Downtown Perry businesses are gearing up for one of their busiest weekends of the year as the 37th annual Dogwood Festival draws thousands of shoppers.
PERRY, Ga. — Downtown Perry is gearing up for what many local business owners say will be one of the biggest weekends of the year as the 37th annual Dogwood Festival kicks off Saturday.
Shops and restaurants throughout the downtown area are preparing for large crowds and steady sales as the spring event continues to provide a boost to the city’s economy.
Tabitha Arzola, owner of The Bold Kind Boutique, said this festival marks a major milestone for her business.
“It kind of marks a year of us being in business,” Arzola said. “I’m most excited to bring people inside the store this year, maybe people who just come to Perry for the Dogwood Festival.”
Arzola said the event holds a special meaning for her after last year’s festival helped launch her store.
“Last year was really special,” she said. “It was right when we were starting to open but we weren’t quite ready to bring people into the storefront yet and so we had tables out as a little bit of a preview to what was to come in the store.”
She said that weekend helped kick off a successful first year and hopes this year continues the momentum.
“It brings in new eyes to the business, more awareness of The Bold Kind store as we approach a full year in business and just bringing people from other areas outside of Perry,” Arzola said.
Maggie Schuyler, President of the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event’s economic impact extends far beyond downtown merchants.
“I love what it does for the businesses; it does so much for our community,” Schuyler said. “They’re buying gas, they’re eating in the restaurants, they’re shopping in the stores. That economic impact is huge,” Schuyler said.
Schuyler said organizers expect around 16,000 people to attend, making it an important event for local businesses.
“They are prepared for the weekend because it makes such a huge economic impact on their business. It’s probably their largest 1st, 2nd quarter event of the year that they are prepared for,” she said.
The 37th Dogwood Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in downtown Perry.