## ¡ARTE VIVA! Celebrates Hispanic Culture in Southwest Florida
Presented by the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), ¡ARTE VIVA! is a yearlong celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of the Hispanic community, which makes up nearly 30% of the region’s population.
“Our CVB partners are thrilled to participate and bring new programs to our destination,” said John Melleky, arts and culture manager for the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB. “¡ARTE VIVA! provides a tremendous platform to promote Collier County’s cultural assets because we know that the arts in Collier County mean business.”
The 2025-2026 season of ¡ARTE VIVA! will introduce new programs and returning favorites.
The first weekend in November brings Día de los Muertos to the area at various locations. Originating in Mexico, this vibrant holiday invites the community to come together, share cherished memories of loved ones, and celebrate the bonds that unite us. Events and activities include:
* A grass wall installation at the Marco Island Center for the Arts.
* The annual Día de los Muertos Celebration at Naples Botanical Garden on Nov. 1 and 2, featuring 8-foot Calaveras sculptures by ricardo Soltero, children’s activities, ofrendas, music by Sudamerican Latin Groove and Orquesta Tropical Sound, and dance performances by Ballet Folklorica Jaliscience and Danza Azteca guadalupana.
* The immokalee Pioneer Museum will feature the Danza Azteca Guadalupana through a photography exhibition by artist Lizette Morales through January 2026.* The free Artis-Naples Día de los Muertos Celebration during the afternoon on Nov. 1, with lectures, Danza de los chinelos, musical performances, ofrendas, and hands-on crafts.
* On the evening of November 1, The Perry Hotel brings two dining experiences to life with El Rugido de los Muertos, the Roar of the Dead. One is an outdoor marketplace at Easy Tiger with drink specials and Mexican food stations. The other is an indoor culinary journey at Tigress restaurant that includes tequila pairing with each dinner course. Both include sunset views and appearances by Executive Chef Iggy Ortiz and celebrity chef Partner Dale Talde.
Visual arts take center stage with multiple exhibitions and installations:
* Naples Art Institute will bring the work of Spanish artist Joan Miró for the exhibition *Joan Miró: Fire in the soul* from Dec. 13, 2025 to April 4, 2026.
* Artis-Naples, The Baker Museum presents “There and Here: new Perspectives of the Permanent Collection,” showcasing highlights from the permanent collection to celebrate the Baker Museum’s 25th anniversary from Jan. 10 to July 1, 2026.
* The Marco Island Center for the Arts showcases Hispanic artists in two exhibitions – “Words as Art” in October and November and “Snap, Crackle and POP ART!” in May and June.
* In March, the Naples Art District will celebrate its 20th anniversary through an exhibition showcasing nature’s endurance with “Wings of Wonder: The Miraculous Migration of the Monarch Butterfly to central Mexico.”
* “The Face of Immokalee” is a public art installation at Lipman Farms in immokalee.Photographer Michelle Tricca honors the Immokalee community through a series of black-and-white portraits of its children.
¡ARTE VIVA! will also be filled with the rhythm and melody…
Paradise Coast Events: A Guide to Arts & Culture
Table of Contents
Now – 07/31/2026 Immokalee
The Face of Immokalee
The public art installation The Face of Immokalee by Michelle Tricca aims to champion the Immokalee community through a series of boldly displayed black and white photographic portraits. This first-of-its-kind art exhibition in Collier County is presented on two 50-foot walls and two 53-foot semi-truck-trailers owned by Immokalee-based Lipman Family Farms. Free Admission
Now – 07/31/2026 naples Zoo at caribbean Gardens
South America Trail
visit Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens to discover the South America Trail, featuring manny new species, including the Baird’s Tapir, Capybaras, Toco Toucan, and Southern Screamers. Ticket Information
10/04/2025 – 11/14/2025 Marco Island Center for the Arts
Día de los Muertos Grass Wall – Outdoor Art Installation
Visit the installation of the multidimensional Grass walls that will be decorated with crafts that celebrate the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The project will be on display in the Art Center’s courtyard in October and November of 2025. Free Admission
10/04/2025 – 11/14/2025 Marco Island Center for the Arts
Words as Art Exhibition
This exhibition showcases a fusion of photography and AI-enhanced artwork and explores the intersection of visual storytelling and artificial intelligence.Free Admission
10/12/2025 Artis─Naples
Wang Chamber Music: Bernstein and Beyond
The Wang Chamber Music series begins with Bernstein’s final work,
Celebrate Día de los Muertos in paradise coast
11/01/2025 The Perry Hotel
El Rugido de los Muertos: Tigress Rooftop & Mexican Marketplace
