Friends and neighbors,
Welcome to 2026! I hope you all had a wonderful time ringing in the new year. Am I the only one who still gets a little misty when Auld Lang Syne plays? Maybe I’ve watched It’s a Wonderful Life one too many times.
This week’s list has a little bit of everything: the 30th annual Naples New Year’s Art Fair, a belated New Year’s fireworks show by the water, a laugh at the theater, and a few good excuses to get out of the house after dark.
As always, I hope this list helps you find something interesting to disrupt your routine. If you have an event or suggestion, shoot me a note at [email protected], and I may feature it!
May this year bring good tidings,
Table of Contents
Top 6 Events This Week: Art in the Park or Art after Dark?
1. 30th Annual Naples New Year's Art Fair
📅 Saturday, January 3 & Sunday, January 4 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍755 8th Ave S, Naples
Start your year with creative inspiration (and possibly come home with new art). The Naples New Year’s Art Fair celebrates its 30th year with around 250 juried artists from across the country in a range of mediums including paintings, ceramics, glass, fiber, wood, and more. Ranked among the nation’s top art fairs, this one is a local favorite for a reason. A fun morning activity that will work up an appetite to wander 5th Avenue for lunch. Event Info.
2. Naples New Year’s Fireworks
📅 Saturday, January 3 | 6:30 PM
📍Naples Shoreline
Because it doesn’t feel like New Year’s without a fireworks celebration. The city’s New Year’s fireworks will light up the shoreline on Saturday at 6:30 PM (weather permitting). Bring your own chairs and blankets, arrive early for a good spot, and note the beach rules: no dogs, personal fireworks, glass, or open flames. See event info here. Want to watch from the water instead? Pure Florida still has tickets available for their fireworks cruise.
3. Something Completely Different! Comedy Nights @ TNP
📅 Saturday, January 3 | 7:30 PM
📍 Price Theater, The Naples Players
If your New Year’s resolution includes laughing more, head to this improv show at The Naples Players. Comedy Nights brings together singers, dancers, musicians, and storytellers for a night of performance and improv that’s both clever and chaotic (in the best way). Everything is fueled by audience suggestions, so no two shows are ever the same. Tickets are $25.
4. Start Spreadin’ the News with Liza & Frank: Tribute
📅 Thursday, January 8 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM
📍Norris Center, 755 8th Avenue South, Naples
If you like timeless music, head to the Norris Center next Thursday. Tony Sands and Whitney Grace bring Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli back to life with a tribute that’s earned standing ovations nationwide. Expect classics like Come Fly With Me, Cabaret, and a show-stopping New York, New York finale. Tickets are $30 + fees.
5. Art After Dark – Naples Art District
📅 Wednesday, January 7 | 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍Naples Art District, J & C Blvd, Shirley St, Naples, Shirley St, Naples
One of the best low-key nights out in town. Art After Dark invites you into working studios throughout the Naples Art District to meet local artists, see new work, and hear the stories and process behind it all. Mingle and watch artists at work with light refreshments in the galleries. A great way to support local artists and discover a different part of Naples. Event info.
6. New World Symphony @ Artis—Naples
📅 Thursday, January 8 & Friday, January 9 | 7:30 PM
📍Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples
A powerful and beautifully programmed evening at Artis. Artistic Director Alexander Shelley leads the orchestra alongside internationally acclaimed soprano Karen Slack for the world premiere of African Queens for Soprano and Orchestra, celebrating seven historic African queens through music by seven American composers. The program also includes Jennifer Higdon’s moving Blue Cathedral and Dvořák’s beloved Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” Arrive early for the 6:30 PM prelude talk and enjoy same-day admission to The Baker Museum. Tickets start at $29.
Presented by Naples Florida Rentals: The January Secret Locals Don’t Advertise 🔑🌴
January is Naples at its best: perfect weather, a little more energy in town, and the kind of days that make you forget what month it is everywhere else. The catch? The best homes get claimed early — often before peak-season pricing fully kicks in.
Skip the big platforms (and the extra fees). Book direct and lock in a premium stay the smarter way.
Your January could look like:
🌊 Morning: Coffee on your private lanai with Gulf light rolling in
🌴 Afternoon: Beach time, then back to your own heated pool
🌙 Evening: Dinner out, then home to your own quiet slice of Naples
Why book direct with Naples Florida Rentals:
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A real local host — text or call Dana anytime
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January availability tightens fast. If Naples is even a “maybe,” it’s worth checking now.
Poll Results: Resolutions or Bust?
Last week’s poll asked: What kind of resolution person are you?
Here’s where you landed:
By just one vote, One realistic goal was most popular with 27% of votes, followed by None for me! One or none, I appreciate even a symbolic fresh start. Resolutions can also be less serious, like “Eat 30 different pasta shapes” or “Find the best burger in Naples.” As you can see, I might think about food too much.
This Week’s Poll: 2026 Travel?
When one vacation ends, I’m always looking ahead to the next one.
Do you already have any trips planned for 2026?
Why It Matters
As 2026 gets underway, I hope this week’s list helps you turn “we should get out more” into an actual plan. Naples has a way of making the new year feel lighter when you lean into it, whether that means browsing art in the park, catching fireworks by the water, or saying yes to a weeknight concert.
These events are more than calendar fillers. They are how we stay connected to the place we live and to the people around us, even when routines try to take over again.
Wishing you a bright start to the year, and I will see you back here next week.
Warmly,
Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review
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