LifeLight Helping Worthing Restaurants

On any given day you won't find many people on the streets of Worthing, South Dakota. But it will be a completely different story this weekend as LifeLight comes to town. And some local businesses are looking to benefit from the added traffic.

"300,000 people over the weekend, but they say the heat might drive them off. I say I hope it drives them to town," Jim Larson with Otis' Bar said.

Larson is one of the owners of Otis' Bar and over the past three years they've gotten quite the boost from LifeLight.

"It helps, when we are one of three or four businesses in town for sales tax, it gives us a boost," Larson said.

For Otis' it's not just the weekend that gives them the added attention but also the weeks surrounding the event.

"We've actually catered the last two nights out there for the volunteers, and that's been real positive for us.  So, yeah the week before the actual weekend has been great," Larson said.

While not all residents are overly thrilled about the extra people, others realize what it can do for their town.

"We really draw a lot of people into town and it really helps the economy," Worthing resident Jim Johansen said.

Busy or not, both business owners and many residents agree LifeLight is a good thing for a town like Worthing.

"I think it's a great deal, I'm glad it’s out here and I hope it stays out here," Johansen said.

Some Worthing residents will actually take advantage of having visitors by holding rummage sales all across town.