Friends and neighbors,

Costume contests abound this week. Dress up your dog (or car) for Sunday’s Cars and Coffee, or get the whole family involved for the Haunted Hoedown next week. Need plans for Friday? Enjoy a tribute to two iconic piano men - Billy Joel and Elton John. 

Theater lovers have a full slate too. I’ll remind you that this weekend is the last opportunity to see Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, and next week, Gulfshore Playhouse kicks off its season. Farmer Mike’s Fall Fest is in full swing for two more weekends, and comedian Jeff Dye comes to Off the Hook. 

Looking ahead, the Naples International Film Festival begins next Thursday with an opening night party, and November brings the USA Today Wine & Food Experience. 

Inspiration abounds! 

See you around,

 Have an event you’d like to share? Email me at [email protected] and I may feature it here!  

1. The Ultimate Tribute to Elton John & Billy Joel: The Piano Men! 
📅 Friday, October 17th | 7:00 PM
📍755 8th Ave S, Naples, FL

Two icons, endless hits. Relive the magic of Billy Joel and Elton John in a show packed with all your favorites at The Norris Community Center. Whether you’re a “Rocket Man” or more of a “Piano Man,” this one’s for you. Tickets are $30 advance, $35 at the door, $40 VIP.

2.   Cars & Coffee 239: Halloween Edition 
📅 Sunday, October 19 | 9:00 – 11:00 AM
📍Event Lawn, Mercato, 9110 Strada Pl, Naples

Dress up your pet (or your car!) for costume contests at Mercato this weekend, and compete for a spooky prize. Enjoy live music, trunk-or-treating, and of course, the fuel for your day (coffee). Parking is first-come, first-served. No advance registration is required. Free. Event Info. 

3.  Farmer Mike's 11th Annual Fall Fest 2025  
📅 Saturdays & Sundays thru Oct. | 9 AM–10 PM (Sat); 9 AM–6 PM (Sun)
📍 Farmer Mike's U-Pick, 26031 Morton Ave, Bonita Springs

Pick your own pumpkins and sunflowers over at Farmer Mike’s in Bonita, or get lost (literally) in the 5-acre Lost City of Atlantis corn maze, complete with 16 game stations. Enjoy bounce houses, slides, food from N’Season Café, and a bustling vendor market. Tickets: $15 entry + maze, $8 entry only (kids 2 & under free, includes mini pumpkin). Feeling brave? Try the Haunted Corn Maze in the evenings ($40). Event info & Online Tickets.

4.   Jeff Dye @ Off the Hook Comedy Club
📅 Friday, October 17 - Sunday, October 19 | Evening Showtimes
📍Off the Hook Comedy, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Rd #1100, Naples

Jeff Dye is a seasoned comic fresh off NBC’s variety series “I Can Do That” and stars in their new comedy adventure “Better Late Than Never” that follows the travels of Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman. Don’t miss him this weekend at Off the Hook, where you can laugh until your face hurts while indulging in dinner. Tickets are $30 + fees. 

5.   Haunted Hoedown
📅 Tuesday, October 21 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍Event Lawn, Mercato, 9110 Strada Pl, Naples

Don your best costumes and celebrate Halloween early with the whole family! Check in at the Mercato Tent by 6:00 PM to be entered into the costume contest. The top winner and two runners-up will receive spook-tacular prizes. Kids can get their faces painted, pick pumpkins, and trick-or-treat around Mercato. Hotel Transylvania will begin screening at 7 PM. Free. Donation required for pumpkin picking. Event info. 

6.   Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? @ Gulfshore Playhouse
📅 October 21 - November 23
📍100 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples

Edward Albee’s darkly funny masterpiece kicks off Gulfshore Playhouse’s season. What begins as a polite nightcap between two couples spirals into a razor-sharp game of truth and illusion. Brutal, brilliant, and unforgettable. Tickets start at $39. 

7. Opening Night @ Naples International Film Festival 
 📅 October 23  | 7:00 PM
📍Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples

The annual Naples International Film Festival returns with a four-day lineup of independent films, documentaries, and shorts from around the world. Catch the opening night party, walk the red carpet, and watch the first screening next Thursday. Tickets and VIP Passes are still available.

USA Today Wine & Food Experience
Saturday, November 15 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Blvd N, Naples

Taste. Sip. Savor. It’s the wine event of the year! USA Today comes to Naples for a grand day of sampling local bites, wine, beer, and spirits from local brands. Grab general admission tickets for $65, which includes a tasting cup, all food and beverage samples, access to mixology classes and more. Day of, tickets are $75. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Gulfshore Playhouse. Click here to purchase tickets.

Why It Matters

The events above are more than plans for your calendar. They strengthen our local economy, fund future seasons, and create safe, joyful spaces for families. Choosing a local show, a neighborhood festival, or a homegrown venue keeps dollars nearby and culture alive.

Your night out today helps ensure there is even more to enjoy tomorrow.

Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

P.S. - Check out our sponsor’s vacation homes, comfortable for you, your family, and even your pets. Find out why they currently have more than 500 reviews (all 5 stars!). For more information and to book that perfect vacation, click here.

Put your brand in front of 100,000 passionate Naples Florida Review readers. Let's partner.