THOMASVILLE — The City of Thomasville’s first full Rose Show and Festival since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is drawing rave reviews. 

Council members and city staff reviewed the event, which ran from Friday through Saturday, at Monday night’s council meeting. The 2020 edition of the Rose Show was cancelled and last year’s scaled-down version dealt with inclement weather. 

But the crowds were strong throughout the events of a full Rose Show and Festival this past weekend, city officials said.

“I thought it was nothing but a success,” City Manager Alan Carson said. “We were very fortunate because of the weather. Fortune favors those who are prepared. 

When you are prepared and you meet fortune, you have success.

“It was a great team effort.”

 Mayor Jay Flowers said he heard from visitors that their small towns shelved their festivals 20 years ago because of a lack of attendance.

“Everything was really well-attended and that is a testament to all the preparation on the front end,” he said. “It is a great testament to what Thomasville is and what Team Thomasville is.”

City director of marketing and communications April Norton said the city’s hotels were booked a couple of weekends before the event.

“This event does in bring in about 36,000 people over the weekend and it’s a huge economic impact,” she said. “It is a Team Thomasville approach.”

Norton also praised the city’s staff, from public works to solid waste to the police department and CNS, for its help.

“We couldn’t do any of it without our public works crews, without solid waste, without police, without electric,” she said. “It does take at some point all 410 city employees to make this happen. We couldn’t do this without the support of our city council and our city manager.”

Council members and city staff also pointed to the many hours police officers put in for not just the Rose Show but for other events — including Gail’s Day and local high school proms.

“We as a city council appreciate y’all,” Council member Terry Scott said to the TPD. “We have the best police department in the nation. Y’all did a tremendous job.”

“Everything came together so well,” added Council member Wanda Warren.

The Rose Show and Festival also served as a great promotion for the city, Carson acknowledged.

“If you had never been to Thomasville and came this weekend,” he said, “I have no idea why you decided to leave.”