Spring marks a second missed festival season.
For the second year in a row, the festivals in Tangipahoa parish have had to cancel or postpone their events.
The loss of the festivals directly affects the tourism revenue, and it puts a strain on local non profits’ pockets as well. The Italian Festival, Amite Oyster Festival and Independence Sicilian Festival have all missed their typical March and April festivities.
Each year these organizations typically have a parade and a weekend of rides, games and live bands.
These festivals are major events for the parish and cause many people to drive into the parish and eat at local restaurants and stay at the hotels. Without the festivals, travel into the parish has shrunk.
“Springtime with the festivals has always been big for us. Our hotels are usually booming and our restaurants. And we just have a lot of people coming in town for our festivals. This past two years it has taken a hit,” Tangi Tourism Executive Director, Carla Tate, said.
Local nonprofits set up booths at these festivals to sell beverages or food. Without the festivals, they miss out on a major money making opportunity.
The Amite Volunteer Fire Department has ran the beer booth at the Amite Oyster Festival for over two decades.
“They do make a little money throughout the year, but the booth was the biggest fundraiser that they had,” stated Scott Gay, District Chief for Tangipahoa Parish Fire District 1.
The money from the booth went to purchase equipment for the department and flower arrangements for funerals.
With the festivals being gone for two years now, Tate believes the community will support them like never before once they hopefully return next year.
