Ardmore chamber receives tourism grant for local events

Published 10:35 am Tuesday, October 3, 2023

ARDMORE — The Greater Ardmore Chamber has been awarded a grant of $5,200 from the Alabama Tourism Department thanks to the support of Rep. Andy Whitt.

Yolandia Eubanks, director of the Greater Ardmore Chamber, applied for the grant to assist with covering expenses associated with two annual events sponsored by the chamber, the Ardmore Crape Myrtle Festival and the Ardmore Tinsel Trail.

The Crape Myrtle Festival takes place on the third Saturday in August. This year’s festival was one of the largest festivals the chamber has ever hosted. Each year, hundreds of craft, direct sale, informational and food vendors gather in Ardmore. This annual event brings in visitors to Ardmore and showcases what the community has to offer.

The Tinsel Trail lighting happens on the first Friday in December. The trail is located around the Ardmore Town Hall (Ardmore Avenue, 1st Street, and 2nd Street). The trail typically has close to 100 trees on display, and after the lighting ceremony, the trees remain on display for the full month of December. Trees can be sponsored by businesses or individuals.

Rep. Andy Whitt said, “An important ingredient in tourism is getting our citizens and visitors back onto Main Street. The annual Crape Myrtle Festival and Tinsel Trail do just that. These are the very definition of a small-town events, and I’m certainly glad to be supportive of this effort.”

Greater Ardmore Chamber Director Yolandia Eubanks is appreciative of these funds and how they help the chamber serve their community.

“These funds have helped us secure entertainment and enable us to market our events throughout the region. These events bring in tourists and help boost our local economy,” Eubanks said.