Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade takes over downtown Fort Myers

Fireworks, marching bands, and, of course, lights were flooding the streets of downtown Fort Myers.

The annual Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade took place on Saturday night. The parade returned in 2022 after being canceled in 2021.

The people WINK News spoke to seemed thrilled to have a sense of normalcy back. For those attending, it was almost like a family reunion. This is a reunion they had to wait 735 days for. Luckily, they say, it was worth the wait.

The Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade made its way through Fort Myers once again after it was canceled a year ago due to COVID-19.

“Super super excited!” said Tammy Morrason of North Fort Myers.

Gregg Hathaway came down from Englewood. “It’ll bring the pulse up another 20 or 30 beats,” he said.

“We really missed it!” said Diane Byrd, who also came over from North Fort Myers to watch the parade.

“Definitely a different experience not coming last year,” said Bryan Miller.

“We wouldn’t know if the parade was going to be until we saw it on your TV station,” said Hathaway.

People lined the streets on Saturday to reunite with their festival favorites.

Miller says he was most excited to see the bands.

“I’m here to see the cloggers,” Morrason said. “All the different floats.”

“The bicycles with the lights,” Hathaway said.

“All the fancy motorcycle work,” said Byrd.

Parade fans set up their lawn chairs on Saturday afternoon, hours before the parade began. Despite it being two years since the last Grand Parade, they didn’t miss a beat.

“It’s just been a staple of the family,” John Abbondandolo of Fort Myers said.

“My mom and dad started the tradition about 10 years ago,” said Morrason. “I think they’d be proud of us to continue doing.”

“Been on this block for about 6-7 years,” said Hathaway.

“20 years, in this same spot,” Pete Eckenrode said.

“Been watching it for 65 years,” Byrd said.

“Been here since I was little,” Miller said.

And, of course, everyone has their reason why their spot is the best spot.

“You get to be at the start, so you don’t have to wait too long to see all the action,” said Miller.

“Friends that are in spaces that are fairly close,” said Eckenrode.

“You can see up the road quite a distance,” said Hathaway.

“Right in the middle of everything,” Morrason said.

The annual parade honors Thomas Edison who spent his winters in Fort Myers. But, this event means even more, especially to those who call Fort Myers home year-round.

“An opportunity to get families together,” said Eckenrode.

“It’s good that everybody is feeling good about getting out,” Byrd said.

“Brings a good sense of community!” said Morrason.

“You don’t see any disagreements going on,” said Eckenrode.

“Be together and just have a good time!” Miller said.

“It’s a parade worth seeing,” Hathaway said.

“I’m going to keep coming as long as I can,” Eckenrode said.

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeannette Nuñez appeared in the parade on Saturday. Lee Health’s Dr. Larry Antonucci and health care heroes served as the grand marshalls of the parade.

People were excited to be back out at this event and hope to return to this annual tradition.