2017 Forest Festival organizers anticipating strong attendance

Event set for May 31-June 3
in Atlanta

From staff reports

The Atlanta Forest Festival, a Cass County tradition revived in 2015 after a long hiatus, is scheduled this year for Wednesday, May 31-Saturday, June 3, a departure from last year’s fall schedule.
Organizers are anticipating increased interest and attendance with the move to the first full week of summer break.
“Fall was a tough time for the Forest Festival attendance because local kids were playing football or involved in other school activities with conflicting dates,” Miranda Johnson, Atlanta Forest Festival Vice President, said in a press release last week. 
“We are excited to host the event right at the beginning of summer so families can come out and enjoy making memories with their kids without the worry of being up late on a school night.”
The carnival that serves as the centerpiece for the festival actually requested that the event be moved from fall to late spring, Johnson said. Last year’s festival was held in October. Event organizers are in favor of the move.
“Our board of directors agrees that the change will result in much higher attendance,” Johnson said.
The Forest Festival, a longtime tradition, was brought back in 2015 after an approximately 15-year absence from the local event landscape. Since its resurrection, it’s been popular with local residents, who’ve flocked to enjoy the carnival, food and craft vendor booths, live music and other forms of entertainment.
The 2017 schedule released by Forest Festival organizers is as follows:
-Wednesday, May 31 is free admission night at the gate.
-Thursday, June 1 will feature local band Heather Linn & The Deacons
-Friday, June 2 will feature local band Dixie Bent
-Saturday, June 3, the Forest Festival Parade will take place at 11 a.m. in downtown Atlanta and the entertainment will be a tribute concert featuring the music of Waylon Jennings and Patsy Kline.
Other than Wednesday night -- free admission night -- nightly gate fees are $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Infants and children too small to ride carnival rides are free all week. 
Arm bands for unlimited rides are available nightly.
The festival will be held at 606 S. Louise St. in Atlanta.
For more information contact the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-796-3296 or email sarah.stailey@atlantatexas.org.