News
Annual July event generates large profits for Greenwood
By ST. CLAIRE DONAGHY
Index Journal
August 26, 2010
Greenwood, SC- Judging by the numbers, barbecue and blues are profitable for Greenwood.
Wednesday, the board of the Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation released figures in the 2010 South Carolina Festival of Discovery Economic Impact Report showing a 20 percent increase in overall revenue generated directly and indirectly as a result of the annual July festival in Uptown Greenwood.
In 10 years, Festival of Discovery has grown to be the largest barbecue championship in South Carolina and a favorite of ’cue and blues music enthusiasts across the Southeast. The festival’s impact report estimates it generated $1.2 million between July 8 and 10, up from $1 million last year.
“We are thrilled with the positive results,” said Angie Jones, UGDC manager. “If the Festival of Discovery is successful, then our community is successful. I want to personally thank the sponsors and volunteers who have invested in this growing Greenwood tradition.”
Those in attendance at the festival traveled to Greenwood from 210 Zip codes and 14 states, including Washington, New York, Washington, D.C., Arizona, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Attendance was estimated at 25,000.
Six of Greenwood’s 11 hotels submitted accommodations information for the festival weekend, reporting 981 rooms were booked as a result of the festival. That number increases to 1,081 when you add figures for the total number of campsites reserved at Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area. The Blues Cruise portion of the festival brought in more than $24,000.
Save the dates, the 2011 Festival of Discovery is scheduled for July 7-9.
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