Eustis gears up for a month of GeorgeFest events

ABOVE: GeorgeFest (Mount Dora Buzz file photo)

The City of Eustis is gearing up to celebrate George Washington’s birthday with lots of festive activities scheduled.  This year marks the 121st time the city will gather its community, neighboring cities and visitors to honor the country’s first president.  GeorgeFest is the ​longest running celebration of its kind in Florida and the second longest running in the entire U.S. This year’s theme is “We the People.”

Here are some fun events to mark on your calendar:  

CHILI COOK-OFF (FEB. 4)
Teams compete to make the best chili in town for a chance to win cash prizes. Tasting starts at 3:00 p.m.

CARNIVAL (FEB. 24-26)
The annual Georgefest Carnival will once again be set in Historic Downtown Eustis. There will be rides for all ages, along with food vendors and carnival games.  (Dates and details had not been released by Eustis as of press time.) 

FIREWORKS SHOW  (FEB. 24)
Eustis ends the first night of Georgefest with a bang! The GeorgeFest Fireworks Show takes place right over Lake Eustis starting at 9 p.m.  Spectators gather at Ferran Park to enjoy the best vantage point.

DOG JOG (FEB. 25)
GeorgeFest Parade kicks off with a one-mile Dog Jog, the much-loved tradition that shows off patriotic pooches as they take a morning walk or jog along the parade route beginning on the corner of Bay Street and Stevens at 9:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY PARADE  (FEB. 25)
The streets of Eustis will be flooded with families eager to view the artistic floats that will glide through Bay Street for the 121st parade.  Parade route will run north on Southbound Bay Street in Downtown Eustis from Atwater to the Eustis Community Center on Northshore Drive.  The parade kicks off at 10 a.m.

BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT (FEB. 19)
Anglers will get their lines in the water early to compete for cash prizes. The annual tournament is in honor of Private First Class Derek Gibson, a Bronze Star recipient from Eustis killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 2, 2007.

TAYLOR HICKS CONCERT (FEB. 18)
Enjoy a free concert at 7 p.m. at Ferran Park’s bandshell stage on the edge of Lake Eustis.

LITTLE TEXAS CONCERT (FEB. 24)
Enjoy another free concert at 8 p.m. at Ferran Park’s bandshell stage on the edge of Lake Eustis.

Scroll down for the complete 2023 Eustis GeorgeFest schedule.  

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