Creative Coast Weekends
Creative Coast Weekends, come see the coolest art when the Matlacha galleries celebrate with food, music, drumming and fun.
UPDATE: Creative Coast Weekends are no longer going on due to traffic problems. You can still go out to the galleries and shops during regular business hours!
The galleries stay open late on the second Friday of the month from November-April. Many of them also have events throughout that whole weekend.
Formerly called Art Nights on Pine Island, the name changed because most people stayed in Matlacha(mat luh shay) and didn't go farther to the Pine Island Galleries.
But you won't want to miss them, so I would suggest going earlier to the Pine Island galleries - some close at 4PM, others close by 5PM - then go to the galleries and shops in Matlacha afterwards.
It's nice to walk from shop to shop ........... one is more colorful than the other.
Bring your money, you may not be able to resist not only the artwork, but also jewelry, sun dresses, crocs, and souvenirs.
Finish off the evening with dinner at one of Matlacha's waterfront restaurants
Creative Coast Weekends - Pine Island
If you go to Pine Island first, Earth & Spirit Gallery is on the way to St James City, heading south on Pine Island.
They have a lovely art gallery, locally produced jams, organic produce and herbs, yoga classes, and native plants in their outdoor garden.
Check to see when they have story-telling around the fire.
Just keep driving south and once you get to St James City, go to the Paisley Parrot, which has antiques.
They are open November - May, from 10AM-4PM, Wednesday-Saturday.
The Potter's Workshop has unique tableware, fountains, architectural pieces, and accent items for your home.
All are handcrafted by Ingeborg, right there in her shop, she is open from 11AM-5PM, Wednesday-Saturday.
On the northern tip of Pine Island is Bokeelia, and Crossed Palms Gallery, which offers fine art and fine crafts.
While you are there, check out the view of Charlotte Harbor.
It is stunning, you can see Boca Grande and Cayo Costa, and the sunsets are magnificent!
Creative Coast Weekends - Matlacha
If you go to Matlacha first, there are 2 gift shops that we like before you head over the bridge from Cape Coral into Matlacha.
Island Decor and More has beachwear, gifts, souvenirs, jewelry, and more. The view of the water kind of takes you by surprise as you shop!
Bert's Pine Bay Gallery has gifts, crocs, antiques, and crafts. The shop practically hangs out over the water, who knows, you might see a manatee or dolphin swim by.
You might even see mermaids!
Every once in awhile, people have been known to dress up as mermaids for Creative Coast Weekends, to add to the fun!
After you've been to those two shops, go over the bridge and you will see brightly colored shops and galleries lining both sides of the street in an "old Florida" style, with art and crafts adding to the riot of color.
You simply must go to Wildchild, Lovegrove's, and Island Visions Art Galleries.
Wild Child Gallery has drumming out in their garden right on the water, it's a lot of fun to join in! There are plenty of bongos and congas for everyone.
Check out the artwork and sculptures both inside and out in the garden. Paintings, jewelry, pottery, and photographs from local artists make great mementos and gifts.
Lovegrove Gallery features the paintings of famous local artist Leoma Lovegrove ...... big, bold, bright, and beautiful paintings for the art connoisseur.
You'll know the gallery by the polka-dotted building and the crazy mannequins out front, you never know how they'll be decorated or where they'll be positioned.
I also love the garden behind the gallery, it has bottle sculptures and mosaic pathways made out of ceramics.
Island Visions has lots of cool jewelry, paintings, toys, gifts,and crafts.
They sometimes have live music playing. All the galleries and shops have free snacks and refreshments too.
Or, you can go to Great Licks, right next door to Island Visions, for the best ice cream, made locally from local ingredients!
Across the street are more shops, all painted in bright and beautiful colors, with their wares
displayed along the shop fronts and hanging on the walls.
Shops include Traders Hitching Post, which has southwestern jewelry, and Matlacha Menagerie, which has tropical art and clothing.
I like shopping at Frills for India-import beach wear and $5 jewelry.
From pets to shoes to pizza, seafood, a coffee shop, and more, you don't want to miss Matlacha shopping.
We love to go to Creative Coast Weekends!
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