Collaboratory invites public to Holiday Night Market
Public invited to holiday-themed fun, food and music-filled event to learn more about Collaboratory and meet resident partners
Collaboratory is inviting the public to their third, holiday themed Night Market of 2022 from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 on Collaboratory’s campus at 2031 Jackson St. in downtown Fort Myers.
“We hope the community will come out to enjoy the music, retailers and food trucks but also to share a conversation, meet our co-collaborating tenants and tour our eco-friendly hub where ideas for social change are reimagined,” said Stacey Mercado, events lead for Collaboratory.
This Night Market will include live music by The Line Up Band and will once again be included as a stop on the River District Alliance’s monthly Music Walk being held the same evening.
Collaboratory resident partners – FutureMakers Coalition, Christin Collins, Captains For Clean Water, Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, and Protected Harbour, Inc. – will be onsite to connect with attendees.
Food trucks and food vendors include Kings Tacos and Burritos, Squeezers, Mambo, Forever Grounded Coffee and beer by Millennial Brewing Co.
Retailers selling gifts on site include: Dynasty Guacamole, Southwest Florida Produce, Amorist Jewelry, The Love Muffins, Wajoli African Wear, Chaotically Copeland Creations, Botanical Brewing Company, Sage and Indigo Juices, Brandy’s Wax and Wicks, Flying Eagle Kombucha, Buddhaful Being, Henna Magick, Laura Louse Crystals, Nokomis Home Fragrance, The Glow Soap Co, Pink Sugar Black Salt, Kristin’s Key Lime Pie, Ernesto & Luigi Sauces, Bubbly Bee, Willow and Hitch, Holicow, House of Guava, Le Macaron French Pastries Fort Myers, I Want That Yummy, Good Hearted Mama, and more.
Activities during the evening will be provided by IMAG History & Science Center, Hoops on Mission, Alliance for the Arts, Dwelling Place Project, Lee County Library, Curate Entertainment, and Fleming Foundation (one free book for every child).
Collaboratory’s next door neighbor, city of Fort Myers Fire Department Station 11, will also host Night Market guests at their station and offer pictures with Sparky Santa the dog by the Christmas tree and antique fire engine, holiday music in the bay, plastic fire helmets and candy canes for kids and their “touch a truck” experience.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Collaboratory on their quarterly Night Market and open our doors for this festive evening,” said Tracy McMillion, city of Fort Myers fire chief. “It’s been a trying past few months for our community and first responders, so we look forward to coming together with fellow residents to celebrate the season and a vibrant and resilient Southwest Florida.”
Anyone interested in participating as a partner vendor can email smercado@collaboratory.org.
To R.S.V.P. please visit https://collaboratory.org/events.
ABOUT COLLABORATORY
Collaboratory is committed to coordinating the solving of all of Southwest Florida’s social problems on an 18-year deadline including homelessness, poverty, mental illness, racism, illiteracy and more. We plan to do this with the entire community working together including people of all ages, colors, beliefs and imaginations across all five counties. We’re committed to coordinating all of this on a massive scale, in the way NASA coordinated the hundreds of thousands of businesses, universities, institutions and people to get us to the moon in nine years. We’re not oblivious to people saying this is ridiculous, insane and crazy but we’re driven by the inspiration of all those great figures in history who have come before us to achieve things no one ever thought remotely possible. Steve Jobs’ observation sums it up for us: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” We’re building the largest, most democratized living laboratory for community problem-solving in history.
Collaboratory was founded in 1976 as the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. It has made over $83 million in grants since then and is home to more than 400 philanthropic funds. It is upon that legacy of a commitment to community we plan to fulfill on that mission at the level of its greatest expression. As Collaboratory, we will finish what we started.
To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.collaboratory.org.