August: Festivals 101
Empowering you with information!
In this month's E-News, we want to share and equip you with helpful information. Get a taste of our new EmpoweredBite, learn what it takes to run a festival, and read up on EOY resources to make your campaign successful. Empowered Nonprofits is here to empower you to do what you do best!
Hungry for an Empowered Bite?
We get it - sometimes it can be hard to commit your time to our EmpoweredHour webinars! This past month we officially launched EmpoweredBite -- a quick 'bite' of information aimed to answer your pressing nonprofit FAQs in no more than 90 seconds.
Festivals are a great way to engage community!
Empowered Nonprofits has been in full event mode all summer! In August, we partnered with CJE SeniorLife to create a summer community festival to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Over 400 people joined us at the Weinberg campus to enjoy the amazing band, Soul Farm, a superb kids zone and delicious food. We brought together families — there were many 3rd and 4th generations enjoying the day! This event showcased the magic of CJE SeniorLife and its support of older adults and their families.
Empowered Nonprofits is always up for the challenge of planning alternative gala events and Laura Ford, our veteran event guru, made this festival happen!
We asked Laura to share her Top 10 Festival Must Haves below. Enjoy!
Laura's Top 10 Festival Must Haves🎪
1. Water. Needed for drinking and handwashing. Where is your access? If you are going to fill coolers, do you have a food safe hose?
2. Trash + Recycling. Do you have enough bins and bags? Do you have people who will check on the bins and empty throughout the fest? Where will the trash and recycling be hauled? Who is going to empty the dumpster?
3. Electricity. Which of your vendors and team needs it? Can you run power from a building or should you get a generator/ If you get a generator, how loud is it?
4. Permits. Outdoor events, even if it’s on private land, will need permits. Examples of permits: special events permit, a fire permit, a JULIE dig out for tented events on grass, a temporary food license and a liquor license if you have alcohol.
5. Bathrooms. Rent porta potties! Make sure you have enough toilet paper, soap, hand sinks and water.
6. Climate Control. What do you do in inclement weather? Will your tents have sides? Make sure to always have an emergency plan!
7. Vendors. There are so many things to consider! Where do they access the site and what time? Where do they offload and where do they park? Who is helping them to load in and set up? Make sure you have someone help the vendor close their line e.g. a kids’ entertainer.
8. Safety. Fire extinguishers, uneven ground, capping tent poles, blocking the generator, oh my! Make a comprehensive list of potential liabilities. Collect all of your vendor COIs and have it listed as additional insured. And don't forget to consider security and first aid needs.
9. Parking. Where will people park? How far is it from site to parking? What if it’s raining? Do you need parking attendants? And don't forget the signage!
10. Site Maps + Planning. Site maps and measurements are more important than an indoor event because your vendors require exact measurements. Site maps are also important because they help your vendors load in/park and load out. By the end of the day, you’ll be exhausted, but your day is not done! Don't forget to have a tear down plan with the right amount of volunteers.
Interested in learning more? Contact us!
