Cape Coral Songwriter Fest Pregame: Music, Food & Fun

Cape Coral hosted a pre-festival celebration Sept. 18-20, offering residents and visitors live music, local dining and support for small businesses. The weekend served as a prelude to the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, which held its official Cape Coral dates Sept. 21-22.

The festivities began Friday evening with a waterfront party at Nauti Mermaid at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, 5951 Silver King Blvd. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., attendees enjoyed live music, browsed local vendors, sampled a specialty cocktail and took in waterfront views along the city's canal system.

Attendees could pick up an official Songwriter Fest Pregame Weekend Passport and event lineup at the kickoff. The passport encouraged participation throughout Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20. Participants visited participating businesses and checked off each stop. Completing the passport entered them into a drawing for a prize basket valued at over $300, featuring items from local businesses and Cape Coral merchandise.

The initiative enhanced Cape Coral's presence during the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest season and built on community interest. Local businesses and the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau supported the event, which aimed to spotlight the city's dining and live music scene before the festival's main performances.