EVENTS

From barks to belly laughs for Labor Day weekend

Bring your dog to the ballgame, and other Labor Day weekend activities

Harriet Howard Heithaus
harriet.heithaus@naplesnews.com; 239-213-6091
Mickey Sterling, of Fort Myers, walks Yo-Yo, a Landseer Newfoundland, through the routine during the Greater Naples Dog Club precision drill team's practice at the PAWS Assistant Dogs facility in Naples, Florida on August 24, 2016. The team will perform on Friday, August 2nd at the Fort Myers Miracle ballgame for the "Dog Daze of Summer" promotion.


Labor Day weekend rarely involves an event devoted to labor. Not that anyone's complaining about that: We're all looking forward to three days in which to inject relaxation with intermittent doses of fun — or the other way around. While the traditions of cookouts, boat rides and nature walks are definitely contenders, here are some unusual things to try this holiday weekend:

Dog Daze of Summer

Start the weekend right away with your own best friend at Hammond Stadium, enjoying one of the last Fort Myers Miracle games of the season. Your pooch's admission to the park  is free. Dog vendors on the concourse also will offer treats and puppy promotional items.

Then, once you and Rover are ensconced in your seats, watch the Miracle play the Bradenton Marauders and enjoy a show of the Greater Naples Dog Club's band of rainbow ruff-ians. The club drill team is made up of dogs in all sizes and shapes who can do-si-do and march in pattern on command. They bond much better, in fact, than most international political leaders.

"The nice thing about this is that these dogs can both be together and work together," said Arlene Czech, a representative of the club who rehearses with the team.

Maggie, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, trots at the start of the routine during the Greater Naples Dog Club precision drill team's practice at the PAWS Assistant Dogs facility in Naples, Florida on August 24, 2016. The team will perform on Friday, August 2nd at the Fort Myers Miracle ballgame for the "Dog Daze of Summer" promotion.

The dog drill team is just one activity of the club, which offers conformation, obedience and rally classes and produces the Greater Naples Dog Club AKC Dog Show, this year Oct. 8 and 9 in Arcadia (information on Facebook/Greater Naples Dog Club or call 239-594-0352.)

Also on Friday night at the stadium there's an "all you can eat" wristband for $14, or $19 including a game ticket. Wristband wearers enjoy unlimited hot dogs, hamburgers, homemade potato chips, peanuts, water and lemonade from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There's also  $2 beer from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sunny and Juliann, both Papillons, sit and wait for their handlers during the Greater Naples Dog Club precision drill team's practice at the PAWS Assistant Dogs facility in Naples, Florida on August 24, 2016. The team will perform on Friday, August 2nd at the Fort Myers Miracle ballgame for the "Dog Daze of Summer" promotion.

Location: Hammond Stadium, 14100 Ben C. Pratt Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers

Game time: 7:05 p.m. Friday

Tickets: $9-11 day of game, $1.50 discount in advance

Information and tickets: mlb.com

Sugar Fairies and Senses

Identify mystery sounds, name textures — is that a pop bottle or a water line? — or join a scavenger hunt. And do a little singing and dancing. Kids can test "My Five Senses"  at a program Saturday with a number of fun events.

Robin Mizwa gets kids involved with songs as well as stories.

There's entertainment with a purpose as well, when Robin Mizwa takes the stage to play singalong music, some of it with movement, at  11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.  Mizwa is creator of "The Sugar Fairies," a squad of otherworldly beings who teach the joys of food with less — or no — sugar. The sugar fairies are Mizwa's own creation, dreamed up to keep her own children to cut back on sugar; she offered rewards when the kids turned in candy they'd received.

It's important work to Mizwa: "I think people don't realize how much sugar there is in many of the foods we buy," she said. One teaspoon of sugar is four grams, which makes a 2.17-ounce pack of Skittles the equivalent of nearly 12 teaspoons of sugar.

Her game concept became so popular, Mizwa said, she eventually wrote a book, "Sugar Fairies: A Sweet Tale of Good Choices" (Mascot Books,; 2016) and a song. She performs for children's groups whenever she gets the chance to promote a delicious life without needless sugar highs. Traditionalists can also count on other fun songs for kids from the  Naples entertainer; what's a singalong without an animated version of "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider"? (Parents can check out sugar information, with some low-guilt sweets recipes, on Mizwa's website, sugarfairybook.com).

Where: Golisano Children's Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Road, Naples

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, for events; museum is open until 5 p.m.

Admission: $10 all ages over 1 year old

More information:cmon.org or call (239) 514-0084

Northern delights

Line dance at The Ranch: The concert hall and dance room is infusing its Labor Day weekend with some extra excitement. Its Saturday couples night line dance will include several different sessions, including the couples lessons and a hoedown, with questions and prizes. You won't step on anyone's toes; there's 4,000 square feet of dance floor. Bring your favorite dance partner and learn new steps, or just watch others learning them for you. There are singles line dance lessons Friday, too. The Ranch has a full bar and a mechanical bull, if you're feeling especially frisky.

Where: The Ranch, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers

When: Beginning at 7:15 p.m. Friday Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 3

Admission: $5

Information: theranchfortmyers.com or (239) 985-9839

Improv Tonight!: Bonita's Improv Tonight! troupe has the chops to tickle funny bones among the most jaded with its rotating radio announcer shuffle, the ability to blow up comic lyrics from audience members' suggestions, quick-change character sketches and some hilarious word association games. No one will drag you up onstage for your own first attempt at a comedy, but you've got a chance if you want it. The show's cast has worked with director Craig Price, a graduate of the Second City Improv Program.

Cabaret-style front tables enjoy Improv Tonight! at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs.

The show is at the Moe Auditorium & Film Center at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs, and there's cabaret seating available. Come early and nestle in with beer, wine and soft drinks, and nibbles —its popcorn is a favorite. While it may not be for young children, take your teens; you'll find them trying the word association games on you in the car.

Where: Center for Performing Arts - Moe Auditorium & Film Center

When:  8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3

 Tickets: $15 (10 percent off for current Center for the Arts members)

To buy:  www.artcenterbonita.org

Information:www.artcenterbonita.org or call  (239) 495-8989