VIDALIA, Ga. () – The Sweet Onion City is kicked off its biggest event of the year Thursday, the Vidalia Onion Festival.

Vidalia’s crown jewel, the sweet onion is on full display this week, through a variety of events.

“We love it,” said Tonya Parker, executive director of the Vidalia Mainstreet Development Authority. “We’re very proud of it, we like to wear them we like to eat them.”

The festival brings visitors from miles away every year to celebrate our state vegetable.

“It can only be grown within a certain area, so we happen to be the sweet spot,” said Parker.

Vendors line the streets of downtown, with live music on the street corners, and a carnival waiting at the Airport.

“Here’s the people that really like the Vidalia onion, here’s the ones that are buying your onions in the stores,” said Andy Woodruff, chairman of the festival. “As a farmer you don’t get to see that when you’re boots on the ground in the fields and in the warehouses, and this gives me an opportunity to have some satisfaction watching these folks enjoying what we’re doing.”

City leaders told they’re excited to get the community out after a tough year of storms, and they’re looking forward to cashing in on their biggest tourism event of the year.

“More people are in your downtown shopping in retail stores, your hotels are full, people are buying gas at gas stations, they’re eating at your restaurants,” said Doug Roper, mayor of Vidalia. “There’s an economic stimulus and impact for sure by having this festival.”

Among locals, the favorite event involves batter and grease, but officials told with the variety of events – you can still enjoy yourself event if you’re not the biggest fan of the taste.

“We just have made it a big destination for folks, and we love the fact that our locals know when we’re going to be here and they’re looking forward to those onion rings and just making the presence for the visitors that are coming in,” said Parker.

The festivities run through Sunday night. You can find a full schedule of events on their website.