Bonita Springs Boat Parade December 10, 2011

Looking for things to do in Bonita Springs?  The 26th Annual Bonita Springs holiday boat parade is set for December 10, 2011 and is brought to you by Bonita Springs Rotary Club Noon.

Details with meeting locations and the captain’s dinner are as follows:

• Sign Up: Captain’s Dinner is December 6th at The Fish House at 6:00 p.m. for Captains and First Mates, only … or visit Bay Water Boat Club and Rentals for a sign-up sheet.
• Parade Date: December 10, 2011
• The Location: The Fish House ~ 4685 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34134 is the sign up location and the beginning of the parade route.
• The Route: The boat parade begins at the Fish House, goes up the Imperial River to east of US 41 Tamiami Trail to approximately Flossmoor Drive where it turns around and returns to the Barefoot Boat Club for the after party.
• The After Party: The Boat Parade after party is at The Fish House, also. 
• Prizes!:  This year there are five new boat parade prize categories.  $500 for 1st Place, $300 for 2nd Place, $200 for 3rd Place.

For more information, call Bay Waters Boat Rentals 239-495-0455 and visit www.BonitaBoatParade.com  

You can also print a Boat Parade Flyer by clicking here: Bonita Springs Boat Parade Flyer

Traveling Vietnam Wall in Bonita Springs, Florida

Enjoy the video above of the Patriot Guard escort motorcade of the Vietnam Wall pulling into Riverside Park in Downtown Bonita Springs, Florida.  Dec. 1-4 a replica of part of the Vietnam Wall will displayed at Riverside Park on Old 41 Road in downtown Bonita Springs, Florida.  Click the map below for directions to the park:

July 4th 2011 ~ Independence Day in Bonita Springs

If you do not see the July 4th parade pictures above, CLICK HERE.

Taste of Bonita 2010 ~ Riverside Park ~ Things to Do

The 17th annual Taste of Bonita 2010 is back, and some of the area’s finest restaurants are serving up their best once again.

The Taste of Bonita food festival will be held at Riverside Park on Nov. 21st. from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Riverside Park is located on Old US 41 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Dozens of Naples, Estero and Bonita Springs restaurants are scheduled to participate and an estimated 8,000 plus people are expected …to attend.

The Taste of Bonita event is planned and headed up by Bonita Springs Rotary Noon. The festival is a fund raiser for local charity programs.

Local restaurants will be participating in the Taste of Bonita event with most dishes and samples being offered priced under $5.00. This is an excellent opportunity for local residents to sample the cuisine of locally owned restaurants and support the local businesses.

Admission to the Taste of Bonita is FREE. Live music, entertainment and fun things to do will be on site, as well.

For more information about Taste of Bonita 2008 contact 239-273-7430.  A map to Riverside Park is located below the red markers indicate the park on the west side of 41 and overflow parking on the east side of 41.

Old 41 Parade | Events | Things To Do

The Fourth of July parade starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 3rd.  The parade route travels south on Old 41 Road, turning right on Hampton Street, and right onto Front Street ending at Riverside Park, 27300 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 

From past experience I can share it will be hot.  Bring a chair, water and an umbrella to shade yourself while you wait for the parade to begin.

On Sunday, July 4th, there is a Party in the Park, live entertainment, water slide, dunking game, races, children’s activities, pie eating, hot dog and ice cream eating contests and a laser light show followed by a small fireworks show at dusk  from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Riverside Park, 27300 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs,  Florida.

Parking for the parade and the party in the park will be on the east side of Old 41.  The band shell and judges viewing stand is west of 41. A map to the park and parking for the parade route is below:

Things To Do Local Events & Festivals

Our busy tourist season is wrapping up and it’s ushered out the way it came in, with outdoor events and festivals. A little unknown fact about our local events is that there are visitors that plan their trips to and from our area around some of our local events. While our events schedule may not be the initial draw for a visit to southwest Florida they are a reason to plan an “arrive by” or “depart after” date for many people.

Recently, I had the opportunity to eavesdrop on a conversation a couple of people were having about a local event they attended. There was a grumble about how much a sandwich cost and a few other nit-pickery complaints.

While I realize the complaining is nearly a national pass time it saddened me that the people having the conversation didn’t get it. We aren’t a metropolis and most of our public events aren’t thrown by cities without budgets. There also aren’t “party planning squads” at the county or city level of government.

Many of our local events are organized by volunteers and service organizations. While there is generally a charitable aspect to the event there is always the fundamental goal of providing a good time and a sense of community and fellowship for both locals and visitors.

