Edison Festival of Light

Edison (Thomas) Festival of Light

Mid-January through mid-FebruaryMost people associate Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) with his famous laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. But when he was 38 years old, a widower and seriously ill, his doctors sent him to Florida for a long vacation. There he discovered giant bamboo growing along the Caloosahatchee River. He established his winter home in Fort Myers and planned to use the bamboo fiber to make filaments for his new incandescent electric lamp bulbs.
The Edison Festival of Light, held annually in Fort Myers for more than three weeks, encompassing his birthday ( see Edison's Birthday), began as a three-day event in 1938. Highlights of the festival include concerts, the coronation of the King and Queen of Edisonia, a children's parade, fireworks, exhibits of Edison's various inventions, and exhibits of regional inventors. The Grand Parade of Light—a nighttime procession of more than 100 bands, floats, and marching units—is the festival's grand finale. Edison's winter home and his Florida laboratory are open to the public year-round.
CONTACTS:
Edison Festival of Light
1300 Hendry St.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-334-2999; fax: 239-334-7418
www.edisonfestival.org
SOURCES:
GdUSFest-1984, p. 35
References in periodicals archiveFort Myers, FL, February 12, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Rotary Club of Fort Myers South is pleased to announce that their nominee has been chosen by the Edison Festival of Light Committee and program sponsor Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz as the Honorary Grand Marshal of the Grand Parade of Light set to take place on Saturday, Feb.Because of Deputy Zazwirsky's instrumental role in helping and improving his community, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South determined he was also a great candidate for nomination for Honorary Grand Marshal of the Edison Parade.
As Honorary Grand Marshal, Deputy Zazwirsky will be spotlighted in the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade.Edison Festival of Light Announces 2016 Honorary Grand MarshalThe area's two biggest annual bashes are Fort Myers' Edison Festival of Light, a three-week affair held in February celebrating the life of Thomas Edison and concluding with the Festival of Light Parade; and Sarasota's Florida Winefest and Auction, a week-- long culinary celebration and wine auction in April that draws food and wine connoisseurs from around the world.Southwest Florida from A to Z: From anoles (they're lizards) to zoos (try Caribbean Gardens) here's the lowdown on living the good life. (Newcomer's Guide)