THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - Stores in downtown Thomasville are preparing for the thousands of people expected to be in town over the next three days.
The 97th Annual Rose Show and Festival is expected to bring 30,000 people into downtown throughout the weekend.
Retail and restaurant owners in downtown Thomasville are finishing last minute preparations ahead of the city's biggest event of the year, the annual Rose Show and Festival.
According to the City of Thomasville staff, nearly $1.4 million is brought in over the three day long festival.
Allison Cohenour, one of the owners of AJ Moonspin Pizza, says she believes it, as they see a huge increase in business.
"During the event, if you're looking at our numbers, they will go up at least 30, maybe 40 percent. It's amazing," said Cohenour.
The increase in sales comes with a big to-do list ahead of the event.
"Staffing was the hardest because not only are we here, but we have a booth downtown at the street dance, and a booth downtown at art in the park," said Cohenour. "So literally everyone that works for us, or is a really good friend, is working over those two days."
Down the road at Trolley's store on Broad Street, staff are also excited about the Rose Show.
Trolley's is located in the building that was formerly Neel's Department Store 97 years ago, where the first ever Rose Show was held.
Both store owners agree that this festival brings new faces in the door and new opportunities for their business to grow.
The official ribbon cutting for the Rose Show and Festival is Friday at 1 p.m.