If you pay closer attention at the next event you attend you may notice it. Very often, it’s your community that is actually hosting it, not your city. It’s your neighbor, your doctor, your insurance agent, your accountant and many other small businesses and their owners. They give their time and, most importantly, their money and services to sponsor the events to underwrite expenses.

It’s usually a win-win because it provides a reason for people to come together and an avenue to raise funds and awareness for local charitable organizations or causes.

If you’re one of the lucky people that get to stay here all summer you may realize that there are other benefits besides getting into a restaurant without a reservation and cutting across town in half the time. You have the opportunity to get involved, at any level, to help create or sustain the local community for the winter and spring of next year.

This summer will go by quietly with many local residents and champions of charity quietly planning the next years 5K events, food festivals, boat parades, farmer’s markets, movies in the parks and so on. When our weather is tolerable again we’ll have many ways to welcome back our tourists, celebrate whatever needs celebrated and build our sense community. Remarkably, it will all be created by the hands of unbelievably average, yet extraordinary people that realize that they get what they give.

So maybe the next time you’re at an event and the feeling comes over you that it could have been run better, bigger, cheaper or done more often, know this; you can help with the solution by getting involved or by becoming a sponsor of the event.

Your blood, sweat, tears, time or checkbook is welcome at any service organization or their events. You just have to step up and give of yourself what you can.

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Real Life in Bonita Springs is a project by Chris Griffith dedicated to writing useful blog posts for consumers about the Bonita Springs, Florida area.  Find out what it is really like to live in Bonita Springs, Florida by reading about our fair city. You’ll get the latest in local real estate information, Bonita Springs real estate market reports and a little bit of humor.  If you have topic ideas, feel free to request a story about the idea, after all, this site is just for you.

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Things to Do in SW Florida

The Rotary Club of Bonita Springs Noon presents International Fest at The Mercato, Naples, Florida.

• Date:  April 29, 2010
• Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• After party: 8:00-11:00 p.m. at Blue Martini

Your $20.00 passport entitles you to a souvenir beer mug or wine glass, beer or wine tasting, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and no cover charge for the after party at Blue Martini.

A limited number of passports will be availble to purchase the night of the event while supplies last.  Passports can be purchased in advance by calling 239-390-8239.

For a printable flyer of the event click the image to launch the page:

Participating Locations Include:

• AZN Azian Cuisine
• Blue Martini
• Bravo! Cucina Italiana
• McCormick & Schmick’s
• Piola Famosi Per La Pizza
• Pure
• Silverspot
• Stage 62 Dei
• The Capital Grille
• The Pub
• Whole Foods
• Bobby Chan and The Strada will serve Complimentary hors d’oeuvres at their locations.

Celebrate Bonita Riverside Park Bonita Springs Fl

The 11th annual Celebrate Bonita Festival is Saturday April 10, 2010 from 2-9:00 p.m.  There will be food, entertainment and a chili and rib cook off.  See you at Riverside Park!

Here is a printable flyer for Celebrate Bonita:  Click Here

Fundraiser and Wine Tasting Event

Come unwind from the hectic holiday season!

The Rotary Club of Bonita Springs Noon is hosting a wine tasting fundraiser event and retirement celebration for Joe Nicola.  Nicola’s Keg is closing and will be trying to sell out his inventory, so expect some nice discounted merchandise!  

When: Wednesday, January 13 from 4:00-7:00 pm

Where: Nicola’s Keg and Liquors – 26401 Tamiami Trail – Bonita Springs, Florida 

Food is being provided by Carabba’s.  Tickets are $20 and 100% of the proceeds will go to The Bonita Assistance Office and Estero High School College Scholarships.

Tickets can be purchased and picked up from The Survey Cafe in Bonita Springs, Florida.  Email Chris for further information: chris@LifeInBonitaSprings.com

Map to Nicola’s Keg

Imperial River Boat Parade 2009

The Baywater Boat Club and Boat Rentals Entry.

Naples Fire Rescue

Entry Number Nine

Entry Number Thirty-Nine

Thanks to The Generous Sponsors: Bonita Springs Rotary Noon, Marina Mikes, Baywater Boat Club, Nelson Marine and the residents of The Community of Bonita Bay.

Number Twenty-Six

Number Twenty 

Number Seventeen

Unknown Entry

Random Bonitian Out For A Ride

If you or your business were on any of the vessels and would like your name or entry number added just leave a comment and it will get added. 

Many thanks to all who participated and those who came out to watch.