The season’s biggest local event helps the economy
The Georgia Apple Festival draws crowds massive enough to overwhelm cell towers and cause traffic jams.
But the money it brings in is more than worth a couple weekends of inconvenience, Gilmer Chamber of Commerce President Kyle Ray said.
“The economic impact outweighs those inconveniences,” he said.
Rain lowered attendance numbers in the festival’s second weekend on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19. But early estimates show about 24,000 people attended, Ray said. This number indicates that about 54,000 people went to the festival. That’s nearly 21,000 more than the entire population of Gilmer County.
The $10 entrance fees for the festival goes to the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
“We had three really great days,” he said.
During the festival, it’s common wisdom among Gilmer locals that it’s best to stay at home and avoid the crowd and chaos.
The Chamber of Commerce does its best to manage the crowds, working with local schools to manage parking and law enforcement to keep attendees safe.
But the huge number of people entering the county provides a massive economic boost, Ray said.
Whether meals purchased, rooms rented, souvenirs seized or other transactions, all these people bring money into the county.
“It’s always a big impact to bring that many visitors in,” he said. “A lot of that money stays in the local community and makes a huge economic impact here.”