IFEA 71st Annual Convention & Expo

Before you hit the ground running, stop by to meet some new IFEA friends at our “First-Timer's Roadmap” session. Designed to give our first-time convention attendees, as well as our long-time IFEA ‘family’ attendees, an opportunity to meet some valuable new friends, share some insider tips and advice on how to maximize the days ahead, find some dinner partners, and get your convention experience off to a fun start. Then, join us in the dfest® Hospitality Suite (Casita Suite 1576) to meet more new friends and let the networking conversations begin!

This session explores how event professionals can modernize and streamline their event operations by pairing effective systems and creative leadership strategies. Participants will leave with resources and tools they can implement immediately.
Participants will be able to:
· Identify the core components of effective event management and how these core principals support consistency, risk    reduction, and organizational memory.
· Understand how high-performing teams’ function within a singular event or across seasons and multiple events,           clarity of roles, communication structures, and decision-making pathways.
· Evaluate existing event frameworks and pinpoint opportunities to strengthen workflows, documentation, and cross       team alignment.
· Apply practical tools and templates to improve planning, execution, and post-event evaluation across multiple event types.
· Explore examples of how system level improvements lead to stronger participant experiences, smoother operations, and more resilient teams.

Volunteer programs are more than extra hands on event day. They are one of the most powerful, and often overlooked, connections between an event, its community, and its brand partners. This session will explore how to transform volunteers into community ambassadors, storytellers, and strategic assets, while creating volunteer experiences that sponsors genuinely want to support. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building volunteer programs that strengthen community loyalty, create measurable impact, and open the door to meaningful sponsorship opportunities.

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Events are more than a gathering—they are powerful economic and community development tools. This session explores how festivals, street fairs, cultural events, and community activations can drive local business growth, attract visitors, generate economic impact, and create meaningful connections between residents, businesses, and organizations.

Valued IFEA partner Sky Elements will be presenting a special drone show on Tuesday evening, October 6th, as a cap to the IFEA Foundation’s “Two-Step Under Western Skies” Party & Auction. Prior to that, they will be doing a ‘Backstage Pass’ session, with a visit to their onsite launch site, for an inside look at the creation of the show. A session sure to spark your imagination and creativity. (Stop by their Expo booth on Tuesday and Wednesday to thank them for the show, and to see how you might use their expertise and services.)

For festival and event organizers navigating the complex landscape of sponsorship acquisition, Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force. AI isn't just another tool; it's becoming an indispensable collaborator that will enhance every aspect of your sponsorship program, providing you with a virtual research assistant and creative collaborator. This hands-on session will demonstrate the transformative ways you can use AI in your sponsorship efforts, including:

• Getting Your Ducks in a Row – Property Preparation
• Prospect Identification and Qualification
• Proposal Development and Personalization
• Creative Activation Concepts
• Creating Agreements and MOUs