PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - The city of Perry is kicking off a popular festival that celebrates the region's main industry.
The 61st annual Florida Forest Festival will begin at 6 p.m. with a carnival at the Perry-Foley airport.
The Taylor County Chamber of Commerce said that the festival brings more than 20,000 visitors to Perry, doubling the city's population.
The chamber said that forestry has been critically important to the county.
Dawn Taylor, the executive director of the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce said, "Well, forestry in general is the largest employer of this region, so it is very important. Without it, Perry would probably be very small. But the forest festival started back in 1962 to help with the prevention of forest fires, and that's what started the forest festival."
The festival will run through to Saturday.
