City to host New Year’s Eve Celebration & Ball Drop
Numerous events throughout Cape Coral
Looking to ring in the New Year on the right note? Cape Coral and surrounding Southwest Florida communities are offering many ways to welcome 2026 and say goodbye to 2025.
In the Cape, the city is hosting its third annual New Year’s Eve Celebration & Ball Drop with a party in the South Cape featuring national headlining groups and two different ball drops. The free festivities will take place on New Year’s Eve from 6 p.m. to midnight along Southeast 47th Terrace and Southeast 10th place.
“The city of Cape Coral’s New Year’s Eve Celebration is a free, community-wide event designed for all ages and a great way to welcome 2026 together,” said the city’s Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Michael Massoglia via email. “Hosted by Cape Coral Parks and Recreation, the CRA, and the city of Cape Coral, this six-hour downtown street festival features live music, family-friendly activities, shopping, food vendors, and a festive atmosphere that brings together thousands of residents and visitors. With entertainment starting at 6 p.m. and multiple opportunities to count down to the new year, it’s an inclusive and exciting way to celebrate right here in our community.”
While the celebration looks forward to a brand new calendar, entertainment in the South Cape will turn back the clocks. Thousands are expected to attend and enjoy music from the Pop 2000 Tour with Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC, O-Town, Ryan Cabrera, and LFO. Other musical guests include local favorites Deb & the Dynamics, as well as DJ Rifik.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Pop 2000 Tour as this year’s headliner,” Massoglia said. “This lineup brings high-energy, early-2000s nostalgia to downtown Cape Coral. It’s a fun and engaging choice that appeals to a wide audience, elevating the celebration into a true concert experience as we count down to midnight.”
For the youngsters, an 8 p.m. ball drop will be a precursor to the midnight drop, which is accompanied by a synchronized firework show.
“The midnight countdown is one of the most anticipated moments of the evening,” Massoglia said. “Attendees can look forward to a synchronized pyrotechnics display paired with the official midnight ball drop to welcome 2026. It’s an exciting, high-energy finale that caps off the night, creating a memorable shared experience for everyone celebrating downtown.”
This event is much more than a concert — it’s a full street festival in the South Cape.
“The celebration includes a Vendor Village, a variety of food vendors, shopping opportunities, street entertainment, and games and activities for children throughout the evening,” Massoglia said. “From the moment festivities begin at 6 p.m., attendees will find plenty to enjoy while they explore downtown and wait for the countdowns to the new year.”
Along with food vendors, there will be creative and exciting photo spots located inside vendor village, street entertainment including jugglers and other live shows, face paining, and more.
To accommodate the event and ensure public safety, Southeast 47th Terrace between Southeast 9th Place and Southeast11th Place will be closed to traffic. The closure allows the area to transform into a pedestrian-friendly festival space for the duration of the event, from 6 p.m. through midnight.
Some roadways will be closed from noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, until 3 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1:
• Southeast 47th Terrace will be closed from Southeast 9th Place to Southeast 11th Place.
• Southeast 10th Place will be closed from Cape Coral Parkway to the Club Square parking lot.
• The entrance to the Club Square parking lot (Southeast 10th Place, north of Southeast 47th Terrace) will be closed starting Dec. 29, and will re-open Jan. 2.
For more information on the city’s New Year’s Eve event, visit capecoralnye.com.
Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina
Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina is ringing in the new year with a New Year’s Eve Bash featuring 12 hours of nonstop live music.
The celebration will kick off at noon with live music from Gray Gaulding until 4 p.m., DJ Jersey Johnny from 4 to 8 p.m. and Stereo Riot from 8 p.m. to midnight. As the clock ticks down, guests can enjoy a complimentary champagne toast.
Party-goers can also grab delicious eats from 10 on-site food trucks and sip on a variety of margaritas, coastal cocktails and other specialty drinks from the full-service bar.
There is no entrance fee for the event, and visitors are welcome to arrive by boat and tie up at one of the venue’s 26 docks or arrive by car and park onsite for free. Overflow parking and complimentary shuttle are available, visit SlipawayCape.com for directions.
Gather Cape Coral
The restaurant will host a New Year’s Eve evening with live entertainment and fireworks. Dinner is being served from 5 to 10 p.m., and can be booked by visiting gathercape.com. Menu items include beef tartare, gazpacho oysters, black truffle risotto, wagyu ravioli, lamb, desserts by Delaneys Delicacies, and much more.
Live music from DJ Maudy will be performed from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The night will also feature a firework show at the scenic location at midnight.
Gather is at 5971 Silver King Blvd. Suite 116.
Fathoms Cape Coral
Fathoms will open at 11: 30 a.m. and host live music by Remedy from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
House specials include colossal shrimp cocktail, seared beef tips, sea scallops, shrimp and lobster mac and cheese, surf and turf, and more.
Fathoms is at 5785 Cape Harbour Drive # 106.
Dixie Roadhouse
Ring in the New Year with a Nashville New Year’s Eve at Dixie Roadhouse for a night of music, line-dancing, noisemakers, fun, and cash.
There is a $5 cover charge until 10 p.m. ($10 after), and attendees are able to watch the city ball drop at midnight right outside the doors.
There will be a midnight toast with a “special shot,” as well as a balloon drop at 1 a.m., which is midnight Nashville time, with $1,000 in cash and prizes.
The night also features a deejay, line dancing, and lessons.
Dixie Roadhouse is at 1023 SE 47th Terrace and is open until 3 a.m.
Downtown Fort Myers
The River District Alliance will host the annual Downtown Countdown on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. on the historic streets of downtown Fort Myers at First Street and Hendry Street.
The event will feature live music performed by “Smack Daddy,” “School of Rock,” “Caloosa River Band” and much more. At midnight, the traditional Fort Myers Ball will drop and the skies will light up with a fireworks show.
For more information and performance schedule contact hello@explorefortmyers.com or visit myriverdistrict.com.
Bay Street Yard
Bay Street Yard is ringing in the New Year in fashion with live music, games, food trucks and a midnight champagne toast.
The festivities begin at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31 with a live performance by Eric Michael Taylor from 2 to 5 p.m., followed by Chasing Denver from 6 to 9 p.m.
The party continues with tunes spun by DJ Ian Kelley from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The celebration extends beyond the walls of Bay Street Yard with a block party starting at 4 p.m. Guests can ride into 2026 with a mechanical bull and enjoy street-side food and drinks, games of cornhole and beer pong just outside of Bay Street Yard’s gates. Throughout the day, guests can also enjoy a variety of signature dishes from Bay Street Yard’s onsite food trucks, while bartenders serve up specialty drinks for the New Year.
When the clock strikes midnight, a complimentary champagne toast will commence, and the outdoor destination is just steps from the Caloosahatchee River for views of the annual downtown Fort Myers fireworks display.
Bay Street Yard is located at 2136 Bay St. in downtown Fort Myers. For more information, visit BayStreetYard.com.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com