January 2026 on Ft Myers Beach

Cabo Wabo Jim - Good Neighbor • January 15, 2026

🥥 The Coconut Telegraph


Welcome to The Coconut Telegraph — your monthly update from the What’s Up FMB Alliance.

Each month, we’ll share what we’ve been working on, what’s coming up next, and the ways our businesses, residents, and partners are helping keep Fort Myers Beach active, connected, and thriving.

Thanks for being part of the movement — and for supporting Fort Myers Beach.

Since forming in August, our community has experienced explosive growth:


  • We've hit 2,600+ Facebook followers!
  • Our website newsletter has almost 300 subscribers!
  • We still need your high-resolution photos and videos for the website.  Please email info@whatsupfmb.com

FMB Is Back and The Island’s Buzzing Again:


Here’s What’s Up in 2026 



If you’re searching Fort Myers Beach eventsthings to do on Fort Myers Beach, or just plain What’s Up on Fort Myers Beach, here’s my on-island take: you can feel the new-year momentum in the little things.


It’s in the early-morning sounds, bike bells, seagulls arguing over breakfast, the soft thump of someone setting up chairs outside a shop that’s finally back open. It’s in the way more people linger rather than rush. And it’s in that little smile locals get when someone asks, “So… what should we do today?” because right now there are more answers than there were a year ago.

Welcome to the new-year energy, FMB style. And yep, What’s Up FMB is keeping the pulse on it all.

What's Up FMB


The 2026 vibe: more lights on, more plans worth making


I’ve lived enough island seasons to know when the mood shifts. You can feel it when the sidewalks have that steady foot traffic again. When you catch live music drifting on the breeze and you realize you followed it without even meaning to. When a “quick beach walk” turns into a full evening because someone mentions a special, a band, a pop-up, or “hey, there’s something going on near Times Square.”


That’s why What’s Up FMB exists. Not to sell you a postcard, but to help you experience Fort Myers Beach like someone who actually knows where the good energy is hiding.


So if you’re planning a trip (or already here with sand in your trunk), start with what matters: Fort Myers Beach eventsthings to do on Fort Myers Beach, and the real-time scoop on what’s happening on Fort Myers Beach. That’s our wheelhouse.


Upcoming Fort Myers Beach events to plan around:


Santini Farmers Market

Location: Santini Marina Plaza, 7205 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM


68th Annual Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival
Location:
 Old San Carlos Blvd (between 1st Street and 3rd Street), Fort Myers Beach
Date:
 March 7–8, 2026
Time:
 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (both days)


Fort Myers Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Location: Starts at Santini Plaza, ends at Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club (175 Sterling Ave)
Date:
 Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time:
 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM


The Vibe right now: Brighter, Livelier, more “Let’s Do This”


All around the island, you can feel the momentum building. More doors are opening. More lights are on. More beach days end with “one more stop” instead of “let’s head back.” It’s the kind of progress you notice in the little things: the buzz near Times Square, the return of familiar traditions, and the steady sense that Fort Myers Beach is stepping forward with purpose.

 

Big “What’s Up” Energy: The FMB Pier is coming back Bigger


One of the clearest signals of the Beach’s forward motion is the Fort Myers Beach Pier replacement project. The official renderings show a rebuilt pier designed to be 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, longer and wider than the previous structure.


Even before it’s finished, the pier’s comeback is already part of the island’s heartbeat, a promise in progress and a reason to plan a return trip.

 

Easier arrivals and a smoother “Welcome to FMB”


Getting on and off the Beach matters to visitors, and it’s on the radar. The Town’s “Projects Around Town” page highlights planned improvements at the base of the Matanzas Pass Bridge, including streets, stoplights, traffic flow, and landscaping.
Translation: a more welcoming first impression and a less “stress” start to your beach day.

 

Why visit in 2026 Because the Island Energy Is Back!


You get the best parts of Fort Myers Beach, Sun, Sand, Gulf breezes, plus the extra spark of a destination on the rise. It’s a place actively becoming, and that makes a vacation feel less like “same old,” and more like you’re arriving in the middle of a story worth telling.

