Page 6 The Sun Bay Paper March 21, 2026 What’s New around Fort Myers April Programs from Lee County Library System Lee County Library System locations are hosting free programs for all ages. Registration is required for some programs. For more information or to register, please call the library at 239-479-INFO (4636). Program information is also available online at www.leelibrary.net 2026 annual festivals and events Free weekly programs at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island Through April 6 dingdarlingsociety.org Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium Shelling and beach walks Feb. 1, March 1, April 12 Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, Sanibel Island shellmuseum.org 21st annual “Ding” Darling Winter Lecture Series Through April 16 dingdarlingsociety.org Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Third Thursdays Feb. 19, March 19, April 16 shellmuseum.org Spring training Boston Red Sox Feb. 20-March 23 mlb.com/redsox/spring-training JetBlue Park, Fort Myers Minnesota Twins mlb.com/twins/spring-training Feb. 20-March 24 Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers 11th annual Bonita Springs Film Festival April tba Prado Stadium bonitaspringsfilmfestival.org World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament, Boca Grande May 13-14 bocagrandechamber.com/worlds-richest-tarpon-tournament 16th annual Fort Myers Film Festival May 14-18 fortmyersfilmfestival.com 14th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, Sanibel Island May 15 dingdarlingsociety.org/tarpon-tournament National Seashell Day June 20 visitfortmyers.com/national-seashell-day 30th annual MangoMania July 11 pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/ mangomania Island Hopper Songwriter Fest Sept. 18-27 island-hopperfest.com 41st Cape Coral Oktoberfest Oct. 17-19 & 24-26 German-American Social Club capecoraloktoberfest.com Sanibel Island Writers Conference November tba FGCU fgcu.edu/siwc 36th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach Nov. 19-23 fmbsandsculpting.com Be sure to enjoy the many downtown Fort Myers celebrations hosted by local businesses and the River District Alliance (RDA). Check out all the happenings this month on the events calendar on fortmyers.gov! Easter: A Story of Spring’s Return and the Traditions That Bring Us Together On a cool early‑spring morning, long before the sun crests the horizon, small groups of people begin gathering on hillsides, church lawns, and lakeshores. They pull jackets tight against the lingering chill, breath rising in faint clouds, waiting for the first streaks of light. It’s a quiet ritual repeated across communities every year—one that signals not just the arrival of Easter, but the return of a season that feels like a collective exhale. For many, Easter is rooted in the story at the heart of Christianity: the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a moment that has shaped centuries of faith and tradition. But the holiday’s reach extends far beyond the pews. It’s a day when spiritual reflection meets the simple joys of spring, and when families, neighbors, and even strangers find themselves connected by shared rhythms. Inside churches, the atmosphere is unmistakably hopeful. Choirs rehearse harmonies that have been sung for generations. Children in pastel outfits fidget in wooden pews. The scent of lilies—so many lilies—fills the air. Clergy speak of renewal, resilience, and the possibility of beginning again, themes that resonate in a world that often feels hurried and uncertain. Step outside, though, and Easter takes on a different energy. Parks transform into treasure grounds dotted with bright plastic eggs. Parents crouch behind trees with cameras ready, while kids dash through the grass with the kind of determination usually reserved for Olympic finals. Bakeries unveil trays of hot cross buns, grocery stores brim with chocolate rabbits, and dinner tables are set with dishes that appear only once a year. Nature itself seems to lean into the moment. After months of muted color, the landscape begins to wake up—tulips pushing through the soil, birdsong returning to early mornings, daylight stretching a little longer each evening. It’s no wonder Easter has become synonymous with renewal; the world outside mirrors the message inside. Yet perhaps the most enduring part of Easter is its ability to bring people together. Some gather for worship, others for brunch, others simply for the pleasure of a warm afternoon spent with people they love. In a time when schedules rarely align and digital life often overshadows the physical, Easter offers a pause—a reminder that community still matters, and that hope, in all its forms, is worth celebrating. As the sun sets on Easter Sunday, the day’s moments—solemn, joyful, and everything in between—settle into memory. And for many, that lingering feeling of possibility is the real gift of the season: the sense that even after the longest winters, something bright is always on its way back. Dr. C
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA2ODE3