International Cherry Blossom Festival Chair Karla Redding-Andrews ready for Macon’s Pinkest Party
Karla Redding-Andrews says she has her wardrobe ready to go.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — We’re in the final countdown to the 2024 Cherry Blossom Festival, and this year’s Festival Chair has her pink ready for the big event.
Karla Redding-Andrews says she’s ready for the Pinkest Party on Earth, which runs from March 15-24.
“Being the festival chair for this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival means a lot to me in the fact that I am always loving when I can involve the community, the entire community, all of Central Georgia and visitors from around the world and engage them in wonderful activities that celebrate this historic cultural event,” she said.
So what goes into being festival chair exactly?
“Greeting all of the visitors,” Redding-Andrews said. “Attending as many of the events as possible, but most importantly being one of the biggest cheerleaders for the Pinkest Party on Earth.”
Redding-Andrews says she has her wardrobe ready to go.
“There are a number of other t-shirts and things that can be purchased at the gift shop at Carolyn Crayton Park, as well as downtown,” she said. “Third Street Park will have some activities as well and some merchandise for purchase, so yes, we intend for the whole community to be decked out in pink.”
Redding-Andrews says her father, Otis Redding, would have enjoyed it all.
“Events like the Cherry Blossom Festival is something that my father would have been a part of because he loved bringing the community together, bringing international visitors into Macon to celebrate our music history, our architecture and our culture,” she said. “He remains with us at all times at the Cherry Blossom Festival and throughout Macon throughout the year.”
While the festival is fun, it also means business. For those downtown, it’s a financial boost fueled by people from across the region and tourists from across the country.
“Just having all of the hotels filled, all of the restaurants with a waiting list, people get to come in and experience our culture and our community, and it’s just one of the most powerful things that we can have,” Redding-Andrews said. “The Cherry Blossom Festival is definitely an asset for Macon, Georgia.”
Redding-Andrews says she hopes everyone will participate in at least one event.
“It’s going to be a great time,” she said. “We’re hoping for great weather, but even if the weather is not good, we’re still going to be celebrating the Pinkest Party on Earth at the International Cherry Blossom Festival.”
