Punta Gorda is well-known for its annual festivals and events that draw crowds from across Southwest Florida. We celebrate everything from music to art to food to nature to culture… even dragon boat racing! Every season there is something new to expect, but below, we’ve outlined some of our most commonly attended events.

WINTER (DECEMBER-FEBRUARY)

The winter season brings arts and holiday spirit to the forefront, including the annual boat parade, New Year’s fireworks over the harbor, and downtown holiday light display. February brings the Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training to Charlotte Sports Park where games are always sold out. Mixed in here are various art festivals, the county fair, and more.  

SPRING (MARCH-MAY)

The spring season brings national art festivals, a flower festival, a fishing tournament, and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that takes over downtown. 

SUMMER (JUNE-AUGUST)

Art festivals and firework displays take place in Punta Gorda and Englewood beach. Since the snowbirds go North for the summer, and the weather is quite hot, summer is a quieter season for festivals and events.

FALL (SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER)

A local restaurant week kicks off our fall season, giving newcomers an opportunity to try our tasty local dives. Additionally, the long-treasured Halloween tradition brings thousands of trick-or-treaters to town for a night of costumes and candy. Finally, the annual air show and power boat races take place - the perfect family outing. We can’t forget the art, cultural, and holiday celebrations that are ongoing all year. 

It’s time to get out of the house! Which event will you be attending first?

Information courtesy of pureflorida.com

When choosing a community to live in, we know how important the school system is for families. Luckily, Punta Gorda is home to a great education system that attracts families from all walks of life. 

A historic landmark in our area, Charlotte High School is known as Charlotte County’s First and Finest High School. Having first opened its doors in 1926, CHS is rich in history, community support, and tradition. Their unique mascot, the Fighting Tarpon, was chosen as a fitting mascot for Charlotte High School because of the tarpon’s tenacity, survivability, and majesty. Named MOJO, the mascot’s name stands for:

Did you know that the Punta Gorda Farmers Market was voted the ‘Best Small Market in Florida’ and 15th in the USA? Wow!

If you’re not convinced, here’s what you can find at the market… Fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, Italian bakery items, fresh homemade pasta, kitchenware, cupcakes, beef and fresh seafood, fresh citrus, jewelry, candles and soaps, dip mixes, Florida arts and crafts, cheese, French bakery, baguettes and olives, homemade pies, orchids, organic produce, personalized pens, kettlecorn, honey, coffee beans and drinks, native and exotic plants. Whew that’s a lot! 

Calling all foodies! If you are looking for a charming, small town with an impressive dining scene, look no further. Punta Gorda was ranked No. 2 in USA Today's reader's choice awards for the Best Small Town Food Scene! Us locals are not surprised in the slightest. However, if you’re new around here, we are excited to share with you the following restaurants. 

The City of Punta Gorda was founded in 1884 when surveyor Kelly Harvey began working on the subdivision of Travue. At the mouth of the Peace River, you will find our southern shore, where streets and blocks were once arranged. Every waterfront block was designated as a park, a legacy that can be seen today in our string of public parks. Gilchrist Park, Ponce de Leon Park, Laishley Park, and more are now connected by Harborwalk, a 2.5 mile long public promenade. 

With the continued trend of Americans flocking to Florida, there has never been a better time to make a move to the sunshine state. Boasting year-round warm weather, beautiful beaches, and a slow pace of life, Southwest FL is consistently named one of the best places to retire in the United States.

While many are familiar with the ritzy shops of Sarasota and the white beaches of Fort Myers, few know about the hidden gem sandwiched between these two cities: Punta Gorda.  

Resting on the second largest harbor in the US, our peaceful and lovely town provides a home to retirees and families alike. While we could talk for days about all that Punta Gorda has to offer, today, we are going to share our top 4 reasons to consider moving here:

OUR STORY BEGAN IN THE EARLY 2000’s

For Brian Helgemo, choosing to pursue a career in real estate was easy. His grandmother was among the first female real estate Brokers in the state of Florida, and his father practiced real estate law early in his career. After earning a degree in psychology, and gaining experience in sales, Brian made the natural progression into real estate. 

Are you thinking about selling this holiday season?

With 20 years of experience selling real estate locally, I am frequently asked the question, “Should I wait until after the holidays or put my home up for sale now?” 

Here are the top 10 reasons why selling your home during the Holidays may be the right choice for you:  

1. Buyers who look for a home during the holidays are more serious. If they are pre-approved and willing to use their extra time off work to look at homes, they mean business. 

Exploring the continuation of the seller’s market.

During the summer of 2020, after the start of the pandemic, the housing market escalated with swift sales and soaring prices as people realized they wanted a change of scenery, more space or both. This summer, the market continued to break the mold and showcase trends unlike anything we’ve seen before, with consistently low inventory and interest rates, yet sky high demand.  As autumn begins, we reflect on what buyers and sellers can expect in the coming season. 

If you’re worried you missed the sellers’ boat, don’t worry.  Tim Ellis of Redfin Media says, “The market frenzy of 2021 has cooled somewhat, but home sellers are still very much in the driver’s seat in the housing market today.” We can see this in our continued rising prices. From this time last year, the median sales price has increased by 16%. What does this mean for buyers and sellers this season? 

It’s no secret that residents from across the country, and around the world, continually migrate to Florida.

As remote jobs become increasingly popular, over 900 people per day are moving to The Sunshine State, according to the Palm Beach County Business Development Board. Our warm weather, lack of state income and estate taxes, and business-friendly climate attract new residents daily. 

While our population size grows, the housing supply remains low. Many listing services reveal that less than a month’s supply of inventory is available across a wide range of prices. With increased purchase power for home buyers, alongside Florida’s low-interest rates, demand consistently outpaces supply.