Holiday Hours: December 31-January 1
Holiday Schedule:
- Tuesday, December 31 – Wednesday January 1 – Open 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, January 2 – Friday January 3 – Open 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (final nights of our annual Holiday Nights event)
We will resume our regular schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week on Saturday, January 4. We wish you a very happy and prosperous 2020.
Climb the Historic Banyan Tree
Don’t miss a truly one-of-a-kind experience for ages 6 and up!
This fun and challenging adventure is designed to help climbers learn about themselves, others and the environment. Training and equipment provided by Pathfinder Outdoor Education. Climbers will register for a 45 minute session.
Advance registration is required. Members: $35, non-members: $45 (Does not include a tour or admission to the historic property).
Register by clicking here.
Takes place during Edison Ford Kids’ Garden Adventure, a free event featuring unique botanical art, kid-friendly garden vendors, green science interactives, wellness activities, activities with bees, local animals, food and beverages, and more!
Kids’ Garden Adventure (Free Event)
Explore the gardens of Edison Ford during this one-of-a-kind, one-day family event!
• Win prizes in a garden scavenger hunt
• Create unique botanical art
• Explore kid-friendly garden vendors
• Jump into environmental education activities
• Stretch your imagination with wellness activities
• Get buzzing with bees, local animals, and more!
• Food and beverages will be available
Admission is FREE (does not include a tour or admission to the historic property). Sponsored by:
And while you’re here, don’t miss a chance to climb the historic Banyan tree (additional cost, ages 6 and up)!
National Kid Inventors’ Day
Q: What do television, popsicles, and water skis have in common?
A: They were all invented by kids!
Celebrate National Kid Inventors’ Day with a unique evening of hands-on science activities for the whole family in the Edison and Ford Winter Estates Museum!
Discover robotics, the science of sound, and test your inventive skills in the Smithsonian Spark!Lab. Admission is free; no registration is required. Does not include admission to the homes and gardens.
Holiday Tea with Mina Edison and Clara Ford
Note: This event is sold out.
Join Mrs. Edison and Mrs. Ford for a special Holiday Tea in the Edison Caretaker’s House. Mina and Clara will talk about their favorite holiday traditions and tea, lemonade and cookies will be served. After the tea, visitors may stroll the beautifully decorated grounds of the Edison and Ford families.
Cost: Edison Ford members: $15; non-members: $25 (includes general admission to Edison Ford Holiday Nights, Lab and Museum). Space is limited to 30 guests, so registration is required.
Ford Mustang Show
Show your Mustang at the most beautiful location in Lee County, riverside on the Henry Ford Winter Estate lawn. Edison Ford, is excited to invite you to be a part of the Edison Ford Annual Ford Mustang Exhibition. Registration packets and one boxed lunch are provided for each vehicle owner. Dash plaques will be given to each participant. Admission: Free to Edison Ford members, $25 for non-members.
CLICK HERE for exhibitor registration information.
Black Maria Film Festival Returns
November 8, 6 p.m.
Join Edison Ford, in partnership with Florida SouthWestern (FSW) State College, in welcoming the 38th annual Black Maria 
Film Festival. Films will be screened after sunset on the historic Ford lawn and FSW students will facilitate discussion. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Limited seating is available; visitors are advised to bring a chair.
The Black Maria film festival celebrates “the diversity, invention, and vitality of the short film. The Festival is named after Thomas Edison’s original West Orange film studio dubbed the ‘Black Maria’.”
Members $5, non-members $10. Tickets will be sold at the ticket office on the evening of the event. Proceeds will benefit Hurricane Dorian relief in the Bahamas.
Garden Festival
If you’re looking for a really unique plant — perhaps one that your neighbor doesn’t have — this is the place to find it! More than 40 vendors will have booths all around the Banyan tree, museum and laboratory selling trees, shrubs, plants and even artwork! Whether you’re looking for fruit trees, flowering shrubs, succulents, or Florida native plants, you’ll find it here.
The Edison Garden Shoppe will also be open and stocked with trees, butterfly plants, herbs, garden-related items and more! Plant vendors and Edison Ford horticulturists will be on hand to answer gardening questions and help you with your selections. Food trucks and live music will be on site too, so come out and spend the day shopping for plants! This free event does not include tours of the homes or admission to the museum and laboratory.
Be sure to bring a cart for your plants. A plant pickup area is available.
Members Only: Holly Jolly Holiday Nights Celebration
Thursday, December 5, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Edison Ford River Pavilion
Please join us for the members-only holly jolly evening of entertainment and refreshments as a thank you for all your support throughout the year. For the second year in a row, entertainment will be provided by the talented Fort Myers Mastersingers.
Come and enjoy light refreshments provided by G-3 Catering. This is a perfect time to enjoy the festivities and the Edison Ford light display, entertainment, food, cocktails and friends! Each guest will receive a ticket for one (1) free beverage such as Spiced Cider, Eggnog, Beer, Wine or
a Cranberry Mimosa. A cash bar will also be available.
New This Year – Holiday Nights Silent Wreath Auction
This favorite event returns as local artists and artisans craft beautiful and creative wreaths to be auctioned to benefit the Edison Ford restoration fund. All attendees may bid on wreaths, so don’t miss this opportunity to take home a one-of-a-kind piece of holiday décor while supporting the Edison and
Ford Winter Estates!
Advance Reservations Required
To make a reservation, call the membership department at 239-335-3674. The deadline to register is Tuesday, November 26, 2019 by 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Member Adult $15; Member Child: $5 (under 18) Come enjoy the holidays with us at Edison and Ford and enjoy the 44th Annual Holiday Nights Celebration.
Click here to learn more about becoming an Edison Ford member.
