79th Edison Festival of Light begins this weekend
Events associated with the 79th Edison Festival of Light kick off the celebration this weekend in downtown Fort Myers.
It begins with the largest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) event in the region with more than 7,500 participants through hands-on experiments. The STEMtastic Day of Discovery runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday inside Harborside Event Center and Centennial Park. Mote Aquarium and Full Sail University participate with displays at the event.
The Edison Festival of Light is Southwest Florida’s largest and longest running festival.
“Our Board of Directors has been working to produce a multitude of fun and exciting events,” said board president Kevin Anderson in a prepared statement.
Other events on the first day of the celebration include a craft beer and food truck festival and the Mutt Strut.
Local craft beer makers join a variety of food trucks available for tasting while being entertained by local bands. It runs 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Edwards Drive downtown. A parade and costume contest featuring canines shares the location at 5 p.m. Canine participation costs $10.
Executive Director of Development for the festival John Melleky said Sunday’s Junior Parade started in the early 1940s.
“It showcases the creativity and talent of area children and their family as they parade through downtown, starting on historic First Street,” Melleky said.
The Junior Parade features more than 100 units consisting of lighted floats, bands, marching units, clowns, dignitaries and more. The parade starts at 2:30 p.m. and wraps up the first weekend of the festival.
Designed for children between the ages of 2 and 10, the Junior Fun Run participants take their marks for a short fun run following 11 a.m. registration. Participation costs $7 per child.
The Edison Festival of Light culminates on Feb. 18 with the Grand Parade of Light, featuring more than 140 units to dazzle an estimated 200,000 people lining the parade route that begins on Edwards Drive and at 7 p.m. courses through downtown streets, Cleveland Avenue and ending at Edison Stadium on the campus of Fort Myers High School. Pro golfer Bobby Nichols, a 12-time PGA champion, is this year’s honorary Grand Marshal. Nichols has donated more than $8.2 million for abused and neglected children from the proceeds of his annual Nichols Cup Golf Tournament at Fiddlesticks Golf Course over the past 15 years.
The Cape Coral Little League Senior World Series Championship team as a group are the parade’s Grand Marshals this year. The team beat British Columbia, Canada, in the title game.
“We will have triple the number of helium balloons as in previous years,” said Melleky. “The Grand Parade is one of the largest night parades in Florida.”
That includes cartoon character balloons and the return of the Chico’s shopping bag balloon, which made its debut a number of years ago.
The two-hour-plus parade features national participants, local marching bands, floats, government and law enforcement officials, clowns and much more. It started in 1939 in the honor of the life and achievements of winter resident Thomas Edison.
Festivities get started earlier on Feb. 18 with live and DJ entertainment on Edwards Drive starting at 11 a.m. Multiple food and beverage vendors are located at the boat ramp, the corner of Dean and Edwards and Hendry and Edwards. Admission is free.
The Festival of Light 5K goes off at 5:45 p.m. at Centennial Park and takes 1,500 runners along the parade route and is finished before the Grand Parade. Entry fees are $30 after Feb. 11 and $40 on raceday.
Other events associated with the festival include local and national craft vendors at Centennial Park from 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Feb. 17 followed by a music walk block party from 6-10 p.m. with live bands and more food and beverages.
There’s even a classic car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 19 on Edwards Drive.
For more information and a complete list of events call 239-334-2999 or visit www.edisonfestival.org.