Naples in pictures: Best news, sports, culture photos from Southwest Florida (2024)

A surfer carves on the face of a wave at Lowdermilk Park in Naples on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

A storm brews over the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Collier County on Monday, July 29, 2024. The park has historically been one of the hotbeds for the Florida panther.

Hector Toro (2432) of Naples and William Montanye (2139) of Gulf Coast race in the boys 1,600-meter run during the FHSAA Class 3A high school track and field meet in Jacksonville on May 17, 2024. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

A dragon fly perches on foliage at Imperial Marsh Preserve off of Corkscrew Road in Estero on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024.

An endangered female snail kite shakes it off while calling out before taking flight for a hunt of apple snails along Corkscrew Road in Estero on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. The main diet of the raptor are apple snails. The acrobatic raptors also feed on exotic apple snails, which are taking over for their native counterparts.

Estero Bay is seen from the air as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.

Surfers wait for a set of waves as the sun sets at Lowdermilk Park in Naples on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Teams compete during a referee scrimmage at Community School of Naples in Naples on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. The scrimmage featured CSN, Aubrey Rogers, Estero, First Baptist, Lely and Marco Island.

A lucky fish finds itself in the wake of a feeding black skimmer at Dog Beach on the south end of Lovers Key on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. Skimmers feed by skimming the surface of the water with the lower mandible of the bill just below the surface. If they feel a fish, the bill locks tight and turns into a meal.

With the Naples skyline in the background, a hydrofoil hoverboarder is seen off of Bonita Beach on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

The Naples Golden Eagles compete against the Gulf Coast Sharks in the kickoff classic preseason game at Gulf Coast High School in Naples on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Naples won 45-0.

A Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern butterfly exhibits a behavior called puddling along Janes Scenic Drive in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park on Monday, July 29, 2024. Puddling behavior is when the butterflies suck minerals out of the damp ground.

Naples defensive members take part in a drill during a football practice at Staver Field in Naples on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.

People enter the Ave Maria Oratory on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The church is the centerpiece of the growing community east of Naples that was es. Services at the church are held throughout the week.

A royal tern with a fish meal flies over a surfacing manatee at Bonita Beach onThursday, July 25, 2024.

Larry Whitmore, an Air Force veteran works out at the Home Base Florida gym during the Warrior Health and Fitness Program on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.

A young reddish egret feeds at Bonita Beach while a kayak tour paddles off the beach onThursday, July 25, 2024.

Water rushes over an alligator a day after three days of heavy rains in the Everglades on June 14, 2024.

A bracket fungi grows off of a tree along the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Naples Golden Eagles players celerbate with the trophy after defeating the Barron Collier Cougars in the Class 5A regional final at Barron Collier High School in Naples on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

A pair e foil riders cruisethe calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico near the destroyed Naples Pier on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Maddie Friedmann, 8, of Naples, takes a big swing while learning to play tee-ball Saturday, June 15, 2024 during a cloudy afternoon at Seagate Park in Naples. Her grandfather Bob Friedmann, in background, was teaching her along with her siblings, Bella and Mickey the fundamentals of the game.

Easton, 2, along with parents Kylie and Steven Donaldson take a photo with the Kelly Cup during the Kelly Cup championship celebration hosted by the Florida Everblades at Hertz Arena in Estero on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

A drgon fly perches on foliage at Imperial Marsh Preserve off of Corkscrew Road in Estero on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024.

A barred owl is seen perched off of Loop Road in the Everglades on June 14, 2024. Heavy rain saturated the area over a three day period last week.

A young Everblades fan takes a photo on a Zamboni during the Kelly Cup championship celebration hosted by the Florida Everblades at Hertz Arena in Estero on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

A turkey family strolls by a motion sensor camera set up by News-Press photographer Andrew West at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

A lorikeet strikes a pose inside its exhibit during feeding time at the Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. They’re a species of parrot found in Australia.

Scenes from the Palmetto Ridge High School 2024 graduation at Palmetto Ridge in Naples on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The 518 seniors at the high school were among 3,400-plus Collier County School District students graduating this year. This is the 20th anniversary of the school.

The student section for Barron Collier High School cheers on their football team against Immokalee at Barron Collier in Naples on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.

Photos of Southwest Florida athletes competing in the 2024 Class A track meet in Jacksonville on Wednesday, May 15.

A white tailed deer forages for a meal at Big Cypress Wildlife Management Areain Collier County on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Pickleball great Simone Jardim acknowledges the crowd between matches during the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples on Saturday, April 20, 2024. She was honored at midcourt with a ceremony and was presented with an award for her commitment to the tournament.

Andrei Daescu returns a ball during a mixed doubles pro pickleball match at the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples on Saturday, April 20, 2024. his playing partner, Megan Fudge, is at left. They lost in the gold medal round to Anna Leigh Waters and JW Johnson.

Sophia Dapper, a goalie for the Community School of Naples Lacrosse team is doused after a win over Naples during a district game at at CSN on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Athletes compete during the Collier County Athletic Conference track and field championship at Aubrey Rogers High School in Naples on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Rylee Watts, 2, flies a kite at Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park in Naples on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Fans watch a pro mod race during the Swamp Buggy Races Budweiser Cup Finals at Florida Sports Park in Naples on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

St. John Neumann Catholic High School hosted Venice High School Wednesday, April 3, 2024 for a boys baseball showdown in Naples. Venice walked away with the victory with a final score of 7-5.

