Now annoucing the

2024 SFEA

Kaleidoscope Awards!

Our categories, criteria, and jury questions have been completely revamped and streamlined with the objectives of making the application process easier, quicker, and open to more applicants, and making the applications and jury feedback more applicable and helpful for future years. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin applications for the 2024 Awards:

  • You don’t have to be an SFEA member to apply, but for the following categories, you must be present at the annual conference to win: Best Festival or Event Over $75K, Best Festival or Event Under $75K, Best Festival or Event Under $20K, Best New Event, Event Professional of the Year.
  • You can submit as many applications, in the same category or different categories, as you would like.
  • Vendors may submit themselves for an award – you do not need a planner to submit you. There are several vendor-designed categories, including Best Tech, DEI and Green Initiatives, and Best Vendor Impact.
  • There is a new Rotational Category this year – Best Art Activation! Be sure to check out the criteria and see if any of your events fit the bill.
  • You can now pay for all of your applications together, in one payment! Submit your applications in their categories, then find the payment application and adjust the number in your cart. Your apps will be approved once payment posts. This also means that you can now pay for applications by check if you wish – just contact us for an invoice.
  • The application deadline is January 26, 2024, at 5pm ET. Judging will take place from January 29-February 7.
  • Here is a list of the 2024 categories, with notations for new categories (**) and categories with modified scope or criteria (#):
      • Best Festival or Event Over $75K
      • Best Festival or Event Under $75K
      • **Best Festival or Event Under $20K
      • Best New Event
      • Event Professional of the Year
      • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiative Award
      • Green Initiative Award
      • Best Social Media Campaign
      • Best Children’s Event/Programming/Engagement (12 and under)
      • Best Festival or Event Video
      • Best Event Website
      • Best Event Within an Event
      • **Best Event Series (Series includes 2 or more events under same name/theme)
      • Best Tech (Communicate that vendors can apply for this area)
      • **Best Event Impact Support (Inclusive of volunteers, sponsors, and community event support)
      • **Best Vendor Impact
      • Best Promotional Poster
      • Best Merchandise
      • Best Event Photograph
      • #Best Event Program (inclusive of brochures, booklets, etc.)
      • Best Marketing Campaign
      • Best Festival or Event T-Shirt
      • Best Photo Op
      • Best Mascot
      • **Specialty Award – Best Art Activation

Visit the Annual Conference page on Eventeny and scroll to the “Other Applications” tab to apply.

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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 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 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 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 

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

Event Professional of the Year: 

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

Best New Event

Bronze: CULTURA, City of Lawrenceville, GA

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

Best Festival or Event Under $75,000 in Budget

Bronze: National Banana Pudding Festival, Centerville, TN

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

 

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,...