HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda- 11-01-2018 12-5 - Information Item - Summary of 2018 Orange County LocalFest 1
ORANGE COUNTY
ARTS COMMISSION
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Katie Murray
Orange County Arts Commission Director and
Member of the Local Fest Planning Committee
Date: October 22, 2018
Subject: Summary of 2018 Orange County LocalFest
The inaugural Orange County LocalFest took place Saturday, September 29, from 10am-6pm at Blackwood Farm Park.
Overall, the event was a great success. Approximately 1,300 residents and 200 staff and volunteers attended the
festival, which included live music, arts vendors, craft and cooking demonstrations, and nine food trucks.
Shuttle drivers and festival staff reported overwhelmingly positive feedback from patrons. Attendees particularly
enjoyed the variety of demonstrations, the beauty of Blackwood Farm Park, and the abundance of free activities for
children. Patrons utilized the shuttle system and offered generally positive feedback about the ease of access and
schedule.
According to a post-event survey, arts, food, and beer vendors reported to have had an overall positive experience. Arts
and food vendor sales ranked average-high compared to other similar events. The majority of vendors said they would
participate in the event again, stating they had positive experiences regarding staff interactions, as well as festival load-
in and load-out. Several challenges were pointed out, but were generally understood to be part of the learning curve
associated with a first-time event.
While the event was originally intended to be a fundraiser for the Cooperative Extension's Breeze Farm, large scale
fundraising proved challenging. However, the event remained within its designated budget, and about $2,000 was
raised for the Breeze Farm through donations and sponsorships.
As part of planning for any subsequent LocalFest events, the full staff team participated in a debriefing session. Several
opportunities for improvement were identified by this staff group, a solicitation of feedback from Commissioners, and
the vendor survey, including the following:
• Timing of festival: Concern was expressed regarding the festival taking place the same weekend as Carrboro's
largest annual event, the Carrboro Music Festival. While fall is the busiest time of year for community festivals,
next year's planning committee will make every effort not to compete with any of the signature annual festivals
that take place throughout the county. Options for next year will be discussed with Blackwood Farm Park staff to
determine the best date to host the event. Lastly, the length of the festival itself was discussed with a
preference to shorten the festival by starting at noon rather than 10:00 AM.
ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION
200 South Cameron Street I Hillsborough,NC 27278
919.245.2335 1 www.artsorange.org I arts @orangecountync.gov
2
• Festival logistics: The most noted area of improvement for future LocalFest events was in logistical planning.
The primary areas of challenge included the festival lay-out, on-site parking, and permitting. The majority of
these areas of improvement could not have been predicted and are a result of learning from the first year. One
of the most noted examples of this was the placement of the main music stage, which seemed disconnected
from the rest of the event and made for difficult navigation for some performers. Most other areas of
improvement will result from having a template from the first year that can ease the planning process in future
years.
• Content: While the majority of patrons enjoyed the offerings of the festival, many people expressed a desire for
even more children's activities, particularly more animal exhibits. Future events will continue to emphasize and
improve on the local elements of the festival by utilizing even more performing and visual arts from Orange
County.
• Transportation: Overall, the shuttle process operated exceptionally well. However, several changes will be made
for next year including a smaller selection of off-site lots. The majority, about 75%, of festival patrons parked
within a half mile of the festival site; therefore, focus will be given to expanding close-by parking options.
• Promotion: Festival promotion will be more emphasized in future years with a precise budget and full marketing
plan. Promoting the festival will begin with diverse outreach methods that could help attract a patron base more
reflective of the diverse demographics of Orange County.
• Sponsorships: Few sponsorships were secured this year. An analysis of the purpose and goals of the event are
required to determine the need for sponsorship. After this is assessed, a more organized and targeted
sponsorship solicitation plan can be developed and implemented.
In summary, the success of this year's festival was due to the dedication of many Orange County staff, particularly the
core planning committee. While this leadership team made the event a success, it was the result of an observed need
and actions taken proactively to ensure a successful event for the county.
ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION
200 South Cameron Street I Hillsborough,NC 27278
919.245.2335 1 www.artsorange.org I arts @orangecountync.gov