️ Admission: Free

• 📄 Details: A drive-thru food-pantry service for the community. Approach via San Marco Road, turn by Island Garden Center on Capt. Horr Way and follow the signage.

The Marco Island Farmers Market is Almost Back!

• Dates: November 12th 2025 through April 15th 2026
• Day: Every Wednesday
• Time: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Location: Veterans Park, 901 Park Ave, Marco Island, FL 34145
• Holiday Schedule: In case of a holiday on a Wednesday, the market may be moved to the preceding Monday.

For more information on becoming a vendor, check out the City Website with the Applications!  They are available now.

Area Local Farmer's Markets While Marco is Out of Season

Third Street South Farmers Market

Year-round, the Third Street Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday morning from 7:30 until 11:30 a.m. Enjoy fresh produce, flowers, pasta, different cheeses, seafood, grass-fed beef, pastries, prepared foods, jams, freshly roasted coffee beans, and more.

Pine Ridge Road Farmers Market

The Pine Ridge Road Farmers Market is located at the corner of Pine Ridge Rd. and Livingston Rd. in Naples, Florida.  An Array of flowers, fruits, vegetables, art, flavors, fragrant aromas, different cultures, and friendly faces.

All Year Long on Sundays from 9AM to 1PM at 3370 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34105

Gopher Tortoise Relocations on the Rise in Southwest Florida to Safeguard Endangered Species Amidst Development.

Gulfshore Business did a great article on the Gopher Tortoise Relocation that explains a lot about the costs and obstacles when relocating them.  It is a great article because we deal a lot with the tortoises on our vacant land in certain parts of Marco Island, and there are always a lot of questions surrounding the topic.  This is a great read.

A dramatic transformation is coming to Fifth Avenue South in Naples.

A new three-story, mixed-use building named Avenue 31 has received unanimous approval from the city's Design Review Board after a challenging four-year process.

The project is the vision of prolific local restaurateur Stefano Frittella.

Located at 472 Fifth Ave. S., the building will replace the current home of La Pescheria and two other retail shops.

Designed by MHK Architecture, it will feature a "super high-end" restaurant on the ground floor inspired by Frittella's Monaco establishment.

Two luxury condominiums and a sprawling penthouse residence will occupy the upper floors.

Demolition is slated for next summer, with construction expected to take 18 to 20 months, signaling continued confidence in the luxury market of downtown Naples.

Happy Hour Highlights 

Island life: sunscreen, cocktails, and questionable decisions....🍹🌊🍸

We always have a Lot of great options for happy hour across the island. Here are some of the top spots with their typical schedules in no order:

• Pinchers Happy Hour: All Day EVERYDAY!  Enjoy Two of the Same Drink From Open to Close.
• Stilts in Marriott Crystal Shores Happy Hour:  Daily from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
• Sunset Grille - Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

• Snook Inn - Happy Hour: Monday–Thursday, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  

• La Tavola Restaurant and Bar - Happy Hour: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

• Italian Deli and Market - Happy Hour: Every day from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  Don't Forget KARAOKE MONDAYS!

• Kane Tiki Bar & Grille & Quinn's at The JW Marriott both Offer  Happy Hour - Daily 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

• Sami's - Happy Hour: Monday–Friday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

• Marco Island Brewery Happy Hour: Daily 3:00pm to 6:00 pm or after 10pm.

• The Speakeasy - Happy Hour: Monday–Saturday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  

• Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill - Happy Hour: Every day, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

• DaVinci’s - Happy Hour: Every day, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

• Marco Prime - Happy Hour: Every day, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

• The Oyster Society - Happy Hour: Every day, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. 

• Arturo's - Happy Hour:  Every Day, 4:45 pm to 8:00 pm.
• The Boardroom - Happy Hour: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• CJ's @ Esplanade - Happy Hour:  Every Day, 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm
• Mango's @ Esplanade - Happy Hour: Every Day, 11:00 am to 6 pm
• La Mesa - Happy Hour:  Every Day, 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm
• Tesoro - Happy Hour:  Every Day,1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
• 844 Gulf & Prime - Happy Hour: Every Day, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
• Sale e Pepe - Is Temporarily CLOSED.

