“Jeopardy” champion Claire Sattler has never seen the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade. Yet there she’ll be on Feb. 16, waving from a car as the popular night parade makes its way through downtown Fort Myers.
Even so, the Bishop Verot High senior says she’s heard nothing but great things about the parade, and she can’t wait to see it for herself.
“I’m super-excited,” says Sattler, 17, who won $100,000 last year on “Jeopardy’s” annual Teen Tournament. “This was something that came out of the blue after the whole ‘Jeopardy’ thing.
“It’s just something really cool to get to do in the community. I’m really honored.”
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The Bonita Springs teen will soon find out what Fort Myers residents have known for years: The annual event is truly something to behold. Here’s everything you need to know about the 81-year-old Fort Myers tradition:
WHAT IS IT?
It’s one of the biggest night parades in the Southeastern United States and also the biggest and longest-running parade in Southwest Florida. The 2019 parade will feature about 160 units, including 28 floats and 17 marching bands.
WHEN IS IT?
The parade starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. It travels from Fort Myers High School, south along U.S. 41 and through the streets of downtown Fort Myers.
Many people arrive hours in advance to secure prime viewing spots along the parade route. In fact, some people get there WEEKS earlier to mark their spot with blue tape.
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WHY DO WE DO IT?
The Edison Festival of Light is a month-long celebration that began in February 1938 as a way to honor Fort Myers' most famous winter resident, Thomas Edison. Back then, it was called the Pageant of Light. Thomas Edison moved to Fort Myers in 1885 as a winter resident. He died Oct. 18, 1931, in West Orange, N.J.
The annual fest includes hymn sings, concerts, parades and car shows. But the biggest draw is always theEdison Festival of Light Grand Parade, whichattracts thousands of spectators to downtown Fort Myers every year (crowd estimates go as high as about 200,000 people).
The Grand Parade became a night parade in 1953 in honor of Edison's invention of the commercial light bulb. Floats were decorated with lights — a tradition that continues to this day.
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HOW LONG DOES THE PARADE TAKE?
The Grand Parade takes about two hours to finish. Fireworks light up the sky as the last parade unit enters downtown Fort Myers.
WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR?
The 2019 parade route is slightly different, thanks to ongoing construction at Harborside Event Center for a new downtown hotel project.Portions of roads in that area have been barricaded, forcing the parade to avoid Monroe Street after turning off U.S. 41 on its way downtown.
Instead, the parade will continue along Main Street, turn left at Hendry Street, right on Edwards Drive, right again on Jackson Street and continue to the end of Second Street.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT?
Highlights this year include antique British convertibles driven by members of the National Sojourners, about 200 illuminated bicycles ridden by local bicycling group SWFL Critical Mass, and the return of the death-defying motorcycle daredevils of the Indianapolis Metropolitan PoliceMotorcycleDrill Team.
The drill team is always a hit whenever it appears at the parade, says parade chairman Mike Gill. “They’re nationally recognized and so, so good.”
Then there’s all the elaborate floats decorated by local families and groups, including The German American Social Club’s salute to the Apollo 11 moon landing — which celebrates its 50th anniversary this July — and German scientist Wernher von Braun, who was part of the American rocket team.
That float — designed by club member Stefan Geisel — features a replica of the Saturn V rocket that launched the mission, complete with lights, smoke and astronauts.
Another new unit at this year’s parade: TV station NBC2 will let people watching the parade see themselves on camera, too. The station’s mobile weather center — a tricked-out Ford Transit called the First Alert Storm Tracker—will turn its cameras from the sky to the sidewalks along the parade route.
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That live video will appear on two 85-inch TVs beingpulled by the van on a trailer.
“We’ll see the crowd,” says NBC2 marketing director David Hall. “It gives them the chance to see themselves on TV."
WHO ARE THE GRAND MARSHALS?
This year’s grand marshal is football player Tommy Bohanon, the former North Fort Myers High Red Knights football star who’s now a fullback starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bohanon also started the Tommy Bohanon Foundation, a charity that gave cleats to the North Fort Myers High football team last season. He received the Pop Warner Humanitarian Award at the 58th Annual All-American Scholars Banquet last year.
