Dunbar Easter Parade takes over the streets of this historic community

Floats and fun took over as an Easter celebration returned. Dunbar’s annual Easter parade brought the community together.

This year was the 78th Annual Dunbar Easter Parade, a community tradition.

Sharon Davies came over from Cape Coral. “This is my fifteenth parade with the Dunbar festival,” Davies said.

Thousands of people gather for the parade and its festivities every year. “It’s a celebration of life, and it’s a life in a community that’s very close to each other,” said Davies.

Willie Battle says this event is uplifting. “We always had the parade to lift the community up, give them life,” said Battle.

More than 70 community organizations, with loads of candy, paraded down the streets of the Historic Dunbar Community in central Fort Myers. Edward Hardin says it feels like seeing family. “It’s a family reunion. People, just, just seeing the happiness of people doing this and wanting to be a part of this, is bigger than any… anything,” Hardin said.

Antoinette Gilmore helped organize the event as a way to give back to a place that means so much to her. “I grew up here all my life. My father was an educator. I worked in Lee County Schools for 29 years and it means so much to me to see everybody and all our kids get together and have such an exciting day,” said Gilmore.

That was an opportunity to experience community, showcase your talent and skill, and give back to the city. “It’s resurrection day, baby, all about God!”Gilmore said.

Immediately after the parade, families enjoyed live music, food, bounce houses, and an Easter egg hunt at the Fort Myers Stars Complex.