TAYLOR COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) – After being canceled last year because of Hurricane Helene, the Florida Forest Festival returned to Taylor County Saturday, bringing visitors and a major boost to the local economy.<\/p>\n
The festival was canceled in 2024 after infrastructure and electrical damage left organizers without enough time to clean up the park. This year, residents were eager to see the event return, marking a moment of recovery for the community.<\/p>\n
More news out of the Big Bend:<\/p>\n
Dawn Perez, director of the area Chamber of Commerce, said the one-day festival drew a crowd of at least 15,000 people, generating an estimated $800,000 in revenue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s huge for our area for an event that\u2019s only one day,\u201d Perez said. \u201cSo it\u2019s great we have all the hotels are full, motels and campgrounds, so it\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perez said the return of the Florida Forest Festival not only boosted business for local hotels and shops but also helped bring back a sense of normalcy and celebration after back-to-back hurricane seasons.<\/p>\n
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