Annual Fort Myers Beach parade under way
Have you brought out your red, white and blue yet? If not, better hurry. The Fort Myers Beach Fourth of July parade and fireworks display is heading down Estero Boulevard this weekend. Beginning at the Sea Grape Plaza at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, more than 50 parade entries will coast down the boulevard, wrapping up at Old San Carlos Boulevard around noon.
Expect to see many of our live and local celebrities in the parade, as well as handfuls of local charities, groups, businesses and service organizations, from Turtle Time, the American Legion and the Pink Shell, to the American Red Cross, Blue Lightning and possibly the U.S. Coast Guard.
Make sure you let your beach-visiting friends and family know the Matanzas Sky Bridge will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to about noon to make way for the floats and parade caravan coming down the way.
An awards ceremony for the parade will be held at the new Surf Club (the old Waffle House) at noon. Miss Florida, Tampa’s Lees Garcia, will be the Grand Marshall, and will be followed by Miss Southwest Florida, Miss Fort Myers, Miss Cape Coral and Miss Naples Teen. All the ladies will make an appearance and meet-and-greet at the Pink Shell at 2 p.m. that day.
Parking will be very, very limited so taking the trolley is recommended.
Major sponsors of the event include the Surf Club, the Beached Whale, Doc Ford’s, Charley’s Boathouse, the Pink Shell, and the Beach Observer. ‘Friends of the parade’ are Tropics Island Bar and Grill, Salt Water Pro Shop and Terra Nostra.
Show your spirit by purchasing an official second annual FMB Fourth of July Parade T-shirt ($10) or tank top ($12). Proceeds of the shirt purchases go to the Fort Myers Beach Civic Association and local charities.
They’re available at the Beach Bulletin/Beach Observer office, 19260 San Carlos Blvd., as well as the Beached Whale and other major sponsor sites.