• Quinns at Marriott: 📅 Daily Happy Hour + Live Entertainment (Thu–Sun) 🕒 Happy Hour: 2–4 pm | Music: 6–9 pm

• Cavs:  Happy Hour: Monday to Friday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• SandBar:  Happy Hour:  Monday to Friday 2:00 to 6:00 pm and don't forget all-you-can-eat CRABLEGS Sunday and Mondays!
• FIN Bistro:  Happy Hour: Tuesday to Saturday 4:00PM to 5:00 PM in the bar for 20% OFF all beer and wine with a Social Hour Menu featuring $12 bar bites.
• 2 Sheas Salty Dog:  Happy Hour: 7 Days a Week 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
• Nacho Mama's:  Happy Hour: Daily 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

MIA Thespian Fundraiser to Send The Actors to The District 13 One Act Festival

If you love the theatre and would like to sponsor our local high school Thespians, find out more about supporting them here.

The Marco Island YMCA is launching a bold new chapter with plans for a major expansion.

An $8.5 million, 17,000-square-foot 'Active Life Center' is proposed to serve the island’s growing senior population.

According to CEO Cindy Love-Abounader, the current facility is “bursting at the seams,” creating an urgent need for a dedicated place for seniors to socialize and stay healthy.

The impressive two-story building will feature a modern fitness and wellness center, a café, and a large multi-purpose space for various programs.

After overcoming challenges like hurricanes and the pandemic, the YMCA has received planning board approval for the site.

The project’s focus has now shifted entirely to fundraising, with a capital campaign underway to secure community donations.

Officials hope to break ground in the spring, but the timeline depends on reaching their financial goal.

The new center aims to be an accessible and vital hub for all local seniors for years to come.

🎲 Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub – Trivia Nights

• 📅 When: Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 PM

• 📍 Location: Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub

• 📄 Details: Weekly trivia nights — fun atmosphere, team play, and great prizes.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Marco Men’s Club – Monthly Meeting

• 📅 When: 2nd Wednesday of each month, 10:00 AM

• 📍 Location: Marco Lutheran Church

• 📄 Details: Local men’s social and service club with regular speakers, social outings, and networking opportunities.  Join Here.

🃏 Canasta Club of Marco Island

• 📅 When: Every Tuesday, 1:00 PM

• 📍 Location: Mackle Park - 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island

• 📄 Details: Weekly canasta games open to residents and visitors who enjoy this classic card game.

Marco Island Shell Club

• 📅 Nest Event: November 28th - Holiday Shell Art Sale

• 📍 Mackle Park & local venues

• 🎟️ Membership or Drop-in

• 📄 Details: Shell enthusiasts gather for weekly art workshops, excursions, and seminars. Proceeds from shell art sales fund scholarships and marine research.

Rotary Club of Marco Island (Noontime)

• 📅 Weekly Meetings

• 📍 Local venues & community projects

• 📇 Contact: Jennifer M. Tenney | 239-610-1101

• 📄 Details: A civic-minded club focused on scholarships, “Flags for Heroes,” and meal packaging events that uplift the community.

Line Dancing?  Why Yes we Have That!

When:  On Tuesdays Starting October 7th 2026 at 9:30-10:30AM Low Beginners &10:30-11:30AM High Beginners

What it is:  A class featuring line dancing for all who attend.  18 and Up

Cost:  $10 per class per person.

See more and Get Signed up Here.

Marco Island Sportfishing Club

• 📅 Events & Tournaments Year-Round

• 📍 Marco Island marinas & waterways

• 📇 Contact: marcosportfishingclub.com

• 📄 Details: Organizes outings, tournaments, and socials for all levels of sportfishers.