Spring Break kicks off at Lani Kai March 12
It’s that time of year when thousands of people flock to Fort Myers Beach to enjoy their Spring Break.
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said Lani Kai Island Resort has a great view of Spring Break being the party central, while the rest of the island caters to the family thing. She said it is really driven by snowbirds that come down in droves, which this year they have already flocked back home.
“We look forward to having all the kids come, the grandparents and grandkids and extended families spending time together. That is huge,” Liszak said, adding that the locals also travel to the beach to spend time with them.
She said Spring Break spreads out over a couple of weeks as all the college students make their way to Fort Myers Beach.
“The busiest is when we get the midwestern colleges,” Liszak said, adding that she has also heard that families are also coming down from the Midwest. “There is intergenerational stuff going on, which is nice.”
The biggest party on Fort Myers Beach for Spring Break typically takes place at Lani Kai Island Resort.
Lani Kai Island Resort Marketing Director Melissa Schneider said they have been hosting Spring Break for 26 years now. She said the owner, Bob Conidaris, started the Spring Break party because other hotels and resorts around the area and state did not want Spring Breakers because they saw them as a nuisance.
Conidaris decided to invite all the Spring Breakers to the Lani Kai, Schneider said, adding he has provided a safe, fun environment for those students on the beach.
“He offered a fun and safe place where they can have a good time. They have been hard at work studying, this gives them a chance to unwind and relax,” she said.
Over the course of four weeks of Spring Break, more than 100,000 spring breakers will walk through their sand and resort, Schneider said.
“They know it is a fun place to be. We have so many things going on day and night that they can enjoy. It’s a never ending, awesome party,” she said.
According to the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, which surveyed the major universities, as well as the three local Florida county school districts, the first college that begins their Spring Break is the University of Michigan, March 2. Indiana University is among the last with Spring Break starting on March 25.
The Lee County School District begins its Spring Break March 18, as does Charlotte County. Collier County begins its Spring Break March 8.
Schneider said they also see a lot of people who are no longer Spring Break college age, but still participate in the fun and have a good time.
“So many friends are made here,” she said.
The fun will begin Tuesday, March 12, at Lani Kai with Suzuki motorbike racing champion Beau Braswell and his nationally touring band. The country music star will perform a free concert starting at 2:30 p.m.
The festivities will kick off with the debut of his music video, which was shot at the Lani Kai property during last year’s Spring Break. The premier of “Sunny Days” will be shown on a LED screen from the beach stage.
“It’s free and for all ages. Everyone is more than welcome to come out and have fun,” Schneider said.
The Cincinnati Fireman will return again this year with daily performances March 10 through March 22. There will be no shows on March 14, or March 18.
On March 9, during the Shrimp Festival, Schneider said Lani Kai will have a float in the parade with the Cincinnati Firemen debuting their groups for the season. She said they have raised just shy of $100,000 for local charities, with the last several years going towards the ARABA Shriners. The nonprofit group provides transportation to and from hospital treatments for ailing children, as well as provide a helping hand with medical bills.
“We have thousands of people of all ages that come by for the show. They put on such a great variety show that is an hour and a half long,” she said of the 1:30 p.m. performance. “They are always doing really cool, well choreographed variety shows for some of the biggest songs fully costumed. You never know what you are going to see. They are so fun.”
The performance, she said is interactive, as the Cincinnati Firemen pull people from the audience and bring them on stage, or in the open sand area.
“They love the interaction. It’s a bunch of good guys that support a really good cause,” Schneider said.
The Spring Break party will also feature double DJs all day long Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the beach stage featuring DJ G-Ride and DJ TK. The double DJs will also perform at the ground-level Club Ohana nightclub from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Lani Kai will also feature beach games all day. Some of those games will include a life-sized beer pong, Hula Hoop competitions, potato sack races, cornhole tournaments, water balloon contests, bean-bag and horseshoe contests, spike ball and life-sized Jenga tourney. All these games are for prizes.
The ladies’ booty-shake contest will take place at 5:30 p.m. every day for cash prizes. First place is $100, second place $75 and third place $50.
A hot body contests for both guys and girls will take place around 11:30 p.m. for cash prizes every Sunday through Thursday in Club Ohana.
There will also be various strong-man and strong-woman competitions taking place throughout the week, as well as tug of war competitions daily at 5 p.m.
Schneider said David the Mighty Gonzalez will be performing on the special extended beach stage March 22 through March 24.
The Lani Kai also is hosting the Hammerhead Rugby Team, which is based out of Naples. They are having fundraisers at the resort Sunday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 26. An after hours show will take place Friday, March 29.
“It’s another variety show. We are helping them raise funds for their tournament,” Schneider said.
Every Saturday and Sunday, live reggae music by Jammin G’s will take the stage from 1 to 5 p.m.. On March 10, March 16 and March 17 the performance will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. There is no charge for the performance.