68th Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival draws thousands Saturday

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

Nearly 50,000 people took over Fort Myers Beach Saturday for this year's shrimp festival, celebrating its 68th anniversary with a parade, 5K run and a weekend full of activities.

Diane Clifton, the festival coordinator, expressed her excitement about the turnout. "That's the most fantastic amount of people I've seen on the parade route since before Ian. So it was so exciting to see so many people out and everybody just loving it," Clifton said.

Clifton noted the festival's long history and wide appeal. "Well, it has been because it's like our 68th year of having the shrimp festival and some people that have never been to it before. So it brings people down from all over the U.S. Actually, we even get international visitors," she said.

The festivities began with a 5K shrimp run, where runners of all ages raced across the Matanzas Pass Bridge to the sound of cheering crowds. People dressed in shrimp-themed attire lined both sides of Estero Boulevard for a parade featuring over 40 floats, which is a favorite among children.

Kendall Wilson shared his excitement, saying, "Because I'm getting a lot of candy."

Addison Berg, visiting Fort Myers for spring break, appreciated the community spirit. "I think it's amazing. And I think it's so great to especially watch Fort Myers come together after everything that it's been through here with all the storms and everything, and it's hard not to be happy and such beautiful weather and everybody is so excited to be together. I think it's really great," Berg said.

The shrimp festival is happening all weekend long, with events including an arts and crafts fair, the Pink Gold shrimp boil, a blessing of the fleet and a shrimp-eating contest.

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