The return of festivals: Tops tips for a successful event

Now that Covid-19 restrictions have eased up at long last, event planners and attendees alike are rejoicing at the return of festivals.

And whether you’re a seasoned festival planner, you’re hosting a festival for the first time, or you’re packing up your gazebo and taking your business onto the festival circuit, this is an exciting time—with last year’s events on pandemic-hold, this summer feels even more special.

But the return of festivals after a year off also means that it’s a more competitive space, so it’s important to create an unforgettable experience for your attendees, by making sure you have all the festival shelters and kit, and understanding who you attendees are and what they want.

And while there are lots of variables (such as the type of festival you’re hosting), there’s a good chance that the majority of your festival attendees are millennials. Translation? That’s people born between 1981 and 1996, putting them between around 24 and 40 years of age.

Did you know…? Over 75% of millennials say that they value experiences over possessions. This is partly down to the recession (we know, it feels like a million years ago since the pandemic), which made big purchases, such as houses, feel out of reach, resulting in a generation that puts the emphasis on doing stuff rather than owning stuff.

In the current climate this doing stuff is now even more sought-after as a result of being off-limits during the pandemic, and that 75% statistic is set to soar.

There’s now a premium on experience, which is great news for your festival or event, but you need to understand the climate and get all your promotional gear in place to make sure your festival is a roaring success.

That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the most interesting and useful festival facts, figures, and custom kit you need to make sure people attend, spend, and feel Covid-safe at your festival or outdoor event this year. Let’s take a look…

1. Get on the ‘gram

Instagram, that is. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—being social media-savvy is essential to an event’s success. One recent survey by events company Eventbrite found that 20% of its traffic to events came via social media platforms. And when people like something, they share it…

Did you know…? Another survey recently found that over 83% of people said they’re likely to follow the recommendations of their friends and family.

And word of mouth is no longer a face-to-face thing—people spread the word via social media now, so make sure you’re present and active on the platforms where people engage with content and share it with their nearest and dearest.

2. Food isn’t just for food festivals

If you’re hosting a music / beer / literary / the-list-goes-on festival, food tents, gazebos and shelters are an extremely important part of keeping your millennial attendees happy—and it’s marketing gold, too.

In another recent survey of more than 5,000 festival goers, 80% of millennials had attended three or more food, beer or wine events in the past year, and over 50% of them said they would describe themselves as “foodies”.

Did you know…? 84% of food festival goers are likely to post pictures of food on social media while they’re at an event.

That’s priceless marketing, so make sure food is on your festival menu! But there’s more to consider…

3. Show off your brand with custom gear

If your event or business is going to be snapped, uploaded and tagged on social media, you need to make sure you’ve gone big on branding—which is why you need to personalise your shelters, gazebos, and banners, and any other promotional items you’ve got out at your event.

Our custom printing service means you can do just that, creating custom banners and products to showcase your brand in a way that stands out in the festival crowds—and shows everyone who you are on social media, too.

4. Make sure attendees know they’re Covid-safe

We know you probably have a serious case of Covid guidance-fatigue after the last year and a half of changing rules, regulations and restrictions, but even though the lockdown days are lifting, it’s important to remember that lots of your attendees might be both excited and nervous about returning to festivals and crowds of people again.

So if you’re hosting a festival or any other event, brush up on our guide to hosting Covid-safe events for a handy checklist of things to consider and communicate to your attendees, so everyone feels safe enough to relax and can concentrate on having fun.

If you’re looking for gazebos, shelters and accessories for a festival or another outdoor event this summer, check out our range of products today.