The City of McAllen will host the International Festival & Events Association 65th annual conference from Sept. 19-21. The McAllen Convention Center will be the host site for attendees from not only Texas, but also 29 U.S. states and 10 countries from around the world. This is the first time since 2011 that the convention has been hosted in Texas.
“This edition of the IFEA’s annual convention and expo promises to be many things: a family reunion; a celebration; a leadership summit; an educational conference; and a united new reset for our global industry,” said Steven Wood Schmader, president & CEO of IFEA World. “I can’t think of a host city better than McAllen, Texas – who understands the importance and power of festivals and events so well – to gather in for that occasion.”
This year’s conference theme is “Metamorphosis. Off-Balance. On Purpose.” and organizers are hoping that convention attendees will walk away transformed, inspired and “changed for the better” by the informative sessions. The IFEA also recognizes and celebrates the success of those in their industry through a variety of awards during the convention.
“I am so excited to welcome festival and event industry leaders from all over the world to the wonderful city of McAllen, where they can celebrate and experience a rich and vibrant culture that is a part of all of the events we host here in McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos.
A Global Representation
Festival and event representatives from around the country and the world will be at the conference. These include Tournament of Roses, Kentucky Derby Festival, (Indianapolis) 500 Festival and more. Representatives from as close as McAllen to as far away as Australia will also be attending the convention.
“Thanks to IFEA, our member organizations have been able to not only learn from the best of the best, but also, share ideas and make contacts that will help them in planning and managing their festivals and events into premier productions that their communities can be proud of,” said Joe Vera, assistant city manager for the City of McAllen and IFEA World board member.
“The festivals and events that are celebrated around the world reflect the best of our cities, our people and our values. Aside from being economic generators for our cities, festivals and events bring families, friends and strangers together. The presentations and sessions at the annual IFEA conference give us the tools, knowledge and ideas to do that even better. I encourage festivals and events, as well as vendors from throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and the United States and Mexico to come be a part of this special conference taking place right here in McAllen this year,” Vera concluded.
The convention also features three advanced education days from Sept. 16-19 for those who want to pursue their Certified Festival & Event Executive professional certification. More information is online at ifea.com.
Some of the internationally recognized speakers presenting at this year’s IFEA convention include opening keynote speaker Dan Thurmon, founder and president of Motivation Works. Catherine Turp, creative director of Moment Factory, will give a presentation on “Visualizing the Future: How Multimedia Installations are Transforming Cities and Events.” Serving as closing keynote speaker is David Eads, executive director and CEO of the famed Pasadena Tournament of Roses.
Local Impact
Additionally, event and festival vendors may participate in the conference’s trade show featuring vendors and suppliers from around the country.
According to the organization, the impact of festivals and special events on the communities they serve is multifaceted. Their power to be an economic engine, generating direct spending by unique visitors and the redistribution of that wealth through the community, is well-documented. Events of all sizes, from small community gatherings to mega-festivals, infuse new dollars into the economy, generate jobs and create significant tax revenues.
An excellent case in point, in 2021, the City of McAllen hosted 803 events which had an economic impact of $87.5 million to the local economy.
Festivals and events also share the unique ability to create social capital, such as community pride, destination brand awareness, media activity and stakeholder engagement. While social capital is difficult to track and measure, it is equally as difficult to replace in building a vibrant sense of place. According to Schmader, communities become known for the festivals and events they host.