Fort Myers Beach Public Works Director Jeff Hague announced Thursday that the 2025 4th of July Parade will begin at Bowditch Beach Park on the north end of Estero Boulevard. Here’s why…
The reason for the change is to avoid having to close the Matanzas Pass Bridge again. Whenever there’s a parade on Fort Myers Beach (other than the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the south end), it begins at The Beach School and travels north on Estero, crosses over the base of the bridge and ends around the Times Square area or near Old San Carlos. During the Shrimp Festival the bridge is closed for both the parade and a 5K.
In addition to having to cut off traffic in both directions on Estero Boulevard and coming over the Matanzas Pass Bridge, there’s a ton of construction work still in progress at the base of the bridge and on San Carlos…