SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards
Designed to recognize the marketing, programming and overall event, the SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards acknowledge the highest level of achievement in the festival and event industry throughout the southeast region. Gain the recognition your event, volunteers, staff and sponsors deserve.
To qualify, the event as well as the producing organization must be located within the southeast region (Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky) and have occurred between or including November 1, 2010 and October 31, 2011. Start saving materials (articles, photos, ads and collateral) to back up your submission.
The initial deadline for the Kaleidoscope Awards is November 23; late deadline is December 16, 2011.
2011 Winners
The best and brightest were spotlighted at Southeast Festivals and Events Kaleidoscope Awards. Hosted at the Stone Mountain Inn at St. Mountain, Georgia, February 21-23, the ceremony was held in conjunction with the annual Southeast Festivals and Events (SFEA) conference. Top festivals and events throughout the southeast were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the events industry.
“The quality of submissions continues to go up each year making it more difficult to choose only one winner,” mentioned Carolyn Morris, executive director for SFEA. “It is a shame that only one can ‘win gold.’ It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your event or community and award those who have worked hard creating the perfect event or festival. The recognition a festival gets for winning is priceless.”
The name “kaleidoscope” was selected due to the colors in the image that represent the many different festivals and facets within events. This year a new logo accompanied the plaques and certificates that were handed out to the recipients.
The ceremony recognized diverse items such as best t-shirt, best volunteer to best event. The awards acknowledge special achievement in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The awards were sponsored by RCS Productions.
Best Festival – with a budget over $75,000
- Bronze: The Decatur Craft Beer Festival, City of Decatur
- Silver: Suwanee Day, City of Suwanee
- Gold: Wild Ga. Shrimp Festival, Jekyll Island Authority
Best Festival – with a budget under $75,000
- Bronze: Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
- Silver: Secret City Festival, City of Oak Ridge
- Gold: Rivers & Spires Festival, Clarksville-Montgomery Co. CVB
Best New Event
- Bronze: Winter Beer Carnival, Premier Events
- Silver: Expose Yourself to Craft, Craftsmen's Guild of Miss.
- Gold: Dunwoody Art Festival, Splash Festivals, Inc.
Best Sponsor
- Bronze: National EMS, Inc., Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival
- Silver: Oak Ridge Chapter of Credit Unions, City of Oak Ridge
- Gold: The Union Recorder, Deep Roots Festival
Best Green Component
- Bronze: Suwanee Day, City of Suwanee
- Silver: Secret City Festival, City of Oak Ridge
- Gold: 2010 Atlanta Festival, The Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Best Event Photograph
- Silver: National Black Arts Festival, Centennial Olympic Park
- Gold: Siemens Smart Grid Road Tour, Centennial Olympic Park
Best Website
- Bronze: Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Greater Augusta Arts Council
- Silver: Deep Roots Festival, Milledgeville Main Street DDA
- Gold: Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival, Premier Events
Best Volunteer – with a budget under $75000
- Silver: Doug Schwendy, City of Suwanee
- Gold: Salem H.S. Football Team, Georgia International Horse Park
Best Volunteer – with a budget over $75000
- Bronze: Jane Miller, Secret City Festival
- Silver: Big Mike Mower, Deep Roots Festival
- Gold: Stephen Lahair, Fun Fest
Best Marketing Campaign
- Silver: Sandy Springs Festival, Heritage Sandy Springs
- Gold: Deep Roots Festival, Milledgeville Main Street DDA
Best Poster
- Bronze: ArtiGras 2010, Northern Palm Beach County Chamber
- Silver: 42nd Yellow Daisy Festival, Stone Mountain Park
- Gold: Decatur Arts Festival, Decatur Arts Alliance
Best Event Program
- Silver: National Black Arts Festival, Centennial Olympic Park
- Gold: Siemens Smart Grid Road Tour, Centennial Olympic Park
Best Other Merchandise
- Bronze: Real Squeal BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, Vidalia Area CVB
- Silver: Deep Roots Festival, Milledgeville Main Street DDA
- Gold: Secret City Festival, City of Oak Ridge
Best T-Shirt
- Bronze: The Decatur Craft Beer Festival, City of Decatur
- Silver: Secret City Festival, City of Oak Ridge
- Gold: Deep Roots Festival, Milledgeville Main Street DDA
Best Event within an event
- Bronze: Suwanee Day, City of Suwanee
- Silver: Secret City Festival, City of Oak Ridge
- Gold: 2010 Atlanta Festival, The Atlanta Dogwood Festival