1. SATURDAY: ‘Community Day’ at Rookery Bay
Rookery Bay Community Day is a free day of fun for all ages. It will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, May 2, with free admission to the center and a day filled with activities.
The event will feature kayak and stand-up paddle demos, face painting, photo booths, music, science and nature activities, an art exhibit by Paul Arsenault, nature book author signings by Bob Gonzales and Susan Levine, and onsite food trucks. There will also be hands-on experiences at Rookery Bay’s touch tanks full of marine life such as sea stars, shrimp, tiny crabs and other critters that live in the estuary waters of Rookery Bay Research Reserve.
In addition, Friends of Rookery Bay is offering “sneak peek” 30-minute boat tours with its exclusive eco-tour provider Rising Tide Explorers. The boat tours are $20 per person with pre-registration required online at rookerybay.org.
2. THIS WEEKEND: Purrs & Paddles in East Naples
For the Love of Cats invites the public to “Stay and Play in May” at the Purrs & Paddles Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, May 2, at the National Pickleball Center at East Naples Community Park.
The tournament is open to players of all levels. Spectators are also encouraged to attend. Players and visitors will enjoy a Kitten Meet and Greet, featuring a dedicated, supervised space where you can spend time with some of the adoptable kittens.
With a $100 donation, supporters can submit a photo of their cat to join the Whisker Warriors There’s also “Serve Looks: Best Dressed on the Court,” a competition inviting players to showcase fun and creative pickleball attire. Cat-themed looks are welcome and prizes will be awarded for standout style.
Registration and photo submissions are now open. For more information, visit Purrsandpaddles.givesmart.com.
3. SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Fort Myers Blueberry Fest
Celebrate the delicious blueberry with this second-annual festival from Buckler Shows. Expect fresh blueberries and food, arts, crafts, a cirque show, live music, a hula-hoop contest, monster-truck rides, free bounce houses, kids’ games, ax throwing, a free petting farm and lots more.
From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3. Cost: $7 (free age ages 2 and younger). Mike Greenwell Regional Park (formerly known as the Lee County Civic Center Complex), 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.
Information: ftmyersfest.com.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: 3 To Do: ‘Community Day’ at Rookery Bay, Purrs & Paddles in East Naples
Reporting by Marco Eagle / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
