Family-friendly events this weekend
- Rollin%27 With Rover Roller Skate Party
- Back to School Cut-A-Thon
- Fan Appreciation Fireworks
- William Bill Austen Youth Center Open House
The final weekend of summer (for most kids in Southwest Florida) is full of fun options for families. Our list of family-friendly events happening in Southwest Florida includes baseball, fireworks, Smokey Bear's 70th Birthday Celebration, dance studio open houses and a kickin' skate party.
FRIDAY, AUG. 15
Sea Monsters Traveling Exhibit — The Sea Monsters traveling exhibit from Mote Marine Laboratory, a marine science institution based in Sarasota, is on display at J.N. "Ding" Darling. Visitors will be able to interact with the free, temporary exhibit 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Aug. 18. Free. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. 472-1100. dingdarlingsociety.org
Best Friends Day at Calusa Nature Center — To celebrate, it's BOGO, buy one admission, get one free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children. Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435. calusanature.org
Booster Seat Event — Guard your most precious cargo against preventable injury. Bring your child to this free community service event. Certified child passenger safety technicians will check the fit of your child's safety seat. If the child has outgrown the old seat, or if he or she isn't currently using a booster seat but needs one, our techs will educate you on proper installation and provide a new booster seat. $10 suggested donation to the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation. 9-11 a.m. Lee County Tax Collector, 15201 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 602, North Fort Myers. 533-6015. aaa.com/foundation
National Relaxation Day at Everglades Wonder Gardens — Buy-one-get-one-free admission (higher price prevails) to help guests enjoy the lush tropical garden jungle with bird and reptile exhibits as a place to relax Friday. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Gardens offers half-price admission for Collier and Lee County residents through Aug. 31. Regular admission is $12.95 for ages 13-64, $10.95 for ages 65 and older, and $7.95 for ages 3-12. Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 992-2591. evergladeswondergardens.com
Nature and Sea Life Cruise — Enjoy 30 minutes in the aquarium and touch tank exhibit where you can learn about live shells, seastars, crabs, seahorses and more. Then travel the calm waters of Tarpon Bay in the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge for 60 minutes in search of dolphins and manatees and see the nesting birds on the rookery islands. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $23 for adults, $15 for children. Tarpon Bay Explorers, 900 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel. 472-8900. tarponbayexplorers.com
Interactive Program: Sharks -- A live video presentation from Mote Marine Laboratory. See sharks up close, and learn about their behavior and anatomy. 2-2:50 p.m. Free. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. 472-1100. dingdarlingsociety.org
Dance Bochette Registration -- Founded by Jeanne Bochette, Dance Bochette continues to innovate each year while celebrating its roots as Fort Myers' historic dance school. The studio today welcomes a new generation of dancers. 3:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Aug. 14-15, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Dance Bochette, 2265 Widman Way, Fort Myers. 334-3274. dancebochette.com
Books-n-Bats Night and Miracle Kids Club Night — This is the final Books-n-Bats Summer Reading Program ticket redemption night. Kids may redeem their completed bookmarks at the ticket window for free tickets to the game, which is the Miracle vs. Palm Beach Cardinals. Plus, 2014 Kids Club members show their card at the ticket window for a free ticket. Kids get to sprint the bases after the game. Game starts at 7:05 p.m. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers. miraclebaseball.com
SATURDAY, AUG. 16
National Homeless Animals Day — Buy-one-get-one-free admission (higher price prevails) to celebrate the animals that Everglades Wonder Garden rescued through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Gardens offers half-price admission for Collier and Lee County residents through Aug. 31. Regular admission is $12.95 for ages 13-64, $10.95 for ages 65 and older and $7.95 for ages 3-12. Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 992-2591. evergladeswondergardens.com
Smokey Bear's 70th Birthday Celebration — Meet Smokey Bear, see firefighting vehicles and equipment, learn about wildfire prevention, play games and participate in activities and giveaways. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free with paid park admission. Regular park admission is $5 per vehicle with 2-8 occupants, $4 for single-occupant vehicle and $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists and extra passengers. Koreshan State Historic Site, 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 690-3500, ext. 104. floridastateparks.org/koreshan/default.cfm
Dance Bochette Registration — Founded by Jeanne Bochette, Dance Bochette continues to innovate each year while celebrating its roots as Fort Myers' historic dance school. The studio today welcomes a new generation of dancers. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dance Bochette, 2265 Widman Way, Fort Myers. 334-3274. dancebochette.com
Crafters For Critters Workshop — Learn new nature crafts. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Activity is free. Admission to the center is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 3-12. Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435. calusanature.org.
