ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The oldest city in America thrives on visitors. St. Augustine is now bracing for tens of thousands of new guests who already bought tickets to September's music festival featuring the hottest band in the nation right now: Mumford and Sons.
St. Francis Inn Bed and Breakfast Office Manager Karen Maxwell admits they initially didn't think much of the announcement Mumford and Sons would be coming to town.
"When we heard it was Mumford and Sons, we had no idea who they were," she said with a laugh.
But folks here quickly realized they were in the minority. Tickets went on sale Friday. By Sunday this bed and breakfast in the heart of downtown was completely booked. She says September is typically their slowest time of year. So a full house is practically unheard of.
"We are usually thinking of things to bring people to St. Augustine and to bring them to the St. Francis Inn so this was just a gift from heaven," Maxwell said.
And they aren't alone. The Visitors and Convention Bureau President Richard Goldman says vacancy is almost non-resistant.
"We're running down to the last hotel rooms. They're also booking as far away as the World Golf Village and out on the beaches," Goldman said.
Maxwell says they feel blessed to be one of many cashing in.
"This will be a whole new group of people who will stay with us and then they'll come back hopefully," she said.
Organizers say it won't just be hotels cashing in. The two-day event is expected to be a huge boost for local retailers and restaurants too.
The concert will happen Sept. 13-14. The 25,000 tickets are already sold out.
