Besides being fun, well-managed festivals and events offer a host of economic and social benefits to communities. There are risks and costs related to the effort.
Festivals attract visitors and boost the economy. On-site spending includes admission fees, parking fees, food, beverage and souvenir sales — and more. But off-site spending related to festivals brings income for communities, too. For example, visitors stop at local gas stations, souvenir shops, and restaurants — the list goes on. Festivals also provide free marketing and advertising for local businesses as visitors talk about their fun experiences when they go back home. If visitors post comments and photos about their experiences on Facebook or other social media, so much the better. The economic benefits of successful festivals affect local tourism and non-tourism-related businesses alike.
Planning and conducting festivals involves many members of the community, which produces a number of social benefits. “The best thing about being involved with festivals and events is the opportunity to help build a community, develop a sense of pride within a community, and engage a community,” says Chris Romano, a business consultant with Thrivent Financial Services. “Honestly, in my professional career, I've never found something outside a community festival that can do that to the same degree.” Experts agree that hometown pride is a critical factor in the development and improvement of any community. People with community pride are more likely to speak positively about their town to others and to volunteer with organizations and activities that support the common good.
Festivals will teach visitors new things. Whatever a festival's theme, it's bound to be instructional and visitors are bound to learn from it. Of course, education is another social benefit of festivals. Learning is a big byproduct of the annual Lady Slipper Celebration in the northwestern Minnesota community of Blackduck. The community launched the celebration, named after the Minnesota state flower, to showcase and promote understanding of the area's natural resources and Native American culture. This educational experience helped visitors connect to the area, who were pleased with their experience and planned to return to the area.
A. But hosting festivals also poses challenges.
B. Festivals may help to improve community pride.
C. Festivals play a significant role in developing relationships.
D. This is hands-on, experiential learning offered in the fun context of celebration.
E. They spend money, which boosts the local economy both on and off the festival site.
F. While a successful event raises a community's fame, a less-than-successful effort does just the opposite.
