Fort Myers Beach fireworks to return for New Year's Eve 2023: Here's what to know

Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read

Good news for fireworks lovers: Fort Myers Beach is bringing back its New Year’s Eve fireworks display this year after Hurricane Ian scrapped the 2022 event.

Town Manager Andy Hyatt announced the news Monday during a Fort Myers Beach town council meeting.

“I’ve had some people approach me about making a contribution, and I’ve agreed,” Hyatt said. “We’re gonna have a New Year’s Eve night fireworks display. There will be no charge to the Town except for some staff, that type of thing.”

Hyatt asked for the council’s blessing to move forward with the project, and several council members expressed their approval.

“We’ll bring more to you as we move forward,” Hyatt said, “but I think everybody’s gonna be pretty excited about what they’re gonna see.”

Hyatt wasn’t made available for further comment this week. Town spokeswoman Jennifer Dexter said they’ll announce more details once they’ve been worked out.

The fireworks represent another step toward normalcy on the island. Fort Myers Beach recently marked the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28 with a remembrance ceremony and a dedication of a new Times Square clock. Ian washed away the previous clock – a popular landmark in the downtown Beach area.

“Building back will take time ...” Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said at the ceremony. “We’re all going to do it together.”

Moments from the one year anniversary of Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. A ceremony was held at Bayside Park. The new clock at Times Square was unveiled shortly after the ceremony.
Moments from the one year anniversary of Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. A ceremony was held at Bayside Park. The new clock at Times Square was unveiled shortly after the ceremony.

The Fort Myers Beach fireworks display usually goes hand-in-hand with a New Year’s Eve Celebration in Times Square featuring live music and a midnight ball drop. The Town also celebrates its birthday earlier that day with free cupcakes at Times Square.

Dramatic views: Flying over Fort Myers Beach one year after Hurricane Ian

The fireworks are usually launched from the Fort Myers Beach Pier near Times Square, but the pier was heavily damaged by Ian. It’s unclear where the fireworks will be launched from now.

— Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: After Ian, Fort Myers Beach fireworks to return for New Year's Eve