This 33rd annual juried event — formerly called the Cape Coral Festival of the Arts — is considered the first and largest juried art fest in Southwest Florida with more than 300 artists.
Here's a look at 5 things to know before you go:
Now there's music: For the first time, music is part of the festival. Country, Blues, Jazz, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll, Gospel and more can be heard from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday. South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations favorites Dixie Roadhouse, Rack'em Spirits & Times, Big Blue Brewing, Backstreets and NeverMind are providing the venues for all to enjoy.
The poster: Each year the committee selects a work to be used on the festival poster and for promotional prints. This year, Jen Callahan has been selected for her work, Blue Heron Sunrise. Posters, for $20, are 17.75 inches wide and 23.75 inches tall, printed on glossy paper.
The weather: If it was last weekend, you would have needed jackets, hats and gloves, but this week is expected to be near perfect Southwest Florida winter weather with a high of 71 degrees Saturday and sunny and 65 on Sunday. The chance of rain is minimal at 10 percent.
The sponsor: The Rotary Club of Cape Coral has sponsored this event at three sites, starting at the Riverview Art Festival, moving to Cape Coral Parkway and judging it the best site because of access to the artists and businesses along the parkway. The club had attendance in excess of 100,000 people in the course of the two-day event in 2017.
Important facts: The free festival is from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Live bands will play from 3-9 p.m. Saturday. The booths are set up on Cape Coral Parkway between Del Prado Boulevard and Southeast 10th Place. Information, 699-7942 or capecoralfestival.com