May 19, 2013
As the weather warms up a small south Georgia city is gearing up for one of their top economic boosts, Boston's annual "Spring Fling", held each year on the Saturday before Easter.
Boston, Georgia's population of 1,400 may grow to three times as many people for this weekend's Spring Fling, an Easter celebration of egg hunts, a bonnet contest and a parade down Main Street.
Lana Cooksey, a Boston resident, says, "It's nice to get people that don't normally come here into town to the businesses, they'll all be open."
For the last 15 years, the springtime event has been pumping thousands of dollars into the small city's economy.
"It does have a nice impact because people come into the restaurants to eat and they spend money in the stores that are open and perhaps they have to buy fuel while they're here," says Ann McCrickard, publicity chair.
Organizers say Spring Fling draws thousands of visitors to Boston's downtown area each year, but this year they're focusing on taking that crowd to the outskirts of the city as well.
Faye Herring, a tour of homes homeowner, says, "Boston is steeped in agricultural history and it's surrounded by plantations and beautiful scenery and we love for people to come out and see what the rest of Boston is about."
Spring Fling's tour of homes is a way for folks to see Boston in its entirety, and organizers hope Saturday's event will give tourists a taste that will make them want to come back for more.
Proceeds from the event will go towards renovations of the Boston Community Center. For a detailed list of events, call 229-498-4065.
