Pre-Valentines Floral Arranging Class
Get creative with floral designer, Anita Singh while learning how to create your very own botanical masterpiece. This course will be highlighting roses, foliage, and how to create a unique Valentine’s Day floral arrangement. We will provide everything you need: instructional demonstrations, roses, tools, all floral products, and refreshments. Class runs from 10-11:30 a.m.
Each participant will take home their custom floral arrangement to enjoy as well as a 20% off coupon to be used on plants in the Garden Shoppe.
Cost: Edison Ford members: $75; non-members: $85
Space is limited; click here to register.
47th Annual Holiday Nights Celebration
Thousands of lights, hundreds of historic decorations, and one unique holiday experience await you nightly from 5:30 – 9 p.m. from November 25 through January 1 (closed December 24 and 25). Enjoy exciting new lighting displays, visits with Santa, carolers and musicians, refreshments, family science shows, and more on select evenings. Plan on at least an hour to enjoy the display.
Click here to view the nightly calendar.
ADMISSION:
Visitors admire the decorated homes and gardens during Holiday Nights at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
Adults $20
Teens (13-19) $10
Children (6-12) $2
Members FREE
Advance reservations or ticketing not required, general admission is not subject to capacity limits so will not sell out. General admission tickets may be purchased online and are good for any night of the event. General admission tickets may be upgraded for a guided tour for an additional $10 on the day of the tour if space is available. Reciprocal memberships are not valid for admission to Holiday Nights. Please note that the Museum and Laboratory are closed during Holiday Nights. Plenty of parking is available and is free of charge.
GUIDED TOURS (6 and 7 p.m. nightly):
Adults $30
Teens (13-19) $25
Children (6-12) $18
Members $10
Guided tours are not available for advance purchase, and must be purchased in the ticket office on a first-come first-served basis after 4:30pm on the day of the tour. Guided tour admission includes general admission to Holiday Nights to allow visitors to explore on their own at the conclusion of the tour.
DAYTIME AND EVENING COMBO
Visitors purchasing self-guided or guided tours for the daytime are eligible for a $10 discount on Holiday Nights admission when used the same day. Purchase the upgrade in the ticket office when you buy your daytime tickets, or show your receipt for your daytime admission at the ticket counter when you decide to upgrade. Upgrade option is only available for the same day as your daytime admission and is not available for advance or online purchase.
Lee County residents will receive $5 off adult admission on Sunday nights. Resident discount admission must be purchased in person on the day of visit to show proof of residency and is only good for Sunday night visits. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge nightly.
Acrylic Landscape Painting with Marie Dyer
Come spend the day with impressionistic local artist Marie Dyer as she guides you in this plein air acrylic landscape painting workshop. She will cover the fundamentals of composition and structure, color creating mood, mixing paints, and assist in developing a pallet that speaks to you! Students will be inspired by the lush surroundings on site in this one-of-a-kind class. No experience is required. All materials are included. Capacity is limited and registration is required.
Edison Ford members: $90; non-members: $100
Silk Scarf Painting Class with Marie Dyer
If you need some time to relax and unwind, join us for a silk scarf painting class with Marie Dyer along the Caloosahatchee River. Bring a friend with you and make a silk scarf that can be worn or hung as a piece of artwork. All materials are included in the fee. No experience is required. E-tickets can be redeemed at the ticket counter for a wristband.
Click here to register.
Edison Ford members: $90; non-members: $100
Botanical Drawing with Artist Megan Kissinger
In this class, Kissinger teaches the basics of drawing flowers, leaves and trees, while students gain inspiration from the gardens at the Estates. This class is more for students who want to learn traditional, realistic drawing techniques. The geometry of plants and how to draw them accurately is also covered. The class will be held near the pergola between the Edison and Guest house or in the Moonlight Garden. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch. Cost: $40 for Edison Ford members; $60 for non-members (all materials are included).
Members $40, non-members $60. All materials are included.
To register, click here.
Zen Drawing in the Succulent Garden with Artist Megan Kissinger
Nature artist, Megan Kissinger, will teach Zen Drawing in the succulent garden. This class is geared toward beginning art students and teaches the basics of meditative drawing. Kissinger will demonstrate how to use “Pitt” ink pens to create simple, patterned, drawings called “Elemental Strokes” with lines, curves and dots that are inspired by forms in nature. According to Kissinger, “It’s a way of meditating on your thoughts and the natural environment you are in, and then putting them down on paper.” The class will take place in the succulent garden, one of the lesser-known areas on the property. Drawing experience is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.
Advanced reservation is required. Class size is limited. Class will meet at the Visitor Pavilion before departing to paint on the estate grounds.
Edison Ford members: $40; non-members: $60. All materials are included.
Click here to register today.
Boondoggle Weaving with Artist Megan Kissinger
Boondoggle are woven from sabal palm and legend has it that they ward off lightning strikes and bring good luck to the household. They were a traditional wedding present, and they are just plain beautiful.
In this class with popular artist Megan Kissinger, you will learn to create your own– and boondoggle make great gifts! Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.
Class will meet at the Visitor Pavilion.
All materials are provided. Class size is limited.
Members $40, non-members $60. All materials are included.
Click here to register.
Fort Myers Film Festival at Edison Ford
Join us for an evening of films under the stars! In partnership with the Fort Myers Film Festival, several films will be shown on the Henry Ford estate lawn along the Caloosahatchee River. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
The selection of films will include:
- An original silent film, with pianist Stephen Brittain performing the score
- “Preservation Forever,” a tribute to the success of Sam Galloway, Jr. and his long history with the Estates
- “Stay Wild,” a short story about a young woman and her quest to conserve wild places
- “A Greenlander,” a documentary about a French painter in Greenland who teaches art therapy to neglected children
TICKETS: Edison Ford Members: $10 and Non-members: $15. Masks are required where social distancing is not possible during this special event. Click here to purchase tickets.
Generously sponsored by Strayhorn & Persons, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law.
Art in the Gardens Exhibit
Students from local schools will participate in the 13th Annual Art in the Gardens!
This year, each class from more than a dozen schools will create art pieces using wooden fish (approximately 48″X 18″). The students may paint or decorate the fish in a creative manner, using recyclable materials that can withstand the outdoors. There is no charge to see this exhibit, which is located on and around the museum porch.
