Link: Florida Citrus Festival Ends 84 Year Reign.
In a state that is well known for its citrus, the unthinkable has happened. The festival that was founded in 1924 to showcase the state's famous fruit — the Florida Citrus Festival — is closing its doors for good. The decision, announced yesterday, is essentially due to declining attendance. This year's Festival attendance was reported to be down about 50% from previous years — difficult numbers for an organization that has been running on a break-even basis for the last six years. While poor weather and a slow economy were blamed for that downturn, other factors also contributed to the decision to close. The Florida Citrus Festival and the Polk County Fair was a not-for-profit youth organization. The demise of these concurrent events, held in Winter Haven every January, means that several hundred 4-H and FFA students in Polk County will lose out on almost $20,000 annually awarded for outstanding achievements in agricultural and other competitions. While that is a tragedy, another may be relegating yet another Florida icon to the history books.
