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.
The people who were in charge of running the Citrus Festival are to blame. What a shame. What a loss to the area.
I agree. The Board of Directors did not do their jobs.
I dissagree with the last two comments the commitee and managment did a great job worked long hours it is not there fault people did not show up they advertised it well all over and attendance still kept going down. Many people i have talked to say they were afraid to go back because the area had become to dangerous. Shootings, stabbings and gangs scared people away. The managment did a fine job the best anyone could do under the circumstances.
They never hardly changed the entertainment. They continued to use the same entertainment agent and failed to shop on their own for talent.
I have lived in Polk County all of my life, and I do agree that there were a lot of mistakes made by management. Times have changed, but the fair and entertainment were ran as they had always been run since I was in school (I am now 35). It is a real shame and disgrace to our community. I was hoping that my children would have the same great memories of the citrus festival.
If you truly believe that the festival was poorly managed then why don’t you take over the management? I’d be more than happy to bring my concession stand to help get things started. Post your reply back here.
I honestly think it was the lack of security that caused for the festival to stop. Every year there has been talk about violence at the festival. Maybe the economy did have some effect on the tradition but there were people who still tried going every year regardless of the price. Future generations will now be missing out on a tradition just about everyone from polk county has experienced. It was bound to happen with the medias exploitation of violence in western society and the downturn of the economy.
I don’t live in Polk County to have heard talk about violence, but it’s my opinion the economy and possibly mismanagement played bigger roles. Of course, I’ve heard rumors the last couple of years about threats of violence at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. I have to say that it is scary and makes you think twice about putting your family in danger. What a sad commentary on our society. ~Dawn