Check back soon for revamped categories and processes for the 2024 SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards!
“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 Event Program or Brochure:
Bronze: South Carolina Strawberry Festival, Town of Fort Mill, SC
Best Event Photograph:
Bronze: Christmas in the Grove, Oak Grove Tourism Commission, KY
Silver: Glow in the Park, City of Suwanee, 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 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
Best Festival or Event Video:
Bronze: Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, Jekyll Island Authority
Silver: Ocean Fest, Pender County Tourism, NC
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
Best Social Media Campaign:
Bronze: City of Kingsport, TN
Silver: Jeykll Island Authority, GA
Gold: Tybee Post Theater, 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
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
Best Festival or Event Under $75,000 in Budget
Bronze: National Banana Pudding Festival, Centerville, 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,...