Sky's the limit: Two Naples area celebrations promise fireworks, fowl play

Your weekend is looking up. Literally.

Two events promise the temptation to gaze skyward, whether to spot a rare stork in flight or to check out what's billed as the biggest land-based fireworks display in Southwest Florida. 

Festival of Birds

This is the 15th year for what was founded as the Nature Festival of Southwest Florida. 

There's more than birds in the multi-location mix of events, Amy Gray, communications coordinator for Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, is quick to add. She points out the sunset kayak tours, the Bear Island panther bike ride and a 3½-hour "Plants, Trees and Cypress Knees" intensive guided tour into Big Cypress National Preserve.

"Because birds are so popular, and there are other festivals around the state for birds, we thought it might be better just to adopt that name," Gray said.

The new name does bring bird-loving out-of-towners as well as locals. And it is definitely a theme this area can embrace: Field trips, kayak expeditions and lectures suggest the immense variety of avian life here. There are sessions on beach birds, burrowing owls, the familiar red-cockaded woodpecker, marsh birds and deep forest dwellers.

To launch it, sponsors Rookery Bay and Audubon Florida have brought in the world's most authoritative student of, and advocate for, cranes. George Archibald is founder of the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the world center for the study and preservation of cranes.

But before he was administering a foundation for cranes, Archibald was following them intently, flying an ultralight with them, even dancing with them in their loping-hopping steps. He even worked camouflaged as a crane to rear rare birds that do not generally thrive in captivity. Archibald's keynote speech is at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17.

There are organizational and vendor booths, a native plant sale, indoor talks, avian art and more. 

The Festival of Birds does not encourage its visitors to eat like one. Food trucks are ready to renourish attendees after a hike. That's added energy for events that could keep a festivalgoer at Rookery Bay all day, unless one of the visitor's selected tours is offsite at places like Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park or Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres. 

A festival pass is $45, which admits the buyer to the keynote address and at least five talks and hikes. Other events cost an additional fee, from $20 to $145 for a three-hour back-country swamp buggy trip.

All proceeds go to the not-for-profit organization that has been entrusted to care for a wildlife habitat spanning 110,000 acres, stretching from downtown Naples east through the Western Everglades.

Information:rookerybay.org or call 239-530-5940

Celebration in the Sky

When the Seminole Casino Immokalee reaches out to the community, it's generally in a big way. People who have been here for a number of years remember its hot-air balloon festival, an impressive sight over the skies of Southwest Florida.

This year, it's offering a fireworks show, “Celebration in the Sky," that its publicity calls "the largest land-based fireworks show in Southwest Florida." 

The show is at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, adjacent to the casino at 506 S. First St., Immokalee. The fireworks display will be choreographed to lights and a custom soundtrack, and it's advertised as an event for the entire family. 

This may be a good afternoon to come early and explore the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch, 1215 Roberts Ave. W. (open until 4 p.m.) or do some fishing on Lake Trafford  (6001 Lake Trafford Road, Immokalee). Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens, 1155 Little League Road, Immokalee is a good place for a thoughtful stroll among its uniquely personalized gravesites.

That's before dinner, which can be at the casino or any number of restaurants in town from Mexican to Italian.

"Celebration in the Sky" is produced by Zambelli Fireworks, a company with a history dating back to 1893 and whose owners have been nicknamed "The First Family of Fireworks." Its credits include the "Thunder over Louisville" show that annually opens Kentucky Derby festival.

All ages are welcome, and there's no charge. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs to the viewing area near the casino.  

Food and beverage will be available for purchase. 

But the oohs and ahhs are free.

Information: seminoleimmokaleecasino.com or /239-658-1313

Harriet Howard Heithaus covers arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News/naplesnews.com. Reach her at 239-213-6091.