Holiday events
Festivals
* Festival of Lights
The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral will host the Holiday Festival of Lights, title sponsored by CenturyLink, on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The festivities will be held from 4-10 p.m. along Cape Coral Parkway from Southeast 15th Avenue to Candia Street. The opening ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm and Santa will be arriving for the official LCEC tree lighting at 6:15 p.m.
Cape Coral Parkway will close at 5 a.m. on Dec. 7.
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* Holiday Nights at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates
The 44th Annual Holiday Nights at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates is ongoing through Dec. 30 at the historic attraction at 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Daily hours are (closed Dec. 24-25) are 5:30 to 9 p.m.
A not-to-be-missed holiday tradition, the historic buildings and more than 20 acres of gardens are decorated with lights and traditional decorations. The event offers a special holiday tour, Children’s Tree Trail, Santa visits on select nights, refreshments and shopping in the Ford Cottage Shoppe, museum store and garden shoppe.
Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for teens and $18 for children 6-12 with $5 off for Lee County residents with ID Mondays and Tuesdays.
Visit edisonfordwinterestates.org for more information.
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*13th Annual Festival of Trees
The 13th Annual Festival of Trees will again be presented by Goodwill Industries at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers.
The event, which this year will also feature ice skating, will be held Dec. 6-8.
Festival admission is $2 for 12 and older,
It is $8 to ice skate for 30 minutes those 12 years old and older and $5 for those 3 to 11 years old accompanied by an adult. Ice skating will start at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, with the last skate at 10:30 p.m. The skating will resume at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, with the last skate at 10:30 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 8, the skating will take place from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the last skate.
Santa’s Block Party, including the Children’s Workshop with Santa, is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop is $6 per child; adult with a child is free.
Visit goodwilltrees.com for more information.
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* Christmas Luminary Trail and Open House
The Sanibel and Captiva islands 35th Annual Christmas Luminary Trail and Open House is set for 5:30 -9 pm.Dec. 6.
This event draws visitors from all over the world as they join local residents to celebrate the season with 3 miles of luminary candles and events.
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* Christmas Carol Sing
Gaither Homecoming Soloist and Grammy Award winner Larry Ford will make a special guest appearance at the 29th Annual Christmas Carol Sing sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.
The Christmas Carol Sing will be Tuesday, Dec. 17, at First Presbyterian Church, 2438 Second Street in downtown Fort Myers, between Lee Street and Royal Palm Avenue. Admission is free, although organizers request voluntary donations of at least two cans of non-perishable food for The Soup Kitchen, operated by Community Cooperative, and a voluntary cash donation, if you can.
Three sing-alongs are planned at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to show time.
This year’s 90-minute performance also will feature the First Presbyterian Church Choir, soloists John Goulet, Linda Digman and Beverly Cox along with the Spiritual Voices and other special guests singing favorite holiday carols with audience sing-a-longs.
For more information, call First Presbyterian Church at (239) 334-2261 or visit fpcfortmyers.org .
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* Lee County Parks & Recreation
Lee County Parks & Recreation will offer holiday events throughout December. Events include:
* Santa Fest 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7
Wa-Ke Hatchee Park, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers.
Enjoy games, bounce houses, food trucks, photos with Santa, face painting and a movie in the park – 2018s “The Grinch”.
Admission is free. Toy donations for Golisano Children’s Hospital are welcome.
For more information, contact Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center at 239-432-2154.
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* Light Up Estero 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero.
This free community event will include a canned food drive to benefit Interfaith Charities of South Lee County, local food trucks, a wreath raffle, caroling and an official tree lighting with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. A Christmas-themed craft project sponsored by Lee County Parks & Recreation will be held inside the Estero Recreation Center.
This is a free event hosted by the Estero Rotary Club.
For more information, contact Christen Pittman at 239-444-5486 or Meagan Pierce at 239-317-3247.
* North Fort Myers Community Christmas 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, North Fort Myers Park, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers.
Don’t miss this holiday tradition for the entire family brought to you by the North Fort Myers Civic Association and Lee County Parks & Recreation. This free community event, emceed by NBC-2 Chief Meteorologist Allyson Rae, will include caroling, the official tree lighting ceremony and a movie in the park. The movie will be 2018’s “The Grinch.”
Admission is free.
For more information, contact the North Fort Myers Recreation Center at 239-533-7200.
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* Lakes Park Holiday Express 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 13 through Dec. 23, and Dec. 26 through Dec. 30. The Express is closed Dec. 24 and 25. Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers
The annual Holiday Express miniature train transports you through a winter wonderland with lights and decorations.
For more information and pricing, go to rrmsf.org/ or call the Railroad Museum at 239-267-1905.
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* Breakfast with Santa 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, North Fort Myers Park, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers.
Come enjoy a continental breakfast with the jolly ol’ man himself. Stay and enjoy making a holiday craft, writing a letter to Santa and take home a picture with him.
$3 per child
For more information, contact the North Fort Myers Recreation Center at 239-533-7200.
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* Breakfast with the Kringles 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres.
Join in a continental-style breakfast with holiday crafts and a special visit with Mr. and Mrs. Kringle. Children will receive a present with their visit. Be sure to bring a camera for your child’s holiday photo shot.
$5 per child and $3 for any adults eating breakfast.
For more information, contact the Veterans Park Recreation Center at 239-369-1521.
For more information about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities, and other special events, visit www.leeparks.org, call 239-533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov.com.