Cold weather delays Fort Myers seafood festival

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The cold weather has disrupted plans in Southwest Florida, leading to the postponement of one of downtown Fort Myers' largest events, the Seafood and Music Festival. The festival was originally scheduled to start this weekend but has now been pushed back due to weather concerns.

Bill Kinney from Paragon Festivals, which manages the event, said they are considering rescheduling for the weekend of April 10. However, the city has yet to confirm this date. Regardless of the new date, the festival will still take place at Centennial Park.

"We see a huge increase in traffic whenever there's a festival downtown," said Haley Hanson, store manager at Franklin Shops.

The festival was set to feature fresh seafood prepared on-site, along with drinks and live performances from R&B, jazz, and reggae artists. However, with a cold front bringing windy conditions, rain, and chilly temperatures, organizers decided to prioritize safety and comfort.

Even with the festival postponed, downtown businesses are experiencing an increase in visitors seeking alternative activities.

"Maybe more people will show up since it's postponed," said Hanson. "It gives them more time to plan and come out with good weather. But I still think we're going to have a really good turnout this weekend because, again, people can't go to the beach, so they're coming downtown."

The cold weather has caused changes beyond just this festival. More updates on other impacted events and locations are expected soon.