By Caleb Allison
It’s hard to miss; fresh spring rains invite the bloom of yellow and suddenly the city is electric again with the impending celebration of the annual Forsythia Festival.
Year after year, the festival has brought a combination of food, culture, and celebration as the streets flood with Forsythians recovering from their winter hibernation. This year, however, something seemed a bit different. Among the many vendors lining the Forsyth streets, a surprising new trend emerged; many seemed to be first-timers, each bringing a fresh wave of creativity, entrepreneurship, and flavor to our familiar festival.
The Forsythia Festival has long been a staple of Monroe County’s community. Known for its vibrant mix of returning vendors, the Festival first took place in 1987. It’s well known that it received its name from the forsythia flower, a bright yellow bloom that signals the arrival of spring. After all these years, it still upholds its original mission; to celebrate community spirit and local culture. The flooded streets were full of people proclaiming recognition of those they hadn’t seen in a while and businesses that have become staples of the community with their best products out for display or consumption. Over the years, it seems the event has grown into a major regional attraction, attracting thousands of visitors with its arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. With each passing March, it seems we’re seeing a cultural shift.
Of the countless vendors we took time to interview and connect with, an astonishing amount said this was their first year at the festival. From far and wide, these business owners and down-to-earth individuals were enthralled by the energy Forsythia had and had nothing but positive things to say. We asked a wide array of questions, and every answer seemed to revolve around one central theme; community.
Jennifer Licari, who owns Bonded Bar Co., a custom permanent jewelry business, saw the festival as a gateway to expand southward. Her business usually operates with music festivals that travel all over the country. When asked what was different about Forsyth’s event, she stated, “We usually go north, but I think spreading to this region allowed us to bring awareness to our business in a highly organic way. Quality over quantity sales, as opposed to Atlanta where you’re just trying to keep up with the influx.” She went on to state that she had been watching in awe as people passed their tent, hugging each other, picking up random babies, and marveling at how they’d grown. Lacari stated it was refreshing to see this type of community still exists.
As I passed two individuals with a cooler, one stopped me and asked if I wanted a free energy drink. The word free caught my attention and I accepted. As I popped the top and began sipping, I began my barrage of questions.
Standing before me were two brand ambassadors for Monster Energy. Monster Energy, a corporate giant, seems to have developed a personal touch, taking advantage of the festival’s strong community presence. Colin Blakely, the ambassador I spoke with, was a well-mannered individual who seemed extremely passionate about the products they were distributing, as he governs the Bang and Reign brands. Despite Monster being a larger entity, they fit right in with the rest of the crowd. Blakely stated, “The more cans we can get into people’s hands, the more we can sell here and become an active part of the community, whether that be through advertising opportunities or just another thing the locals like to consume.”
On a more local note, I spoke with Miki Leigh, of Miki Leigh Jewelry, a local charm and jewelry brand. Miki was also providing permanent jewelry solutions at the festival. Her storefront is right on the town square, but she saw the festival as a way to bridge the gap between the storefront and new customers. “It’s great for bringing business into the actual store, but it’s also just been great to meet new people and see just how effective the festival is at bringing people together. I’m grateful for all the support we’ve received here.” Miki stated.
Likewise, Diane Soule, with Blu Roo Innovations, is a fresh, new startup featuring a relatively new invention to the world; 3D-printed toys, decorations, and other neat knick-knacks. Their tables were filled with different things, from epoxy to custom signs, but the highlight was the 3D-printed medieval toys and figures. They seemed to defy physics entirely. Zack Soule, her son, is a self-taught printer and stated that the medieval theme came from his own passions and that due to an influx in interest in the young adult community, has allowed him to lean more into it. As for comment on what the Forsythia meant to them, Diane stated, “We live right down the street; to be able to contribute to the community on such a direct scale has been such a satisfying blessing. We’re doing what we love and what people love as well, it doesn’t get better than that.”
Finally, we had Memory Glass Art, a company owned by Laura Williams. This company is based out of Franklin, North Carolina; a city that is hours away from our own. Laura stated that word of mouth was how she’d heard about us. Knowing that the reputation of our seemingly small festival has spread that far is an incredible achievement. When asked about her thoughts on how her business from Franklin connects in Forsyth, she stated, “Having a connection between my town and this one that has such a sweet flavor to it, I think, will allow my work to spread to a similar community of people.”
This influx of first-time vendors suggests that the Forsythia Festival is gaining a reputation beyond just a local tradition; it’s becoming a destination for new businesses seeking exposure and growth. The festival’s welcoming atmosphere and strong community feel creates an environment where businesses, both local and visiting, feel they can thrive.
As Forsyth continues to attract fresh talent and commerce, the festival could see even greater expansion, offering more diverse experiences while maintaining the small-town charm that has made it a beloved event. Whether through word-of-mouth stretching across state lines or local entrepreneurs finding new opportunities, this truly has been Forsythia’s Festival of Firsts and it may just be the beginning of a broader transformation.
