Beach Guide

What’s On

This week on the beach

Something
every night

7 AM

Dawn Tarpon Departures (May–Jul)

Boca Grande Marina · Family

Watch the tarpon guide boats load up before sunrise — the Boca Grande Pass fishery is one of the most specialized sport fishing operations anywhere.

9 AM

Cayo Costa Ferry Departure

Pineland Marina (15 min) · Family

Take the passenger ferry from nearby Pineland to Cayo Costa State Park — a primitive barrier island with the best undeveloped Gulf beach in SW Florida.

5 PM

Park Ave Carriage Rides

Park Avenue, Boca Grande · Family

Horse-drawn carriage rides through the historic village district — an evening tradition unique to Boca Grande on the Florida Gulf coast.

7:25 PM

sun-timed

Lighthouse Beach Sunset

Gasparilla Island State Park · Sunset

The 1890 lighthouse at the south tip of Gasparilla Island frames one of the most photographed Gulf sunsets in Southwest Florida.

Big Days

annual
May

World's Richest Tarpon Tournament

The signature event of Boca Grande tarpon season — anglers from across the US compete in the richest prize-money tarpon tournament in the world.

Nov

Boca Grande Art Festival

Annual juried art show in the historic village — paintings, sculpture and photography shown against the backdrop of one of Florida's most distinctive communities.

see you out there

Real recurring local happenings — schedules can change, so check the venue. Sun-timed events track each day’s real sunset and the countdown runs on the live local clock.