The police sirens wailed. The marching bands danced. And more than 50 floats glowed in the Fort Myers night.
The Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade finally arrived Saturday after two weeks of concerts, car shows and other events. And the crowd loved it.
They cheered and clapped and grinned as more than 175 parade units passed by on Cleveland Avenue and through the streets of downtown Fort Myers: A giant lightbulb balloon wearing sunglasses. Fire engines with red lights flashing. And one colorful, illuminated float after another.
Debbie Metcalf and her family watched the parade from their small tent on Llewellyn Drive off Edison Avenue. They got there at 1:30 p.m. Saturday – a full 5 1/2 hours before show time – just to get a good spot.
Metcalf of Cape Coral said she looks forward to seeing the parade every year. It’s one of the biggest night parades in the Southeastern United States and also the biggest and longest-running parade in Southwest Florida.
“We’ve been doing it since the kids were in high school, about 10-15 years,” Metcalf said. “I love the community feel and how everybody comes together and just has a good time. And I become a nerd and I start waving and clapping (laughs).”