Black Friday is Nov. 27. Edison Mall is closed Thanksgiving, Santa arrives Nov. 20, and the River District's Holiday Artisan Market is Friday, Dec. 4.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Edison Mall, Gulf Coast Town Center, the Fort Myers River District calendar and the City of Fort Myers events calendar. We list store hours as each center publishes them and do not carry prices or deals. Edison Mall: 239-939-1933.

Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, and Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28. Fort Myers’ holiday shopping runs through three places: Edison Mall on Cleveland Avenue in the middle of the city, Gulf Coast Town Center off Interstate 75 in south Fort Myers, and the independent shops and Friday night street markets of the River District downtown.

At a glance

  • Thanksgiving Day: Edison Mall is closed.
  • Santa: Edison Mall, Nov. 20 to Dec. 24, Dillard’s Concourse.
  • Tree lighting: Gulf Coast Town Center, 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.
  • Holiday Artisan Market: River District, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4.
  • Black Friday hours: not yet posted by either center; we will add them when they are.

Edison Mall

4125 Cleveland Ave., 239-939-1933. The mall’s regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Its Santa schedule marks Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, as “Mall Closed.” Black Friday and extended December hours had not been published when we checked.

Holiday events on the mall’s events page:

  • Photos and visits with Santa: Friday, Nov. 20, through Christmas Eve in the Dillard’s Concourse. Walk-ups are welcome and times are bookable online. Black Friday hours with Santa are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a break from 3 to 4 p.m.
  • Sensitive Santa: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, a quieter visit for children with sensory, physical or developmental needs.
  • Paws and Claus: pet photos with Santa, 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7.
  • JCPenney Kids Zone: a free kids’ craft 11 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of the month: Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

Gulf Coast Town Center

9903 Gulf Coast Main St., Fort Myers. The center’s regular hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It holds its 9th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m., with Candy Cane Lane, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and holiday entertainment. Guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or a cash donation at the entrance for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.

Small Business Saturday and the River District

Downtown Fort Myers’ independent shops, galleries and restaurants sit along First Street, Main Street and Hendry Street in the River District. Two downtown nights fall in the shopping season:

The Fort Myers Culinary District Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. downtown, according to the city’s listing. More markets are on our farmers markets page.

Parking and traffic

  • Downtown: Art Walk and Music Walk are held on closed streets around First and Hendry, so expect detours downtown on those Friday nights. Garage and street parking options are on our getting around Fort Myers guide.
  • Cleveland Avenue (U.S. 41) runs past Edison Mall and carries heavy holiday traffic. FDOT and city closures are on our road construction and closures page.
  • LeeTran does not run on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, according to its holiday list.

What this means for you

  • Shop Thanksgiving week before Thursday: Edison Mall is closed on the holiday.
  • For the kids, Santa at Edison Mall starts a week before Thanksgiving, and Sensitive Santa is Dec. 6.
  • For local makers, the Holiday Artisan Market downtown on Dec. 4 is the big night.

Related: Thanksgiving in Fort Myers, holiday lights and Christmas events and Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Edison Mall open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?

No. Edison Mall lists itself as closed on Thursday, Nov. 26. It reopens Friday, Nov. 27; Black Friday hours had not been posted when we checked.

What are Edison Mall’s regular hours?

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Individual stores may differ.

When is Small Business Saturday 2026?

Saturday, Nov. 28, the day after Black Friday. Downtown Fort Myers’ River District has its Holiday Artisan Market the next Friday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 9 p.m.

When can you see Santa at Edison Mall?

From Friday, Nov. 20, through Christmas Eve in the Dillard’s Concourse, with walk-ups welcome and online booking.