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The Edison & Ford Winter Estates glow during the holidays.

Holiday Nights pays tribute to Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and the festivity of the season at a 33-year Lee County tradition enjoyed by more than 30,000 visitors each year. The event includes nightly performances of dance, instrumental and choral music; visits from Santa; and the Children's Tree Trail, a veritable forest of lighted trees decorated with ornaments hand-made by Lee County students.

Thomas and Mina Edison and their good friends Henry and Clara Ford spent their winters in side-by-side homes on the Caloosahatchee River. Edison chose the site for its plants, which he used in his experimentations to invent the light bulb. He eventually planted a botanical garden and built a laboratory.

Today the 20-acre Estates and gardens are the region’s proudest attraction, and it shines at its best from Dec. 12, 2008 to Jan. 3, 2009. The property and the royal palm trees that front it light up every night (the Estates are closed Christmas Eve and Day) from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Old Florida-style holiday decorations complement the glow.

The Estates’ Creative Cottage will exhibit art by southwest Florida artists and craftsmen and host book-signings and demonstrations throughout the season. Visitors are welcome to shop for Christmas gifts and items in the historic Cottage Shoppe, Museum Store and Garden Shoppe.

Admission is $12 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12 and free for children under age 6. For more information, call 239-334-7419 or visit www.efwefla.org.

Last modified on Dec 08, 2008

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