The Roar of the Dead awaits. Experience Día de los Muertos with an outdoor view of the sunset. Enjoy Mexican food and drinks in a vibrant Mexican marketplace with an authentic mariachi band and special appearances by Executive Chef Iggy Ortiz and celebrity chef Partner Dale Talde. Ticket Information
11/01/2025 The perry Hotel
El Rugido de los Muertos: Tigress Indoors and Tequila Pairing dinner
The roar of the Dead awaits. Experience sunset during Día de los muertos an indoor dining experience at Tigress Restaurant. This special culinary journey showcases the richness of Mexican cuising with an excludive tequila pairing dinner and special appearances by Executive Chef Iggy Ortiz and celebrity chef partner Dale Talde. Ticket includes access to the outdoor Mexican marketplace. Ticket Information
11/01/2025 – 11/02/2025 Naples Botanical Garden
Día de Los Muertos Celebration
Join Naples Botanical Garden for a joyous Día de los Muertos Celebration! With origins in Mexico, this colorful holiday is a time for our community to share memories of loved ones and celebrate our families and friends together. Discover the meaning of this holiday and its rich culture through special displays, tours, and more. Immerse yourself in live music, dance performances, and appetizing dishes. Bring the whole family for an adventure in color, aroma, and flavor. Ticket Information
11/01/2025 – 04/25/2026 Third Street South
Third Street South Farmers Market
There is no better way to experience the heart of a culture than through its food. As part of the larger city-wide celebrati
Naples Arts & culture Calendar: January – February 2026
Kick off the new year and embrace the vibrant arts scene in Naples, Florida! Here’s a glimpse of what’s happening in January and February 2026:
01/03/2026 – 01/04/2026 – Naples Art Institute
Naples New Year’s Art Fair
Start the year with creativity at the naples New Year’s Art Fair in Cambier Park, featuring approximately 250 artists. Free Admission
01/19/2026 – Artis-Naples
Tango After Dark
Experience the passionate and electrifying world of Argentine tango with German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark, featuring live music and the spirit of Piazzolla’s Nuevo Tango. Ticket information
01/10/2026 – 07/01/2026 – Artis-Naples
There and Here: New Perspectives of the Permanent Collection
Celebrate The Baker museum’s 25th anniversary with this exhibition co-curated with the community. Explore highlights from the permanent collection and how artistic expression preserves identity and ancestry. ticket Information
02/12/2026 – marco Island Center for the Arts
Musical Interludes with Leslie Cartaya
Enjoy a harmonious fusion of Caribbean, Afro-American, Afro-Latin, and Latin American rhythms with Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Leslie Cartaya. Ticket Information
02/20/2026 – 02/22/2026 – Naples Art Institute
Naples National Art Fair (Details incomplete in source)
Paradise Coast Arts & Events: Spring/Summer 2026 Preview
The Paradise Coast is blossoming with artistic and cultural events this spring and summer! Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:
03/07/2026 – 03/15/2026 Naples Art District
celebrate the awe-inspiring migration of the monarch butterfly with a week-long art exhibition in the Naples Art District.To honor this miraculous journey, our artist studios will come alive with artwork inspired by the monarch’s beauty and cultural symbolism. Free Admission
03/12/2026 Marco Island Center for the Arts
Musical Interludes with Fernando Ferrarone Jazz
Jazz trumpeter and alto saxophonist Fernando Ferrarone will be performing with his quartet music from his recently released debut album titled “Now till Forever.” He is a two-time DownBeat Award winner, band leader, composer and arranger. Fernando attended Berklee College of Music on a full tuition scholarship in Boston and has performed in various jazz festivals such as the pompano Beach Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada. Ticket Information
03/24/2026 Marco Island Center for the Arts
Musical Interludes with Everton Azevedo
South American Artist Everton Vidal Azevedo is a Brazilian guitarist and composer with deep roots in the Amazon rainforest and a passion for the rich musical traditions of South america. His style is a vibrant fusion of brazilian music, Latin American folk, instrumental rock, and contemporary pop. His solo work blends lyrical melodies, folkloric roots, and a modern sensibility. Ticket Information
03/21/2026 – 03/22/2026 Naples Art Institute
The Naples Downtown Art Fair is a highly anticipated annual event that brings together artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts from all over the world. Hosted in Cambier Park, this two-day festival showcases a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. Ticket Information
05/04/2026 – 06/23/2026 Marco Island Center for the Arts
(further details unavailable at time of publication.)