Edison Festival of Light festivities kick off on Valentines Day
The festivities for the 88th annual Edison Festival of Light will kick off on Valentine’s Day.
Thomas Edison built his winter home in Fort Myers in 1885 and throughout the 50 years that he wintered on the Caloosahatchee he dedicated both his time and support to projects and local charities. Edison passed away in 1931, and in 1938 the Edison Pageant of Light, with a coronation ball, parade, band concert and a memorial service was held as a celebration to commemorate Edison’s achievements.
Since then, the Edison Festival of Light has morphed into two weeks of celebration.
The celebration has been a huge part of the Taylor family’s history. Lauren Taylor, of Taylor Carpet One, is the youngest person to serve as the festival president at just 34 years old.
“It’s one of those traditions that we carried on from generation to generation. Now we are on the board and continue through it there,” Taylor said.
For more than 60 years a member of the Taylor family has participated in the parade. Taylor Carpet One has entered a float in the parade for more than two decades.
“The event is in full swing. We are expecting it to be larger than ever, which is really excited. Our registrations are ahead of what they have been in the past,” she said of parade entries and runners. “We are looking forward to an exciting couple of weekends in February.”
On Saturday, Feb. 14, the festival will kick off with the Spring Garden Festival, Mutt Strutt and STEMtastic Day of Discovery.
The Spring Garden Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The festival will feature close to 100 garden vendors with exotic, and native plants for sale. There will also be food trucks and music.
Taylor said the Mutt Strutt, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the corner of Edwards Drive and Monroe Street, is a small little parade for dogs.
“Dog lovers will bring their dogs dressed up. Some do little carts, strut across the stage and we do little awards for that,” she said.
There will be food vendors and dog related vendors downtown.
The STEMtastic Day of Discovery will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Caloosa Sound Convention Center on Saturday as well.
Taylor said the event is in partnership with the School District of Lee County featuring science, technology, engineering, math and the arts.
“All the different schools have little tables that they set up. You can walk through and see little things they have done and the schools that have culinary programs will provide food for that event,” Taylor said.
The Junior Fun Run will step off at noon on First Street in downtown Fort Myers. It is open for kids who are in fifth grade or younger. Taylor said there are different distances for each grade level. It is $10 to register.
The Junior Parade begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, in downtown Fort Myers.
Junior Parade Chairperson Cindy Sherkus said she has been involved in the parade since her kids were young. She said the parade is about 30 to 45 minutes long depending on the number of participants.
Registration ended a week before the parade on Feb. 6, so they could create a lineup of the participants.
She said they try to have participants do a theme of Thomas Edison. The participants range from school bands, to dance groups and floats from various schools.
“I have families that keep coming back. That is what we need more of – the little floats, the family floats, the strollers and the wagons,” Sherkus said.
She said it is as easy as putting your child in a wagon and decorating it.
“It’s all about the children. It’s a fun, free day. It’s something you can come and spend a couple of hours doing. There are very limited things that are free that is all about kids,” Sherkus said. “We would love to have more people come out and participate and be spectators. The route goes through downtown. There are lots of places to sit and watch.”
Part of the Junior Parade includes the Junior Court. To be in the Junior Court, the youth have to be in the Junior Parade for the past three years. She said at 7 years old they are eligible to be on the Junior Court.
There are eight boys and eight girls.
“The girls are in little white gowns, and the boys are dressed to the tee. Judges judge the entrees and they get trophies,” Sherkus said.
There is a Junior Coronation and Awards ceremony at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center after the Junior Parade where the Junior King and Junior Queen are crowned.
Crafts on the River will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22 along Edwards Drive.
The Edison Festival of Light Party will be held from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Feb. 21 at 1811 Royal Palm Ave. and will feature bounce houses, food trucks, and drinks.
The Edison Festival 5K Run is also held on Feb. 21 with a step-off start at 5:15 p.m. Taylor said the run takes place on the parade route. Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for youth. On race day the price increases to $40 for all.
The Grand Parade of Light will take begin at 7 p.m. Taylor said the parade begins at Fort Myers High School and finishes in Downtown Fort Myers.
“We are expecting it to be larger than ever on the applicants,” she said.
Taylor said technically the applications are accepted until two weeks before the parade.
“We can only have a certain amount of participants. We try to keep the parade within a two-hour period,” she said.
Applicants are encouraged to register online at edisonfestival.org.
This year’s grand marshal is Sam Sirianni Jr. retired longtime football coach of Fort Myers High School.
“We have a committee that choses the grand marshal each year,” Taylor said, which is then brought to the board. “It really varies year to year.”
The grand marshal has had a huge impact in the community.
“It’s harder and harder each year. There are so many great people out there,” she said.
There is both a VIP tent experience offered and street seats available online on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Grand Parade of Light will be streamed live. More information will be available on its website, and on social media closer to the event.
“I think what I enjoy the most is looking at the pure joy and excitement that it brings to each one of the spectators out there and knowing that there is a lot of work and effort that goes into it all. The overall goal is to bring it to the community and for all of us to be together,” Taylor said.