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August 27, 2009
When New Meets Old...
Anyone who thinks that new can’t compliment old and still maintain the integrity of old, has never been to Fanshawe Pioneer Village! Fanshawe is a wonderful heritage village that honors the “old” while conforming to modern realities! (More)

August 12, 2009
Search Me...
About a month ago Judi and I were coming home from the Brockville Riverfest. On our way back home we traveled along Highway #2. We reached Trenton at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Just as we reached the eastern outskirts of the city, we heard a roar overhead! (More)

July 18th, 2009
Living History...
On July 1st of this year our 15 year old nephew became a soldier! No, he did not join the Canadian Armed Forces! He did, however, join his fellow students and their history teacher in a re-enactment demonstration at the Cobourg Waterfront Festival. (More)

July 15th, 2009
Special Feature – St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
Every once in a while we visit an event that is so outstanding that we want to share it with others! The Festival that we attended last Saturday evening was such an event! (More)

July 8th, 2009
Bayside Boutique and Gallery
I am standing in a room surrounded by wonderful original art. Beside me is my longtime friend, floral artist Mary Kendrick. Outside the room’s windows I can see the sun dancing over the wave of a lake as they roll onto the shore! (More)

July 3rd, 2009
Sunset Cruises - Captain Randy Potts
I would not have believed if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes! One day last spring I drove to Bracebridge to meet Captain Randy Potts. Randy owns Sunset Cruises and the M.V. Idyllwood (More)

June 30th, 2009
Timber Works - Wood Turning
Back in January I wrote about a couple, Nancy and Rolly Hill that we met at the Kleinburg Binder Twine Festival. It was a wonderful festival, because we also met a fabulous “wood turner”, Arnold Veen! Arnold owns Timber Works Wood Turning and presents his creations all over Southern Ontario. (More)

June 23rd, 2009
McLean Berry Farm
"A short time ago I traveled north to the Buckhorn area to visit the McLean Berry Farm and Sam McLean. This is my article about Sam, his family and their farm." (More)

June10th, 2009
IlluminAqua
On Friday, June 12th Welland’s Merritt Park Theatre hosts the first in a series of seven concerts. IlluminAqua is about to start its 3rd triumphant season. (More)

June 6th, 2009
Special Article... New and Improved!
Hershey Chocolate has now left town and the festival has a new name, but the spirit and tradition lives on! Smiths Falls has always known how to throw a great party ... (More)

June 1st, 2009
Special Article… Special Festival
It has been designated as one of Ontario’s “Top 100 Festivals” by FEO (Festivals and Events Ontario)! It has won numerous awards of excellence! And, it is one of the top 5 festivals that Judi and I have visited! I am talking about the Mississauga Waterfront Festival! (More)

May 15th, 2009
The House That Jack Built…
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a play in Toronto, “The House That Jack Built”. The play was created and produced by members of the Suitcase Theatre Company. I had been invited to see the play by one of its creators, Whitney Smith. It was a “Puppet Musical” and had been developed especially for kids! (More)

May 10th, 2009
Toronto Harbourfront Centre
If you have never been to Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, you have missed a lot of fun and entertainment!. (More)

May 9th, 2009
Choosing Where to Go...
Going to a festival or event is very personal. Where you decide to go will depend on many factors, interests, location, costs, dates, etc. Finding out about festivals and events can be frustrating. (More)

May1st, 2009
Stratford Festival
My earliest memory of the Stratford Festival was when I was a kid in public school! Just getting there was a big adventure! My school friends and I excitedly boarded the school bus and then we were off! (More)

Archived Articles


Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) Achievement Awards
Okay, okay, I know it’s a bit early! The FEO Achievement Awards submissions aren’t due until early next year! However, I feel it’s never too early to think about them. As a matter of fact, call me crazy, but I think the award submission process should be started the day you begin planning for your next event! Let me explain.

The FEO Achievement Awards judge festivals and events in a number of categories. Each category represents an area in which a festival should excel. These areas are critical to the successful planning and running of an event. If you plan your festival or event around these categories and do your best to be a winner in each of them, then your festival or event will have been planned with a winning strategy. The categories that are judged include Community Involvement, Virtual Marketing Campaign, Printed Materials (posters, pamphlets and programs), Marketing Campaigns, Innovative Partnerships, Festival Greening, Fundraising, Sponsorships and Volunteer Management. Judging is based on excellence in these categories.

The judges look for how well you present your festival or event both in written application and reports and in the supporting materials submitted. The better your submission looks and reads, the greater the chance of winning one of the categories. Here’s my point, you may not win an award, but if you use the FEO Achievement Awards and their criterion as the basis of planning your event, you will have a better event. To me, the greatest award festival organizers can achieve is to hold the best event possible!

My advice to festival organizers is simply this, 1 – Become a member of FEO (Enter FEO Website) if you are not already one; 2 – Ask FEO to send you the Achievement Award package BEFORE you start the planning process; 3 – Plan your event based on the Award categories; 4 – Keep accurate records of what you have done (this will make writing your Awards submission much easier); 5 – Keep good samples of all your supporting material (ads, posters, programs, souvenirs, etc.); 6 – Submit your Award entry as soon as possible.

 


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