Festivals have a long history and can be found in virtually all cultures. They are social events, a kind of ritual, and are often linked to important cultural, religious or historical occasions. They are marked by colorful variety, dramatic intensity and dynamic choreographic and aesthetic features.
In many communities, a festival can bring economic benefits, foster community pride, and strengthen connections between residents, businesses and organizations. Despite this, a festival can also pose a range of challenges and risks.
For example, if a star performer doesn’t show up, or the stage falls apart, an event can do a lot of damage to a community’s reputation. Insurance can cover financial risk, but reputational damage is much more difficult to repair.
Regardless of the potential benefits, festival management is a complex task that requires careful planning and preparation. Extension offers a number of training programs to help community leaders plan, implement and manage events effectively.
Online Courses & Workshops
One of the most popular courses offered by Extension is Festival and Event Management. This comprehensive training teaches essential skills for planning, budgeting, marketing and managing a public celebration or festival.
This program provides an in-depth understanding of strategic planning, site and venue management, human resources, budgeting, marketing and sponsorship, and evaluation. Participants learn how to leverage local assets, identify community needs and goals, and maximize the return on their investment.
The program is offered through the University of Minnesota’s Tourism Center and offers practical experience in all aspects of event and festival planning, including promotion, fundraising, budgeting and marketing. It is an excellent introduction to the field and can help you develop a strong foundation for future event development, says Shari Kunza of Shoreview, a past participant in the program.
In addition, the course covers a wide variety of topics, such as site selection, safety, and environmental issues. The program also includes an extensive research and case study component, which enables you to apply your learning in the real world.
YSU English Festival
Our annual English Festival is one of the most exciting events in our program. It is held in April and involves three full days of activities for junior high and high school students. Thousands of attendees come each year.
During the event, students read a collection of YA books and participate in a variety of activities, including author panels and readings, literary workshops, a writing contest, and an awards ceremony. This event is a big deal for us, and it is a great way to promote our program and engage our young people.
We owe our success to the students who attend and their commitment to the event. In the end, we want them to leave the festival with a sense of personal accomplishment and a deeper appreciation for literature.
For students who may have been turned away from our traditional reading selections, the English Festival offers them a chance to experience young adult literature in a non-classroom setting. Whether they choose to read or not, the Festival is one of the most meaningful opportunities we offer our students.