The arches that were once the entryway to Fort Myers Beach. FILE PHOTO

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council gave the go-ahead for Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches to hold a concert next year at the Lani Kai Island Resort, as well as a poker walk Oct. 2.

The events are fundraisers for the group’s plans to build a small replica of the arches at Bowditch Point Park. The original arches spanned 104-feet wide and 26-feet high and served as the entrance into Fort Myers Beach for six decades until being demolished in 1978 for the Matanzas Pass Bridge. Remnants of the original arches were moved in September from a property off island near the Beach Bowl to the outskirts of Lee County in Buckingham. Stones from the original arches are meant to be used for the replica that will go up in front of Bowditch Point Park, near the entrance.

The poker walk on Oct. 2 will have a Halloween theme and will include stops at several restaurants in the downtown area, beginning at Times Square. There will be raffle baskets and a costume contest.

The Rock the Arches concert is scheduled to take place April 23 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Steven Ray McDonald, president of Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches Inc., stated in an email that the group is seeking swag basket donations for the poker walk. Those interested, can visit the group’s Facebook page.

McDonald, who resides in Arizona, said the group is at 38% of its goal right now.

The group’s other fundraising project include an etched brick fundraiser for a commemorative arch walkway. There is a donor site at https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/walkthearches/.