This weekend, one of Washington’s biggest signature events returns to the Washington waterfront — the Washington Summer Festival.

The Washington Summer Festival often acts as a kickoff to another summer season in Washington, showcasing an array of food, arts and crafts and amusement vendors from the region and across the state.

Live musical entertainment will hit the stage at Festival Park in the form of The Embers, featuring Craig Woolard, and The Main Event, thanks to sponsorship by PotashCorp-Aurora.

Washington’s summer festival brings together residents and visitors alike for a bit of food, fun and friends to enjoy a weekend out on the Washington waterfront, but a closer look at the benefits of such an event would indicate an economic boost for Washington and the surrounding area.

The presence of vendors and other visitors means money spent in hotels, at gas stations, in restaurants and specialty shops. Residents joining in the fun means money being spent with vendors, who in turn, pay a percentage of their earnings to the city.

The morning of the festival, the Washington Farmers’ Market will be in full swing, giving everyone that visits the market a chance to see what Beaufort County has to offer — produce, crafts and other specialty items. Dollars will be spent at the market, as well.

The Summer Festival is a prime opportunity for visitors to see the area and its people for what it is: a small, river community steeped in rich tradition that continues to grow and attract tourism dollars and new residents, who in turn, come back to Washington to shop, eat, play and possibly even purchase homes, services and other goods.

The event provides a big draw to the area, as well as a huge economic boost, and helps to make Washington more distinguished throughout the region. The community should be sure to come out and support their town in one of the biggest events of the year.