Best things to do this week in SW FL: ArtFest Fort Myers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Gumbo Fest

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including ArtFest Fort Myers and blues-rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Plus, we look ahead at more things to do in the coming weeks.

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 crunnells@gannett.com or message me at facebook.com/charles.runnells.7.

1. ArtFest Fort Myers

Some 224 artists show and sell their work at the 24th-annual outdoor art festival. The fest has expanded to Jackson Street this year, making room for 24 more artists than usual. Activities include the Art Under 20 high-school art competition, a food court, live performances on the community stage, a timed 5K race (8 a.m. Sunday), a sidewalk chalk-art competition, a children's craft area and the second-annual Symphony on the Sound pops concert (with Gulf Coast Symphony performing at 7 p.m. Friday at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater). 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3-4.  There’s also an opening night preview from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Free admission. Edwards Drive between Heitman and Lee streets in downtown Fort Myers. 768-3602 or ArtFestFortMyers.com

2. Kenny Wayne Shepherd at B.B. Mann Hall

The Louisiana-born blues-rocker brings his Dirt On My Diamonds Tour to Fort Myers. Shepherd has scored a string of No. 1 blues albums since 1996, including Top 10 singles such as “Last Goodbye” and “Blue On Black.” Eric Gales opens the show. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. $42-$106. Limited tickets remain. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

3. Gumbo Fest at The Shell Factory

Celebrate the glory of gumbo with food trucks, vendors, a raffle and live zydeco and Cajun music, including headliners Dwayne Doopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4. Free admission. The Shell Factory & Nature Park, 16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers. 995-2141 or shellfactory.com

4. The Queers at Ollie's Pub

The punk-rock legends have been playing fast, snotty music since the early '80s. Their best-known songs include "I Hate Everything" and "Punk Rock Girls." Plus opening acts Except You, The Raging Nathans and Longest Haul. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. Doors open at 7 p.m. $20 ($25 for ages 20 and younger). Ollie’s Pub, 1019 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral.  540-7867 or facebook.com/olliespubCC 

5. 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 shows include tattooer and visual artist Ananda War’s solo exhibit at DAAS CO-OP. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Free. Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month. Downtown Fort Myers. facebook.com/fortmyersartwalk

MORE SHOWS, EVENTS IN FORT MYERS, BONITA SPRINGS, CAPE CORAL

Florida Rep's 'The Gin Game'

D.L. Coburn’s heart-wrenching, Pulitzer Prize-winning play about two nursing-home residents reflecting on their long lives while playing the game of gin. Feb 2-March 10. Tickets start at $65. Discount previews Jan. 30-Feb. 1. ArtStage Studio Theatre at Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 332-4488 or floridarep.org

Diamond Rio at The Ranch

The country stars have charted dozens of hit singles since their 1991 debut, including "Meet Me In The Middle," "Beautiful Mess," "Unbelievable" and "One More Day." Pure Country opens the show. Show starts at about 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. $43-$80. The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com

Tanya Tucker at B.B. Mann

The country-music legend is known for hits such as “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane, “If Your Heart Ain’t Busy Tonight,” “Texas (When I Die)” and, of course, “Delta Dawn.” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. $40-$83. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

Katelyn & Jules with Country Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy

Josie Music Awards-winning duo Katelyn & Jules play jazz and other genres with a full band. They'll be joined on two songs by Charlie McCoy, a legendary Nashville harmonica player who's played on everything from Tanya Tucker's "Delta Dawn" to Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman.” 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. $20. Cultural Park Theater, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. 772-5862 or culturalparktheater.com

Creepy Crawly Day at Calusa Nature Center

It’s all about bugs, snakes and other “creepy crawlies” at this long-running event. Learn about insects, eat edible bugs, interact with snakes, watch a special planetarium show and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. $10 ($5 for ages 3-12). Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435 or calusanature.org

