Attractions
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
On the campus of Edison State College,
8099 College Parkway,
Box Office: (239) 481-4849
Administration: (239) 489-3033
The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, located on the Edison Community College campus, hosts a variety of professional entertainment events, including musicals and concerts.
Touring companies of Broadway shows touch down in Fort Myers to bring residents and visitors a taste of the Big Apple. Comedians and rock stars bring their schtick and hits to the theater, keeping Fort Myers in laughter and in song.
Recently, the theater, which features the largest proscenium stage in Southwest Florida, has played host to such Broadway hits as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “The Producers” and “Mama Mia,” and had visits from stars such as Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis.
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
1380 Colonial Blvd., (239) 278-4422
Edison-Ford Estates
2350 McGregor Blvd., (239) 334-7419
Fort Myers’ best-known attractions stand along the city’s avenue of palms in memory of two of the city’s most famous residents. When Thomas Edison first visited Florida in 1885, he bought property along the Caloosahatchee River and built a vacation home and winter retreat, as well as a laboratory.
Henry Ford joined his friend in purchasing the neighboring property in 1915, and built his winter getaway, known as “The Mangoes.”
In February, the Edison Estate holds the Edison Festival of Light, with events such as the annual City of Palms Block Party, the Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fairs, the Junior Events, the three-day Crafts on the River, the Edison Festival of Light 5K Race, the Stadium and Fireworks Shows and the SunTrust Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, one of the largest night-time parades in the country.
Florida Repertory Theatre
2267 1st Street, (239) 332-4488
Fort Myers Historical Museum
2300 Peck Street, (239) 321-7430
Imaginarium Hands-On Museum & Aquarium
2000 Cranford Ave., (239) 321-7420
Railroad Museum of South Florida & Train Village
7330 Gladiolus Drive, (239) 267-1905