The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is set to return to the Fort Myers area from September 19-28, with a lineup featuring more than 60 singer-songwriters performing over 80 shows. The festival will close with a concert by multi-platinum BMI artist Chris Young at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach on September 28. LOCASH, another well-known country duo and BMI singer-songwriters, will perform on September 22 at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral. While most events are free, some performances, including those by Young and LOCASH, will require tickets.
The festival’s schedule includes performances across four locations: Captiva Island (September 19-21), Cape Coral (September 22-23), Downtown Fort Myers (September 24-25), and Fort Myers Beach (September 26-28). For details on the lineup and ticket information, attendees can visit IslandHopperFest.com or use the event’s app. Social media updates are available via #islandhopperfest as well as Instagram and Facebook.
Several accommodation updates were announced for Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Shalimar Beach Resort is set to reopen on Sanibel Island after a complete rebuild following Hurricane Ian, marking it as the first resort in the area to do so. The family-owned property is accepting reservations for October 2025 onward. White Pelican Villas plans an opening in early 2026 after rebuilding the former Beachview Cottages site, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
South Seas Island Resort on Captiva has reopened amenities such as pools, restaurants, golf, and fitness facilities; villa-style accommodations are available while hotel construction continues. A new water feature is scheduled to open in December.
Best Western Plus Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach has completed renovations and reopened its beachfront property offering suites, rooms, complimentary breakfast, heated pool, watersports access, and pet-friendly options.
Jensen’s Twin Palm Resort and Marina on Captiva Island continues to welcome visitors with its historic cottages and marina services since its opening in 1977.
Dining establishments also report significant developments. The Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva Island will reopen July 14 after nearly three years of restoration work following multiple hurricanes. The Beach Bar has resumed operations on Fort Myers Beach with a new walk-up building designed for resilience against future storms.
Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina recently opened in Cape Coral near the base of the bridge over the Caloosahatchee River. It offers ten food trucks onsite along with daily live music events throughout the year.
Tap 42 Craft Kitchen and Bar now operates in Bell Tower in Fort Myers with contemporary American cuisine served in an upscale setting that features a rooftop bar open Wednesday through Saturday for live music events.
Lazy Flamingo restaurant has reopened on Sanibel Island serving its original menu favorites including conch fritters and grouper dishes.
Key Lime Bistro has officially reopened in Old Captiva providing breakfast through dinner service along with live music performances.
Chef Melissa Donahue’s Sweet Melissa’s restaurant has relocated to south Fort Myers after being closed due to hurricane damage since 2022; it resumes service with its known menu offerings and wine list.
Swamp Cat Brewing has opened downtown inside a renovated former church building offering twelve beers on tap from three vendors along with an indoor/outdoor bar space suitable for entertainment events.
In terms of attractions news, Causeway Islands Park recently reopened its beach park facilities after being used during essential rebuilding activities related to hurricane recovery efforts led by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Phase Two improvements are expected to begin late next year—including parking structures, restrooms accessible beaches compliant with ADA standards—and anticipated completion is set for 2026 depending on weather conditions (https://www.leegov.com/parks/beaches/causeway).
“Multi-platinum BMI singer-songwriter and global entertainer Chris Young will headline the closing concert for Island Hopper Songwriter Fest on Sept. 28, at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach.”
“Island Hopper also welcomes country music favorite and BMI singer-songwriters LOCASH. The popular duo will perform Monday, Sept. 22, at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral.”
“For the full lineup and ticket information, visit IslandHopperFest.com or download the Island Hopper app.”
