The Marble Festival and a Recessional Economy

Business

Pickens County held its 31st Marble Festival this past weekend on Oct 1st and 2nd. The festival, held in Jasper, started with a parade down Main Street on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and continued in Newton Park. The festival is one of the big draws for residents and visitors alike. In years past, the festival has also given a surge to the local economy. But, with our nation in a recession, do residents still have money to spend at festivals?According to Chamber of Commerce President Denise Duncan, the festival typically brings between 35 and $40,000 to the chamber. When all is said and done and after all the bills are paid, Duncan said she expects revenue from the event to fall in the typical range. In a recent correspondence, Duncan said that the vendors, charities, and other participants are the ones who truly see the economic impact from the event.

But, in light of a limping economy, local businesses, though, did not seem to feel the pinch. Maggie from the Carriage House Coffee shop, located on 34 North Main Street in Jasper, said that the coffee shop had an extremely successful weekend. In comparison to last year’s Marble Festival Weekend, she said that the shop was busier this year than last year. Madeleine’s Café and Bakery and Coast 2 Coast Catering said that they had a successful weekend as well. However, since this is the bakery’s first year of operation in the area, it could not compare this year’s sales to previous years’ sales.

Although some attending the festival last weekend commented that they felt the over-all turnout was pallid, the chamber numbers and responses from businesses seem to confirm an economical norm. Jasper County looks forward to the Talking Rock Heritage Days Festival on October 15th and 16th.

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