The 71st Chico’s Charities Edison Festival of Light, a three-week celebration honoring Thomas Alva Edison will kick-off with the Edison Day of Discovery presented by Florida Power & Light will start Jan. 31. Students will showcase their unique and creative inventions at the 52nd Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering Fair and the Thomas Alva Edison Inventors Fair.

This year, FPL will showcase an interactive solar energy project to teach these “future scientists” about the real possibility of Florida’s solar future. The company is also hosting Professor Whys’ Powerful Adventures with Professor Whys (Mik Jacobs), who takes children on a journey filled with unique fun experiments to teach them the powerful wonders of science as they relate to electricity.

Discovery Village will showcase exhibits from 30 different organizations including: Kraft Construction, Children’s Museum of Naples, Ding Darling, B & I Contractors, Edison & Ford Winter Estates, The News Press, Imaginarium, Miracle Baseball, Astronomical Society, Comcast, Six L’s Packing and Turtle Time. Children can explore Fire Trucks, Tractors, Bounce Houses a Helicopter and the community stage.

The community Stage will feature Professor Why, The Wild Wizard, Florida Rep’s Zap, Dance Bochette, Lariats and Lace, Coast Elite Gymnast, Gulf Coast Martial Arts and The Calendar Girls.