So, pack the flip-flops, bring your appetite, and leave room in your schedule for the unplanned detours. Find Out What’s Up on FMB as we are building, celebrating, and shining into 2026, and it’s ready for visitors to be part of the wave. 


Positive Vibes,


Cabo Wabo Jim Schaller

cabowabojim.com



📅 Upcoming Events Featured on WhatsUpFMB.com 


Signature Events


  • Gilligan’s Island Treasure Hunt – April 2026
  • Charmed Crawl – May–July 2026
  • Mullet Madness – July 24–25, 2026
  • Illuminations Parade – Nov 14, 2026
  • TropiClaus – Dec 16, 2026 at The Whale



🗓️ What’s Up FMB Meeting Schedule


All meetings are held at
3 PM upstairs at Nervous Nellie’s.


  • April 8 (tentative)
  • May 13
  • June 10
  • July 8
  • August 12
  • September 9
  • October 14
  • November 11
  • December 9 - The December meeting will begin later than usual and will double as our holiday party, combining a brief meeting with time to celebrate the season together. 🎄


Thank you for being part of the What’s Up FMB Alliance and for supporting the businesses, events, and people that make Fort Myers Beach special. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings and events as we continue building momentum together.



Stay beachy. Stay kind. Stay FMB.
JOIN THE ALLIANCE
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By Dawn Miller May 31, 2026
Summer on Fort Myers Beach has a rhythm all its own. The mornings start with sunshine reflecting off the Gulf, afternoons are filled with beach days and waterfront dining, and evenings end with unforgettable sunsets that remind us why people return to the island year after year. While many visitors think of Fort Myers Beach as a winter destination, locals know that summer is one of the best times to experience everything the island has to offer. Start with the Beach No summer adventure is complete without spending time on the sand. Whether you're taking a morning walk along the shoreline, swimming in the warm Gulf waters, searching for shells, or simply relaxing with your toes in the sand, the beach remains the heart of the Fort Myers Beach experience. The Gulf is warm, the sunsets are spectacular, and there is always another perfect spot waiting to be discovered. Explore the Water Fort Myers Beach offers endless opportunities for adventure on the water. Visitors can rent wave runners, paddleboards, and kayaks, take dolphin cruises, enjoy fishing charters, parasail high above the Gulf, or simply spend the day cruising the back bays. For many visitors, some of their favorite memories are made just offshore. Discover Local Favorites One of the best parts of summer on Fort Myers Beach is exploring the businesses that make the island unique. From waterfront restaurants and beach bars to boutiques, gift shops, attractions, and locally owned businesses, every stop offers a chance to discover something new. Take time to venture beyond your usual routine. You may find a new favorite restaurant, a hidden shopping gem, or an activity you never knew existed. Experience Island Events Summer is packed with opportunities to get involved and experience the community. Events like Coastal Cars & Coffee bring automotive enthusiasts together from throughout Southwest Florida. The Island Charm Crawl encourages visitors and residents to explore businesses across the island while collecting keepsake charms along the way. Throughout the season, live music, community gatherings, special promotions, and family-friendly activities create reasons to visit Fort Myers Beach again and again. Enjoy Island Dining Few things pair better with summer than great food and a waterfront view. Whether you're looking for fresh seafood, tropical cocktails, burgers, tacos, breakfast by the beach, or a sunset dinner overlooking the water, Fort Myers Beach offers dining experiences for every taste. Many restaurants feature live entertainment throughout the week, making every meal part of the island experience. Make Memories What makes Fort Myers Beach special isn't just the beach or the sunsets. It's the memories created here. It's family vacations that become annual traditions. It's friends gathering for a weekend getaway. It's discovering a favorite local spot that keeps bringing you back. It's the feeling of slowing down and enjoying life for a while. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to experience all of it.  So whether you're planning a day trip, a weekend escape, or an extended stay, we invite you to get out, explore, support local businesses, and create your own summer adventure on Fort Myers Beach. We'll see you on the island.
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