Season in Naples

Where Community, Culture, and Beauty Come Alive

Photography by Gabriele Maltinti

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As Naples begins to welcome the change in season, there is a special energy that comes with this time of year. Our community reawakens as friends, neighbors, and visitors return, and the streets of Old Naples come alive with activity, conversation, and connection.

In Naples, “season” is more than just a change in the calendar. It is the moment when our restaurants, shops, and cultural venues hum with anticipation, when our art galleries, theatres, and community events shine brightest, and when our city’s natural beauty provides a backdrop for meaningful experiences. It is a time when residents and guests alike are reminded of the very things that make Naples so extraordinary: our vibrant downtown, our sense of community, and our deep respect for the environment that surrounds us.

As your mayor, I encourage you to embrace this season not just as a return to familiar gatherings, but as an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen the values that define Naples. Whether it’s attending one of our local events, supporting a small business along Third Street South, Fifth Avenue South, Venetian Village, or any one of the specialty shops scattered throughout the city, or simply enjoying a sunset along the gulf, each of these moments reminds us why we call this place home.

At this time of year, I especially enjoy the magic of opera al fresco at the Festival Under the Stars, sharing theatre performances with friends at Sugden Plaza and Gulfshore Playhouse, and celebrating the holiday parades downtown that hold such cherished memories for my family and me.

Season is also a time to reflect on stewardship, caring for our neighborhoods, our beaches, and our waterways so that generations to come may continue to enjoy Naples’ charm and tranquility. Together, through thoughtful planning and community collaboration, we can balance growth and preservation in a way that honors our history and protects our future.

I invite you to step fully into this season with gratitude, joy, and civic pride. Naples thrives because of the people who care deeply about it—you, our residents, who bring energy, ideas, and passion to our city. Let us celebrate the start of this vibrant time of year together, knowing that what makes season truly special is not just what we do, but how we do it—with kindness, with community, and with respect for one another.

With Sincere Blessings,

Teresa Lee Heitmann