In addition to great weather, shell-drenched shores and the warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida is the setting for award-winning, nationally-recognized festival and events that your clients will love!

Plan ahead for your avid sailing clients: Hobie 16 World Championship, Nov. 1-16, 2019

For the first time in 35 years, the Hobie 16 World Championships is returning to the USA. And it is coming to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Nov. 1-16, 2019.

Sailors from around the world will compete in three world championship disciplines: Women’s, Youth and Open, and three additional disciplines; Masters Cup, Grand Masters Cup and Great Grand Masters Cup. South Seas Island Resort will host more than 1,000 athletes and 336 teams on 60 new Hobie Cat racing catamaran sailboats for 16 sailing days. Sailors from 30 countries are expected to attend. In past world events, as many as 7,000 people have attended the championships.

Plan ahead if your clients love Mango’s: 23rd Annual Mango Mania Tropical Fruit Festival, Pine Island on July 13-14, 2019

Each summer the mango is the star attraction for two days on Pine Island. Go wild for fruit as you sample locally grown delicacies at this annual affair, an unusual celebration of all the tropical fruit grown on the island, which includes lychee, carambola, longan, papaya and “chocolate pudding fruit.” Fruit, exotic fruit trees and fruit-related products are available for purchase.

Do your clients love music? Plan ahead: Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

The sixth annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest returns Sept. 20-29, 2019. The popular event brings music back to the beach with new artists and new events. The festival takes place over 10 days and offers a range of star-studded performances. It kicks off on Captiva Island Sept. 20-22; moves to downtown Fort Myers Sept. 23-26; and ends at Fort Myers Beach Sept. 27-29.

The festival is presented by The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, iHeartRadio, Cat Country 107.1 and BMI. It was named one of the top events for summer by the Southeast Tourism Society. Past performers include Midland, Parmalee, Thompson Square and Grammy Award winner Maren Morris. The sixth annual event will continue to give fans the opportunity to meet the talented artists who write songs for country superstars including Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean and Tricia Yearwood.

Not to miss event: 33rd Annual Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach, Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 2019

The 33rd Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship and Beach Festival is sponsored by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. This fun-filled event will include world-class master sand sculptors, a state championship contest, an amateur contest, sand sculpting demonstrations and lessons and much more. With more than 1,000 tons of sand, master sand sculptors are returning to Fort Myers Beach forming the largest sand sculpting event in the state, plying their craft and showcasing their artistry in what USA Today and CNN Travel have named a “must-see” and one of the 10 best sand sculpting competitions in the world.

For more information on these and many more amazing festivals and events taking place, visit www.fortmyers-sanibel.com