The Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade returns Saturday, Feb. 21, to downtown Fort Myers. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 event.
What is the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade?
It’s one of the biggest night parades in the Southeastern United States — and also the biggest and longest-running parade in Southwest Florida.
Parade lovers can expect lots of floats, marching bands, fire engines, police cars and more — all illuminated with Christmas lights, glow sticks, spotlights, emergency lights and anything else that shines or glows.
When and where is the Edison Fest Grand Parade?
The parade starts at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. It travels from Fort Myers High School to Cleveland Avenue, then moves north along Cleveland and through the streets of downtown Fort Myers.
How long does the parade take?
The Grand Parade takes about two to three hours to finish.
What will you see at the 2026 Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade?
The 2026 parade will feature about 150-160 units, including 15 high-school marching bands and 60 floats, says organizer John Taylor, who co-chairs the parade with Frank Sherkus.
“We’re feeling really good about it,” Taylor says.
Some exciting news for motorcycle fans: The popular Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Motorcycle Drill Team returns for its second year in a row. And this time, the daredevil traffic officers will lead the parade.
“We’re actually putting them in the front of the parade and they’re going to kick it off…” Taylor says. “I don’t think they’ve ever been the very first unit, but they’ve been close.”
The drivers will rumble along the parade route on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles, weaving the bikes in tight patterns, standing on the seats (surfboard-style), popping wheelies and more.
“We’re going to have the motorcycles from the sheriff’s department go out and clear the road, and then they’re going to perform,” Taylor says. “And we feel like this is going to give them a little more time to perform along the route. And I think the spectators will enjoy it.”
Another highlight this year: The return of the popular Mexican dance group Bailes Folkloricos y Danzas de México (which loosely translates to Folk Dances and Mexican Dances). The group decided not to perform last year due to President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants and a fear of people getting arrested and deported.
Now the Mexican dancers are back in a scaled-down form with about 100 dancers participating, Taylor says. That’s about half the number that performed in 2024.
The group members walk or do Mexican folk dances in feathered Aztec headdresses and other traditional Mexican costumes. And it’s a beautiful sight to see, Taylor says.
“We’re thrilled to have them back,” he says. “They are a fun group that people really enjoy.”
When are the fireworks at this year’s Edison Parade?
Fireworks light up the sky as the parade approaches the intersection of Main and Hendry streets in downtown Fort Myers, Taylor says. The 2026 fireworks show will last about 10 minutes.
What’s Edison Fest all about?
The big parade is part of the annual Edison Festival of Light, a two-week celebration that began in February 1938 to honor Fort Myers’ most famous winter resident, Thomas Edison. Back then, it was called the Pageant of Light.
The annual fest includes hymn sings, concerts, parades and car shows. But the biggest draw is always the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, which attracts thousands of spectators to downtown Fort Myers every year. Crowd estimates go as high as about 200,000.
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.
Who are the Edison parade’s 2026 grand marshals?
Retired Fort Myers High football coach Sam Sirianni Jr. is this year’s grand marshal. World champion boxer Tiara Brown is the honorary grand marshal.
In December news release, Sirianni Jr. urged the Southwest Florida community to embrace the Edison Festival of Light and what it means to Fort Myers.
“The Edison Festival of Light is a staple that we can’t take for granted,” he said. “We must pass it from generation to generation. It encapsulates the traditions and history that give Fort Myers its identity.”
What’s up with those kings and queens?
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, duchesses and the rest of the royal court. The 12 members of the Royal Court of Edisonia 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 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 — between Hanson and Main streets — and throughout downtown Fort Myers. Police usually announce more details about road closures closer to parade day.
Police also encourage parade attendees to arrive in downtown before 5 p.m. Access to downtown will be very limited during the parade.
What else is happening for Edison Fest?
There’s more happening than just the parade. Here’s everything else going on this weekend:
Edison Festival of Light 5K Run
This 3.1-mile race travels through downtown Fort Myers and along Cleveland Avenue. More than 1,400 people take part every year. 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Entry fee is $35 in advance ($20 for youth) and $40 for everybody on race day. Coordinated by the Fort Myers Track Club. Race starts and finishes on Edwards Drive near Jackson Street in downtown Fort Myers. runsignup.com/Race/FL/FortMyers/EdisonFestivalofLight5K
St. Francis Xavier Church parade night spaghetti dinner
Annual pre-parade dinner of spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, bread, dessert and a beverage. 3:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Tickets are $16 ($5 for children ages 10 and younger) and entitle you to park on church grounds and have a reserved space to place chairs to view the parade. Take-outs are available. All proceeds to benefit the Catholic Faith Appeal. St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall, 2133 Heitman St., Fort Myers. 239-334-2161 or 703-587-4221
Crafts on the River
Exhibitors display and sell handmade crafts during this non-juried event near the Caloosahatchee River. The two-day event includes jewelry, photography, paintings, sculptures and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22. Free. Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers.
Grand Parade of Light VIP Tent
Experience the big parade with VIP seating offering a great view of the main event, plus a deejay, food and drinks. 5:30 p.m. until the end of the parade, Saturday, Feb. 21. $75 for adults, $35 for children. The tent is set up at Edwards Drive and Hendry Street.
Classic Car Show
Hundreds of hot rods and classic cars line Edwards Drive for this annual event during Crafts on the River. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. Free. Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers.
How to find out more about the Edison Festival of Light
For more information about the parade and the Edison Festival of Light, call 334-2999 or visit edisonfestival.org.
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Charles Runnells covers arts and entertainment for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@usatodayco.com. Follow or message him on Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells).
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Edison Parade 2026: What you need to know about the Fort Myers event
Reporting by Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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