Eustis 121st Annual Georgefest

This year's Georgefest King & Queen, Tim Totten and Tessa Marcelino. 

Timothy Totten is a parallel entrepreneur and philanthropist who has spent years working to improve the lives of his employees and his neighbors in Lake County.  Totten, who owns five businesses, also created the Amazing Race for Charity, which has already raised over $230,000 for two dozen local charities and puts on its 9th annual race on April 1st this year.  The unusual race is designed for teams of two people of all skill levels and leverages more than 200 volunteers and 20+ sponsoring businesses to create a day of fun and adventure.

Totten recently led another group of volunteers to create the sixth annual TEDxEustis conference on the campus of Eustis High School.  The full-day event featured 14 speakers and performers sharing "ideas worth spreading" and is an approved, licensed conference under the global TED brand.

Tess Marcelino is the founder of Toddlers of Lake County and the owner/CEO of In Character LLC.Tess has 14+ years marketing and advertising experience, ranging from small business to corporate America. 

In 2022, while attending College full time through Saint Leo University, Tess decided to focus on creating free and affordable events and opportunities for the children and families of Lake County, Fl. She has since grown a community of over 3500 members and reached families all over central Florida with her non profit, Toddlers of Lake County. Tess has a passion for supporting families and small businesses of all backgrounds. 

Tess currently coordinates free professional photo opportunities for the Lake County community, teaches a pre K prep program for the City of Eustis, coordinates and plans free events with the City of Eustis Parks and Rec, and hosts free story times & craft events across Lake County. 

Schedule of Events

  Download Flyer(PDF, 4MB)

Calendar View

As part of the 121st Annual Georgefest festivities, the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce will raffle a grand prize ring generously donated by Merry Jewelers in Downtown Eustis. This year’s selection is a vintage inspired ring, set with white diamonds and blue sapphires. The 14k white gold ring is valued at approximately $1,000.00! 

For every $5.00 donation to the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce, you receive a collectible Georgefest button and a raffle ticket for a chance to win this beautiful ring! Only 500 tickets will be available.

The drawing will be held Saturday, February 25, 2023 at the Alice McClelland Bandshell in Ferran Park. You do not need to be present to win. Buttons are on sale in advance at:

Eustis City Hall
(10 N. Grove St., Eustis)

Merry Jeweler
(42 E. Magnolia Ave., Eustis)

Lake Eustis Chamber of Commerce
(1 W. Orange Ave., Eustis)

“With your donations, not only are you supporting our local business community, but also a chance to win this beautiful ring and receive a keepsake Georgefest button in return,” says Tami Roundtree, President of the Lake Eustis Chamber of Commerce.

Buttons will also be available during the Georgefest Celebration at the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce beverage tent in Ferran Park from February 18th through the 25th.

ROAD CLOSURES

Persons traveling through Eustis seeking to avoid traffic delays are encouraged to use the CR44 Bypass to the east, especially on Saturday morning, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. during the Georgefest parade.

The following streets will be closed for the Georgefest Carnival and Parade

during the following dates and times:

Sunday, Feb. 19 from 5 p.m. through midnight on Sunday, Feb. 26.

• McDonald Avenue (from Grove Street to Eustis Street)  
• Eustis Street (from Clifford Avenue to McDonald Avenue)
  
  

Thursday, Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. through 8 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26. 

• Eustis Street (from Magnolia Avenue to McDonald Avenue)
  
  Friday, Feb. 24 from 6 a.m. through approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb 26.

• Ferran Park Drive (from Orange Avenue to McDonald Avenue)
  
  

Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. 

• Taylor Avenue (between Bay Street and Morin Street)

• Quayle Avenue (between Bay Street and Morin Street)
• Morin Street (from Quayle Avenue up to the entrance of the parade)
• Bay Street/SR19 (from CR452 to Lakeview Avenue)

• During this time, Grove Street will be converted to two-way traffic.
• Bay Street will be reopened to thru-traffic once all parade entries have exited the street. Expect delays following the parade until normal traffic patterns are restored

Georgefest vendors will begin set up in Downtown Eustis, including Ferran Park at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, and will be leaving after 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.

For questions or concerns, please contact the City of Eustis Events Office (352) 483-5491 or the Eustis Police Department at (352) 483-5400.  For Georgefest information and a schedule of events, please visit www.eustisgeorgefest.org.

Georgefest is the longest running celebration of George Washington’s Birthday in the State of Florida, and is now the longest, continuously running celebration in the entire United States. 

It all started on February 22, 1902 when Eustis citizens and businesses held an event in the Ocklawaha Hotel (a hotel that was located in Downtown Eustis) in appreciation of the winter visitors. The celebration portrayed historic events from Florida's past. February 22 is also the date of when George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born. Taking that into consideration, they started calling the event, "George Washington's Birthday Celebration."

Over the years, this event has since grown to include a large parade, concerts, a carnival, fireworks, and more and features a new modern name, "Georgefest." 

Photos taken around 1915 at George Washington's Birthday Celebration, now known as Georgefest.
(Photo credit: City of Eustis)

City of Eustis Events & Tourism

(352) 483-5491 | Send Email