In 1953, The Hibiscus Festival was born as a city-wide event. The identification for the City of Vero Beach as “The Hibiscus City” and the symbolic Hibiscus Flower are not a coincidence. It all began with the Festival which, at that time, was held over a 2-4 week period. Fashion Shows, Ladies Teas and Bridge Games, Shopping Events and Softball Games were held to help celebrate the Festival and it culminated with a dance and the Miss Hibiscus Pageant. It was always held in late spring. The committee developed post cards which were sent to local residents and far-away friends and family to let them know the Festival was coming and to plan to attend any or all of the festivities.

In 1963 the Chairman of the committee decided to retire, and there went the whole committee. However, the Miss Hibiscus Pageant remained as a stand alone event for one more year. The original Miss Hibiscus in 1953 is today our current Pageant chairwoman, Elizabeth Graves Bass!

Since 2004, when this, long dormant historic festival was revitalized, the event has expanded to use additional space within our downtown sector and to annually include new and exciting activities to please each member of every family in Indian River County. We have succeeded! In addition to fundraising for two non-profit organizations, Main Street Vero Beach and Vero Heritage, Inc., the event now draws over 15,000 people. With Easter falling the Sunday following the Festival in 2011, we expect to see those numbers swell!

Sponsorships for the Hibiscus Festival will help support the Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB) and Vero Heritage, Inc.’s mission and goals. For MSVB, their most important goal at this time is to bring back the old Florida Theater and, along with the Heritage Center, invite back local residents to the downtown area to live, work, shop and play. Vero Heritage, Inc. is dedicated to the preservation of the Heritage Center and the Indian River Citrus Museum. They provide current and future visitors the change to experience Vero Beach’s past, to understand that “sense of place” that is Vero Beach, and the opportunity to help preserve this important historic landmark.”

Our motto is to Take Part and be Proud! It takes hundreds of people to plan and execute the event for thousands to come and enjoy the festivities. And we all do!

The Hibiscus Festival is a yearly celebration for the City of Vero Beach, to increase awareness of the historic downtown sector, raise funds for Main Street Vero Beach in association with Vero Heritage, Inc. that work towards the preservation and growth of the area and encourages community participation from residents, organizations and businesses.

For Information pertaining to the Hibiscus Festival contact
Janie Hoover - janietv@yahoo.com
Downtown Manager-Kathleen Prouty-772-480-8353    kathleen@mainstreetverobeach.org