“He’s just a great representative,” parade chairman Mike Gill says. “And he’s doing very, very well for himself.”
Then there’s this year’s honorary grand marshal, Claire Sattler, the Bishop Verot High School senior who won November’s “Jeopardy!” Teen Tournament. She’d racked up a total of $38,200 by the end of the game show’s two-day finals — twice as much as her nearest competitor, Emma Arnold.
Sattler said she couldn’t believe it when she got to Final Jeopardy and realized she didn’t have to bet anything to be the winner.
“I said, ‘I have a runaway!’” she told The News-Press in November and laughed. “And then I said, ‘No way!’ … My hands were shaking as I was trying to do the math and make sure I wasn’t wrong.”
WHAT'S UP WITH THOSE KINGS AND QUEENS AND THE ROYAL COURT OF EDISONIA?
Every year, members of the Pageant of Light and the Fort Myers Woman's Community Club choose a new king and queen to rule the imaginary land of “Edisonia." Those newly crowned royals appear in the Grand Parade accompanied by princes, princesses, dukes, duch*esses and the rest of the royal court. The 12 members of the court are all teens and 20-somethings.
The Edison Festival of Light isn't the same thing as the Edison Pageant of Light, by the way.The Festival of Light is the nonprofit group that organizes the Grand Parade and other events. The private Pageant of Light crowns the Royal Court of Edisonia every year.
WHAT ROADS WILL BE BLOCKED?
Expect road closures along Cleveland Avenue and downtown Fort Myers for Saturday's parade. These closures begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
- Cleveland Avenue between Hanson and Main streets
- Edwards Drive (closed from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
- Bay Street between Heitman and Jackson streets
- First Street between Fowler and Jackson streets
- Main Street between Cleveland Avenue and Hendry Street
- Monroe Street between Main Street and Edwards Drive (closed at 7 a.m.)
- Heitman Street from Bay Street to Edwards Drive (closed at 7 a.m.)
- Broadway between Second and Bay streets
- Hendry Street between Main Street and Edwards Drive (closed from 6 a.m. to noon)
- Jackson Street between Edwards Drive and Edison Avenue
- Cortez Avenue between Del Rio and Llewellyn drives
- Llewellyn Drive between Cortez and Cleveland avenues
- Hoople Street between Jackson Street and Central Avenue
- Crawford Street between Jackson Street and Central Avenue
- Lafayette Street between Jackson Street and Central Avenue
- Royal Palm Avenue between Bay Street and Thompson
- Lee Street between Edwards Drive and Thompson/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Fowler and Heitman streets
- And the downtown boat ramp
- Also, the ramp off the Caloosahatchee Bridge into downtown Fort Myers and the southbound lanes of traffic will be diverted onto McGregor Boulevard.
Police encourage those who want to attend the parade to arrive downtown prior to 5 p.m. The parking garages will be open before the parade starts and access to downtown will be very limited during the parade.
Anyone not attending should avoid the area, according to the Fort Myers Police Department. Alternate routes include the Edison Bridge, Fowler Street and Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard.
WHERE CAN YOU PARK?
Parking can be tricky, so you shouldn’t wait until the last minute. Many streets are closed for the parade, and street parking is limited.
Options include two parking garages in downtown Fort Myers. The Main Street garage can be accessed from both Main and Second Streets, and the Harborside garage can be accessed from Monroe or Bay streets.They cost $1 per hour or $5 for the whole day.
Many churches and businesses will also let you park in their lots for a fee. Just expect to be walking several blocks.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
For more information about the parade and the Edison Festival of Light, call 334-2999 or visitedisonfestival.org.
Connect with this reporter:Charles Runnells (News-Press) (Facebook),@charlesrunnells (Twitter),@crunnells1 (Instagram)
EDISON FEST EVENTS HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Mutt Strutt: The costumed dog parade and talent show returns with doggie floats, wiener-dog races and more. Noon to 4 p.m. Free. Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers.
STEMtastic Day of Discovery: An award-winning showcase of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) exhibits for local children and their families. Visitors can participate in an indoor and outdoor interactive area with STEM-related exhibits, games and presentations. There will also be children performing music, theater and acrobatics on the community stage. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers.
