Leatherback sea turtle nesting season begins in SanibelA warmer Thursday start with stray showers this afternoon
This year, the Edison Festival of Light is back after being on hiatus due to COVID-19. And, this year, the Grand Parade is the highlight. A Fort Myers family favorite is back now. The Edison Festival of Light was gone in 2021 due to the pandemic. Ted Fitzgeorge is a board member of the Edison Festival of Light. “It’s one of those quaint small-town traditions,” Fitzgeorge said. “We are thrilled to be back. We did just a little one-weekend thing last year, and it worked out really well. But we missed our parades,” said Fitzgeorge. Downtown Fort Myers will come alive with the Grand Parade, a 5K run, classic cars, and crafts along the river. The festival begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and several streets in downtown Fort Myers are shut down. So, organizers say it is essential to plan ahead. “Come down early, get your parking spots. The garages are open. There are still VIP seats available. There are street seats available. VIP seats if for an additional $20 fee comes with private parking,” said Fitzgeorge. And many come to the Festival of Light as a family tradition and are ready to create lasting memories. “People come in, tape it off, put their family name on the tape… And you will see people here early with their flatbed trucks, and they’ll barbecue and tailgate. It’s a great family atmosphere,” Fitzgeorge said. For more information about road closures and a map, you can follow this link. Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade route and road closures The event is free and is open to the public.