Construction continues on the exterior of a new building next to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Naples pitcher Johnny King (4) competes against the Charlotte Tarpons in a game at Naples High School in Naples on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

The sun sets behind the Immokalee High School marching band at Barron Collier in Naples on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. High School football is in full swing throughout Southwest Florida

A white water lily blooms at Imperial Marsh Preserve off of Corkscrew Road on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Summer rains are saturating low lying areas that create a perfect habitat for blooming wild flowers.

The FGCU women's basketball team defeated the University of Central Arkansas on Saturday March 16, 2024 to win the Atlantic Sun Conference championship game. The final score was 76-47.

An e foil rider cruises the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico near the destroyed Naples Pier on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The pier was destroyed in Hurricane Ian in 2022. The rebuilding of the pier is in the planning stages.

A cardinal perches on a branch at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on Friday, March 8, 2024. It is seen in front of an area that saw a recent prescribed burn.

The 64th Fort Myers High Edison Relays were held Friday, March 8, 2024 at Edison Stadium. The meet marked the debut of the newly installed track around Sirianni Field,

The National Football Foundation Collier County Chapter held its 7th annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner at the Naples Grande on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Gulf Coast's Chris Jimenez and family.

A large alligator rests on the bank of a restored area at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County on Monday, March 4, 2024. Photographed with a 600mm lens.

A raccoon moves through the swamp at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County on Monday, March 4, 2024. The swamp is celebrating its 70 year anniversary this year.

The Naples Golden Eagles compete against the Barron Collier Cougars in the Class 5A regional final at Barron Collier High School in Naples on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Riley Yzaguirre of ECS is tagged out at home plate by Barron Collier catcher Macey Doupe on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Fort Myers.

A white water lily blooms at Imperial Marsh Preserve off of Corkscrew Road on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Summer rains are saturating low lying areas that create a perfect habitat for blooming wild flowers.

A group of young Minnesota Twins fans crowd around to catch a fly ball thrown by one of the Twins players during their open house on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Fort Myers.

A flamboyance of flamingoes and a pod of white pelicans stand together on an island near the Sanibel Causeway on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.`

Naples Golden Eagles players celebrate a goal as Barron Collier Cougars players place their hands over their mouths during the final seconds of the second half of the Class 5A regional quarterfinal at Staver Field in Naples on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

Mullock Creek and Hendry Creek are seen from the air during a sunset on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. The two waterways are tributaries for boaters to Estero Bay.

ÒHankÓ an English Bulldog visiting with his family from Ohio, strolls among the hundreds of visitors which crowded downtown Naples Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, for the annual Ferrari Club of Naples Annual Cars on 5th Show. A very diverse collection of more than 400 luxury vehicles including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, MaseratiÕs, Porsches, Corvettes, etc. were on display on Fifth Avenue South.

A Koenigsegg CCX is unveiled as hundreds of visitors crowded downtown Naples Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, for the annual Ferrari Club of Naples Annual Cars on 5th Show. A very diverse collection of more than 400 luxury vehicles including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Porsches, Corvettes, etc. were on display on Fifth Avenue South.

Action from the First Baptist Academy vs. Community School of Naples Class 2A-District 12 boys soccer championship at FBA on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. CSN won 2-1

Trustee John Brown tastes Roseblood Rose during the Naples Children and Education Foundation Meet the Kids Day luncheon at Artis—Naples in Naples on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. People were also introduced to some of the featured vintners for the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Tara Watkins of Naples High completes the clean and jerk while her teammates cheer her on at the District 2A-14 Girls Weightlifting Championships on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at East Lee County High School in Lehigh Acres.

A large alligator is unbothered by fallen palm fronds while sunning itself on the bank of a waterway at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.

Hair today: FGCU plays Queens University in women's basketball on Thursday, Jan 18, 2024, at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Kelliann Reilly cheers as her border collie, Trick, makes a basket during halftime of the FGCU basketball game on Thursday, Jan 18, 2024, at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Construction continues on the exterior of a new building next to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

A runner is reflected in a puddle as they approach the final stretch of the Naples Half Marathon in Naples on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024.

Runners begin the Naples Half Marathon in Naples on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. The race draws thousands of people from across the country.

Dira, a 5-year-old Bornean Orangutan, and Riplee, 2, play together at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens in Naples on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. The family of orangutans arrived in September and are one of the newest additions to the zoo.

Aubrey Rogers wrestlers lift their coach, Cory Kness, while celebrating their win at the District A-12 Dual Wrestling Championships on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, at First Baptist Academy in Naples.

Zara Stewart of First Baptist Academy is one of Southwest Florida's volleyball Elite 11 players for the 2023 season.

North Fort Myers’ Andre Devine is a member of the 2023 News-Press and Naples Daily News Big 15 recruits.

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels compete against the Tampa Tarpons in a game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Friday, June 28, 2024.