Food Trucks & Craft Beer Festival: This annual event features craft beer, local bands and food trucks. Noon to 6 p.m. Free admission. The corner of Edwards Drive and Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers.
Garden Festival: More than 40 Florida garden vendors display and sell their exotic, tropical and native plants and trees at this annual event. Plus you can buy garden supplies and gift items, such as mulch, trellises, pottery, cut flowers, jewelry and artwork. Several food trucks will be parked there, and Millennial Brewing Company will sell a special beer brewed just for the Estates. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., downtown Fort Myers. 334-7419 or edisonfordwinterestates.org.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Edison Festival of LightJunior Parade:This smaller version of theEdison Festival of LightGrand Parade features kids and their families smiling and waving from floats, wagons, marching bands and more. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. The parade starts at First and Heitman streets in downtown Fort Myers. 334-2999 or visitedisonfestival.org.
Edison FestivalJunior Fun Run: The kids run takes place before the Junior Parade and is open to children in grades 5 and below. Run lengths range from 50 to 75 yards to 1 mile. Noon to 2 p.m. $5 entry fee includes T-shirt and ribbon. People are urged to register early at the festival office. On race day, you can preregister starting at 10:30 a.m. Race takes place at First and Lee streets in downtown Fort Myers.
Junior Coronation & Parade Awards: This awards ceremony for Junior Parade participants takes place right after the Junior Parade. Plus the Junior King and Queen of the mythical Royal Court of Edisonia are crowned. They'll join the rest of the court on floats during the Grand Parade. 4:30 p.m. Free. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Thomas Edison's Birthday Party: Come celebrate what would have been the 172nd birthday of the late inventor and part-time Fort Myers resident. The party includes birthday cake, a singing of the "Happy Birthday" song and students from Park Creative and Expressive Arts School dancing and playing stringed instruments. 10 a.m. Free admission. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., downtown Fort Myers. 334-7419 or edisonford.org.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FEB. 16-17
Crafts on the River: Exhibitors display and sell handmade crafts during this non-juried annual event. Items include jewelry, photography, paintings, sculptures and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission. Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Edison Festivalof Light Grand Parade: The gigantic, two-hour night parade returns with more marching bands, elaborate floats, government officials, law enforcement officials, clowns and other sights. 7-10 p.m. Free. The parade travels from Fort Myers High School to Cleveland Avenue and then north to downtown Fort Myers.
Edison Festivalof Light 5K: This race travels through downtown Fort Myers and Cleveland Avenue. More than 1,400 people take part. 5:45 p.m. Coordinated by the Fort Myers Track Club. Entry fee is $25-$40. The run begins at Edwards Drive and Lee Street in downtown Fort Myers. Register at the festival office or online at edisonfestival.org.
St. Francis Xavier Church annual Parade Night Spaghetti Dinner: Annual pre-parade dinner of spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, bread sticks, dessert and a beverage. 3:30-6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 ($5 for children ages 9 and younger) and entitle the purchaser to park on church grounds and have a reserved space to place chairs to view the parade. Take-outs are available. St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall, 2133 Heitman St., downtown Fort Myers. 334-2161 or 673-8350
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Classic Car Show: Edwards Drive will be lined with hundreds of hot rods and classic cars. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Cracker Dinner: This annual dinner includes door prizes, live music, a silent auction and this year's master of ceremonies, Fort Myers native Genevieve Bowen, who will discuss her memories of the former Buckingham Air Field, traffic jams during VJ Day and more about 1940s Fort Myers. Presented by the Southwest Florida Historical Society. 5:30 p.m. $35. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 939-4044
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Rhythm on the River: Cellist Ian Maksin andMiami-based guitarist Michel Gonzalez perform jazz, blues, flamenco, rock, R&B, world music and more at this ongoing concert series. $25-$30. The River Pavilion at Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., downtown Fort Myers. 334-7419 or edisonford.org.
To learn more about the Edison Festival of Light and its events, call 334-2999 or visitedisonfestival.org.
