Check back soon for revamped categories and processes for the 2024 SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards!

In the meantime, here are a few ground rules to keep in mind:

  • You don’t have to be an SFEA member to apply, but for some categories, you do have to be present at the annual conference to win.
  • You can submit as many applications in the same category as you would like.
  • Vendors may submit themselves for an award – you do not need a planner to submit you.

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If you’ve ever thought about applying for a Kaleidoscope Award, but haven’t, here are some testimonials from past winners about why awards matter and what a difference they can make for the future of your festival, event, or company:

“Winning the new event award last year was a great reward for all those that worked hard on the event and the publicity we got for receiving the award helped us to boost our event this year and we actually were able to double the event size!” – Kristie L., The City of Kingsport (TN)

“[Our Kaleidoscope Award] has allowed us to pursue larger acts and has helped us generate more sponsorships as a now award-winning event! We’ve added it to our credenza in the office and it makes me smile every time I walk by it. :)”– Haley T., Downtown Vision Jacksonville (FL)

“It was a dream come true to receive a call from Frito-Lay after they simply Googled ‘Award-winning festivals of the south’ and at the top of that list was the SFEA Kaleidoscope Best Festival over 75K – Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival.” – Nancy K. R., Jekyll Island Authority

2023 Kaleidoscope Award Winners

Best Mascot: 

Bronze: DeeDee the Chicken, City of Duluth, GA

Silver: Sakura, GA International Horse Park

Gold: Black Bear, NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

 

Best Photo Op: 

Bronze: City of Duluth, GA

Silver: Oak Grove Tourism Commission, KY

Gold: Big South Productions

 

Best Festival or Event T-Shirt: 

Bronze: NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

Silver: NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

Gold: Tybee Post Music Festival, Tybee Post Theather, GA

 

Best Marketing Concept: 

Gold: Free Comic Book Day, City of Lawrenceville, GA

 

Best Event Program or Brochure: 

Bronze: South Carolina Strawberry Festival, Town of Fort Mill, SC

Silver: Holly Jolly Jekyll, Jekyll Island Authority

Gold: Around the World DTL, City of Lawrenceville, GA

 

Best Event Photograph: 

Bronze: Christmas in the Grove, Oak Grove Tourism Commission, KY

Silver: Glow in the Park, City of Suwanee, GA

Gold: Cold Stunned Plunge, Jekyll Island Authority, GA

 

Best Merchandise: 

Bronze: ChristmasVille Rock Hill, Old Town Rock Hill, SC

Silver: NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

Gold: Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, GA International Horse Park

 

Best Promotional Poster: 

Bronze: Resurrection, A Journey Tribute, Icehouse Amphitheater, Lexington, SC

Silver: NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

Gold: Spooktacular, City of Winder, GA

 

Best Sponsor: 

Bronze: Denny’s, City of Spartanburg, SC

Silver: Arts Council of York County, Old Town Rock Hill, SC

Gold: Ingles Markets, GA International Horse Park

 

Best Volunteer: 

Gold: Beth Reed, Tybee Post Theater

 

Best Tech: 

Gold: Event Platform, EventHub

 

Best Event Within an Event: 

Bronze: Spooktacular, City of Winder, GA

Silver: Cold Stunned Plunge, Jekyll Island Authority, GA

Gold: Fridays-N-Duluth & Block Party on Main’s Bringing Back the 90’s, City of Duluth, GA

 

Best Event Website: 

Bronze: Icehouse Amphitheater

Silver: Holly Jolly Jekyll, Jekyll Island Authority

Gold: National Banana Pudding Festival

 

Best Festival or Event Video: 

Bronze: Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, Jekyll Island Authority

Silver: Ocean Fest, Pender County Tourism, NC

Gold: Suwanee Running Series, City of Suwanee, GA

 

Best Children’s Event or Programming: 

Bronze: Free Comic Book Day, City of Lawrenceville, GA

Bronze: Mission Control: Family Fun Zone at Suwanee Fest, City of Suwanee, GA

Bronze: Oak Grove Butterfly Festival, Oak Grove Tourism Commission

Silver: Noon Year’s Eve, City of Winder, GA

Gold: Kid A’Riffic Fun in the Park, City of Knoxville Office of Special Events

Browse the Winning Application

Best Virtual Event: 

Gold: Connect Duluth, City of Duluth, GA

Browse the Winning Application

Best Social Media Campaign: 

Bronze: City of Kingsport, TN

Silver: Jeykll Island Authority, GA

Gold: Tybee Post Theater, GA

Browse the Winning Application

Green Initiative Award: 

Bronze: Tybee Post Music Festival, Tybee Post Theater, GA

Silver: Meet the Mountains Festival, Visit Johnson City, TN

Silver: Ocean Fest, Pender County Tourism

Gold: Christmas in Kingsport, City of Kingsport, TN

Browse the Winning Application

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiative Award: 

Bronze: Around the World in partnership with Atlanta International Night Market, City of Lawrenceville, GA

Silver: International Night, City of Duluth, GA

Gold: ChristmasVille’s Sensory Sensitive Santa Event, Old Town Rock Hill, SC

Browse the Winning Application

Event Professional of the Year: 

Gold: Tom Harrison, NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

Browse the Winning Application

Best New Event

Bronze: CULTURA, City of Lawrenceville, GA

Silver: Noon Year’s Eve, City of Winder, GA

Gold: ChristmasVille’s Christmas Wishes, Old Town Rock Hill, SC

Browse the Winning Application

Best Festival or Event Under $75,000 in Budget

Bronze: National Banana Pudding Festival, Centerville, TN

Silver: CULTURA, City of Lawrenceville, GA

Gold: Spooktacular, City of Winder, GA

Browse the Winning Application

Best Festival or Event Over $75,000 in Budget

Bronze: Suwanee Fest, City of Suwanee, GA

Silver: 42st Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, GA International Horse Park

Silver: Meet the Mountains Festival, Visit Johnson City, TN

 

Gold: NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC

Browse the Winning Application

2022 Winners

Best Merchandise:  Visit Hopkinsville, KY Best Event Program or Brochure:  Suwanee Fest, The City of Suwanee, GA Best Promotional Poster:  The Farmer’s Market, The City of Duluth, GA Best Festival or Event T-Shirt:  The 40th Annual Conyers (GA) Cherry Blossom Festival...

2021 Winners

Sponsor of the Year: Suwanee Fest and Public Art Capital Campaign Contributor Quantum National Bank , Suwanee, GA Best Social Media: Top This!, City of Suwanee Best Website: Holly Jolly Jekyll , Jekyll Island Best Supporting Member: Eventeny Best Print Media/Poster:...

2020 Winners

Best Festival or Event T-shirt: GOLD- The North Carolina Seafood FestivalSILVER- North Carolina Black Bear FestivalBRONZE- The 38th Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, Georgia International Horse Park Best Merchandise: GOLD- ChristmasVille, The City of Rock Hill,...