JANUARY – More than 800 boats come for the Charlotte County Boat Show, tel. 941-629-4252, www.fortmyersboatshow. com, at Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Rd. in Port Charlotte.
MARCH – Watch the Conquistador Cup Regatta, tel. 941-456-5059, www.pgscweb.com, in Charlotte Harbor from Fishermen's Village or Gilchrist Park.
APRIL – One of the biggest and best in the state, the Florida International Air Show, tel. 941-639-1101, www.fl-airshow.com, features the Thunderbirds and Golden Knights.
MAY – Boca Grande hosts Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament, tel. 941-964-0568, early in the month. Other tarpon tournaments continue through mid-June. Two redfish tournaments take place in Punta Gorda during the month: Kid's Cup Redfish Tournament at Fishermen's Village, tel. 941-766-8180, www.kidscuptour nament.com, and Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup at Gilchrist Park, tel. 941-743-1900, www.redfishnation.com. At Port Charlotte Beach, the Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival, tel. 941-743-1900, www.pureflorida.com, takes place for two days, with kayak tours, demonstrations, wildlife seminars, and a kayak fishing tournament.
JULY – Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda (1200 W. Retta Esplanade) is the site of several water-oriented festivals throughout the year. Fourth of July Freedom Swim, tel. 941-637-1177, is a big event with hundreds of participants and boats crossing the wide mouth of the Peace River between Seahorse Marina in Charlotte Harbor and Fishermen's Village.
DECEMBER – Lighted boat parades are the quintessential mode for holiday celebrating in Southwest Florida. In Charlotte County, watch early in the month for the Englewood Lighted Boat Parade, tel. 941-475-6882 and the Peace River Lighted Boat Parade, tel. 941-639-3720, www.puntagorda-chamber.com.