Lee County Chili Challenge

Firefighters, police, paramedics and military members cook and serve their best chili recipes in this fifth-annual fundraiser. The event raises money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Collier-Lee Honor Flight and Injured Warriors Fund of Florida. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. $10 admission includes a “chili testing kit” for sampling various chilis. There will also be prize drawings, drinks and more food. Stu’s Motorcycles, 14607 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. facebook.com/leecountychilichallenge

Stardust Memories Big Band 10th anniversary shows

The local big band celebrates its first decade with two anniversary shows in Naples and Bonita Springs. The program features swinging big-band tunes and jazz soloists. The shows take place 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, at Cambier Park in Naples; and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. Free with a suggested $5 donation per person. stardustmemoriesbigband.com

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Wind Ensemble at BIG ARTS

The touring wind group draws its members from the world-renowned London chamber-music ensemble Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The group was formed to perform larger-scale chamber music. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. $79. BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island. 395-0900 or bigarts.org

LOOKING AHEAD

'Proof' at Players Circle Theater

David Auburn's 2000 drama "Proof" was turned into a 2005 movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins and Jake Gyllenhaal. The story involves a young woman who worries that, along with her late father's mathematical genius, she's also inherited his mental illness. Then one of her father's university students discovers an old notebook containing a groundbreaking mathematical proof, but it's unclear who authored the proof. Feb. 9-March 3. Discount previews Feb. 6-8. $35-$55. Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 800-3292 or playerscircletheater.com

Theatre Conspiracy's 'The Women Who Mapped the Stars'

Theatre Conspiracy leaves its Alliance for the Arts home for a fundraiser in Calusa Nature Center’s planetarium. In the play, five female astronomers help shape the development of astrophysics at the Harvard Observatory after one of them ― as a graduate student ― discovers that stars are made of hydrogen. Talkbacks with playwright Joyce Van Dyke will follow each performance. The show is a fundraiser for Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium. Feb. 8-18. $32 ($14 for students). Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 939-2787 or ArtInLee.org/Theatre

Sanibel Art and Craft Festival

About 70 artists and crafters show and sell their work at this juried outdoor fest. The annual event benefits the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel Community House. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Feb. 9-11. Free. The Sanibel Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. boulderbrook.net

Tower of Power at B.B. Mann Hall

California's Tower of Power landed some big funk and R&B hits in the '70s, including "You're Still a Young Man," "So Very Hard to Go" and "What Is Hip?" 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. $48-$107. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

Bonita Holiday Fair

This annual fair usually happens in December, but organizers have moved it to February this year. The fair boasts more than 30 amusement rides, including a more than 100-foot-tall Ferris wheel. Plus games, prizes, fair food, a large Kiddieland area, racing pigs, a magician and a petting zoo. Feb. 9-19. $10 admission (two-for-one with online coupon). Rides cost extra. Unlimited-ride wristbands are $30. Other deals also available. Bonita Springs Poker Room, 10601 Bonita Beach Road. Bonita Springs. BonitaFair.com

Bonita Springs National Art Festival

The second 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, Feb. 10-11. Free with a suggested $5 donation. Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, downtown Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artcenterbonita.org/artfest

Cape Coral Bike Night

Motorcycles rumble into downtown Cape for this popular event featuring live rock bands, vendors, beer, food and more. The rock lineup includes Relentless Fire and Van Halen tribute Completely Unchained. 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. Free. Southeast 47th Terrace, downtown Cape Coral. ccbikenight.com

Alanis Morissette musical 'Jagged Little Pill' at B.B. Mann Hall

This jukebox musical was inspired by Grammy-winning pop singer Alanis Morissette's hit 1995 album "Jagged Little Pill." The empowering story ― written by film director Diablo Cody ("Juno," "Jennifer's Body") ― follows a fictional Connecticut family dealing with pain, addiction, racial identity, sexual assault and other trauma. Tuesday through Sunday, Feb. 13-18. $49-$97. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.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 crunnells@gannett.com. 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, Bonita Springs shows, events: ArtFest, Kenny Wayne Shepherd