How Organizers Are Rethinking Festivals and Events

October 22, 2020

Great Pumpkin Winners at the NC State Fair — Ribbon winning pumpkins at 2019 NC State Fair. The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth accepts pumpkins from in-state and out-of-state growers for this annual competition. (Photo: C.Lewis)

North Carolina hosts a rich variety of fall festivals each year. You can travel back in time at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Hunterville; camp among art lovers at the Lake Eden Arts Festival in Black Mountain; debate the best sauce at Lexington’s Barbecue Festival; enjoy a potters paradise at the Seagrove Pottery Festival; follow the yellow brick road at Beech Mountain’s Autumn at Oz; hear national and local musicians at the Hopscotch Music Festival and Dreamville Festival in Raleigh; and sample the latest culinary creations at the NC State Fair. These are just a few of the annual fall favorites in our state.

Festivals As Economic Drivers

Alongside providing a means of boosting community sense of pride, and showcasing to visitors what makes an area unique, these events and festivals are also huge economic drivers. As Winter 2020 began to melt away, festival planners and goers alike were looking forward to spring and summer events, but stay-at-home orders continued and Covid-19 case numbers rose. Although some organizers recreated, redesigned, or reimagined their events, the pandemic also brought to light another reality. Events and festivals place burdens on their communities such as overcrowding, traffic, pollution, and opportunity costs.

How do event planners fill the void, adapt to a global pandemic and continue to deliver events that provide communities with opportunities to celebrate their culture while limiting negative impact? As we move into an uncertain future, community festival and event planners are wondering what their options are and how best to serve the community.

Festivals, Events & the Pandemic Pivot: Workshop on November 4, 2020

On November 4, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) at NC State University will hold a virtual workshop, Festivals, Events & the Pandemic Pivot. The workshop is being coordinated and hosted by Recreation Resources Service (RRS) and NC State Tourism Extension.

Scott Feehan from Festival International de Louisiane is the keynote speaker. Feehan and festival organizers got rave reviews from fans and event planners around the world. Feehan will lead an interactive discussion regarding lessons learned while taking the festival virtual in April 2020.

Workshop organizers will look at both sides of the story of festivals and events during the COVID pandemic and engage with representatives in both parks and recreation, as well as tourism and community development to exchange ideas, experiences and views on the long-term impacts going forward.

See full article on Festivals, Events & the Pandemic Pivot Workshop by Ann Savage.