Back to School Haircuts to Benefit Pediatric Patients — La Mouche Salon supports the Project Pinball Charity Group by hosting its Sixth Annual Summer Benefit, noon-4 p.m. Back-to-school haircut specials for kids start at $10, and there are half price deals for mom and dad. Proceeds benefit Project Pinball's therapeutic and recreational game play services for young patients and their families at the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. La Mouche, 26251 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 11, Bonita Springs. 949-2233.
William Bill Austen Youth Center Open House — Take a tour of the facility and Eagle Skate Park, and learn about the variety of programs for ages 3-18. Staff will be available to answer questions. There will be free face painting, vendors, refreshments and more. Noon-6 p.m. Free. William Bill Austen Youth Center, 315 S.W. Second Ave., Cape Coral. 242-3950. capeparks.com
Frozen Open House at Studio Elite Acro & Dance — Meet the teachers, register for classes, tour the facility, watch the dancers perform and walk around in the snow and meet Elsa, Anna and Olaf. 12:30-4 p.m. Dancers perform at 1 and 3:30 p.m. "Frozen" characters meet-and-greet 1:30-3:30 p.m. Studio Elite Acro & Dance Academy, 1025 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral. 673-7497. studioeliteada.com
Weekend Weavers — Meet to share and learn. All levels welcome. Meets 2-4 p.m. every third Saturday. Free. Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers. 995-5952.
Fan Appreciation Fireworks — Fireworks follow the Miracle vs. Palm Beach Cardinals game. Gates open at 5 p.m. Game starts at 6:05 p.m. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers. miraclebaseball.com
SummerJazz on the Gulf — Free concert series that combines jazz entertainment with beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico. Tonight's family-friendly concert features the six-piece, high-energy show band Pocket Change as they perform Motown, funk, R&B variety, soul, and dance/party music. Each concert is held on the resort's Watkins Lawn overlooking the Gulf. Takes place one Saturday per month through September. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free. The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, 851 Gulfshore Blvd. North, Naples. 261-2222. naplesbeachhotel.com
SUNDAY, AUG. 17
Sea Monsters Traveling Exhibit — The Sea Monsters traveling exhibit from Mote Marine Laboratory, a marine science institution based in Sarasota, is on display at J.N. "Ding" Darling. Visitors will be able to interact with the free, temporary exhibit 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Aug. 18. Free. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. 472-1100. dingdarlingsociety.org
Back to School Cut-A-Thon — Free haircuts for children in need in the Fort Myers area, from kindergarten through 12th grade. 2-5 p.m. Indulgence Salon, 6900 Daniels Parkway, Suite 33, Fort Myers. 466-4247.
Miracle Kids Club Day & Subway Sunday — Visit Subway to get a voucher for a free four-pack of Miracle tickets. 2014 Kids Club members can show their card for a free ticket to the game. Bring your glove for pre-game catch on the field, and then after the game, sprint the bases. Game starts at 4:05 p.m. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers. miraclebaseball.com
Rollin' With Rover Roller Skate Party — Roll on over to Palace Roller Rink for two hours of skating fun starting at 4:30 pm. Tickets are $10 plus the cost of skate rental, if needed (additional $3). The Palace Roller Rink, 1490 Brown Road, North Fort Myers. 258-1278. animalrefugecenter.com/rollin-with-rover