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Eustis, FL
– 2012 marks
the 110th consecutive annual celebration of GeorgeFest, the 2nd
oldest festival celebrating George Washington's Birthday in the nation and the
longest running festival of any kind in Florida. Sponsored by the Lake
Eustis Chamber of Commerce and our proud partner, the City of Eustis, the
festival is an important piece of living, local history. The theme of this
year’s festival is “Made in America” and is scheduled for February 24-26, 2012.
The kick-off event
was held at the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, Eustis Community
Center on February 9th, with Mayor Susan Hooper reading the official
proclamation to a crowd of nearly 200 people. Keeping with tradition, a
king and queen are selected to reign over the festivities and are crowned during
the kick-off festivities. Serving as the 2012 GeorgeFest royalty are:
Queen Nan Cobb and King Jerry Cobb.
Queen Nan Cobb was
born in Pompano Beach and is a native Floridian who has lived in Eustis over 20
years. She is married to the King, Jerry Cobb and has two children, Jacob and
Lucas. She is the owner of Classic Tents & Events, Bounce Around Town and
Classic Linens. She has been on the Board of Directors for Eustis for four
years. She has recently become a Board Member for the Umatilla Chamber of
Commerce. Nan sat on the Central Florida Advisory Board for two years as well
as being a volunteer with the Easter Seals for many years. Nan and the King are
also very active in FFA and always support their hometown schools. In
addition, she volunteers as the 2012 Event Chair for the Northlake Relay for
Life and is currently the Campaign Treasurer for Keep Gary Borders Sheriff. She
and the King were given Humanitarians of the Year award at the 2009 Eustis Gala
Awards Banquet.
King Jerry Cobb was
born north of Eustis (in Ohio) and came to Florida with his parents in 1951 and
lived in Lake Jem, Florida, where he was educated in Lake County and graduated
from Eustis High School in the late sixties. In 2000, Jerry, his queen, and
their two boys built the new home of Cobb Tractor on its present site on E. CR
434 off of SR 19, North of Eustis. The facility holds both the Tractor shop and
Nan’s Classic Tents & Events Company. In 2006 Jerry was asked to sit on
the Lake Eustis Chamber where he served on the board for five years, one of
which he was president. He currently sits as a Director on the Hearts &
Hands food pantry and variety store board. He also has been a director on the
Lake County Fair Board for several years and well as being on the Advisory Board
for diesel mechanics program at the Lake Technical Center.
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Another tradition of
the kick-off event is the table decorating contest in which members of the
Chamber decorate tables based on the year’s theme for the breakfast. The
tables are judged and the selected winners are given prizes. This year’s
winners are: Doodlebugs Cupcakes & More (First Place); Classic Tents &
Events (Second Place); and, Vann Gannaway Chevrolet (Third Place).
Olivia's CoffeeHouse &
Bistro catered the breakfast event.
GeorgeFest 2012
promises to be full of fun and family entertainment, as it has been for the last
109 years! Come out and take part with pride in a triumphant celebration of our
country’s founding Father, George Washington. For more information, please
contact the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce at (352) 357-3434. To
view the GeorgeFest calendar of events, visit us on the web at
www.eustischamber.org, or follow us on Facebook!
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