MURPHYSBORO - With the raising of an Apple Festival flag and a performance by the Murphysboro Middle School Blue Devils band, the 58th annual Murphysboro celebration officially opened Wednesday morning.

City and municipal officials were joined by area veterans in the opening ceremony held at Smysor Plaza. Those in attendance expressed their excitement for the event and anticipation for it to begin.

"Each year this gets simpler. It just comes together," said Mayor Ron Williams, calling the event an important and special one for the city. "We're ready for it."

Tourism commissioner Barbara Dallas said the Apple Festival is one of many reasons she returned home to native Murphysboro several years ago. She wanted her children to be able to experience the same side of Southern Illinois life.

But Dallas has more than personal ties to the event. Through its five days of festivities, the Apple Festival brings about 20,000 people to town, she said.

"This is tourism operating at its ultimate potential," Dallas said.

Another Murphysboro celebration will take place at 5 p.m. today as officials cut a ceremonial ribbon for the grand re-opening of the Murphysboro General Store. Located in the Splattered Ink Professional Building on 14th Street, the store is managed and operated by students in the Murphysboro school district.

The store originally opened during last year's Apple Festival but was unable to maintain regular hours of operation. Now, the school is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Superintendent Chris Grode.

"It's good to see the store actually open and to have people come in," he said.