FLORENCE, Ore. – Florence’s annual Rhododendron Festival kicked off on Thursday and is now underway through Sunday with a weekend full of community activities and events.
Now in its 117th annual incarnation, the festival, lovingly called “Rhody Days,” has an important legacy of bringing tourism into the area. The festival started with only a parade in 1906 but gradually grew significantly to the point that the Chamber of Commerce expects about 35,000 visitors this year. The Davis Shows carnival opened the festival on May 16 and will continue through Sunday.
“Well, it's a huge economic boom for us,” said Bettina Hannigan, president and CEO of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. “It's our first major tourism event of the year. Florence historically had - you know - fishing and canning and logging - these industries that supported the community, and things have changed over the years, and we really depend on tourism.”
The ‘Rhody Days’ weekend is a major boost for area businesses as it symbolizes the start of the tourism season. David Twombly, owner of All About Olives, said that business levels increase sharply from this point on during the year.
“It's huge because it's kind of like a kickoff. So - you know - January, February, or March - you know - we're busy up until Christmas, and then it really slows down,” said Twombly. “And so, depending on weather, you can really have some good weekends, but usually once this (weekend) hits - the Rhododendron Festival - from here on out, we're busy all the way clear into October. So, this is the big send off.”
Events scheduled for the weekend include a 5K run, classic car show, an arts festival, and the Grand Floral Parade wrapping up the festivities on Sunday. A complete rundown of the weekend’s events and activities can be found on the ‘Rhody Days’ website.
