The corporate festival is a new kid in town, and it’s showering iridescent sparkles over company event schedules. You see, the corporate world has caught a serious case of festival fever, turning its back on stiff agendas and lukewarm coffee.
So, why the shift? Why are organisations swapping keynote speakers for acoustic guitar sets, and breakout sessions for silent discos? It’s all part of a growing trend called festivalisation.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at what’s driving the corporate festival movement, and why it’s worth joining the trend.
What’s a Corporate Festival?
What’s your favourite summer festival? Glasto? Isle of Wight? T in the Park? Now picture it with your company’s logo slapped across the main stage.
In a nutshell, the corporate festival sprinkles the magic of live music, street food, quirky activities, and outdoor vibes onto corporate events.
So, stop thinking beige ballrooms and start looking at dynamic outdoor venues for suitability for elements like:
· Pop-up bars and street food trucks serving everything from sliders to sushi.
· Live entertainment, from local bands to stand-up comedians.
· Interactive zones such as VR experiences, team challenges, and wellness tents with yoga classes.
Ultimately, the idea is to create something so exciting and memorable people actually want to attend.
Why Are Businesses Going All-In on Corporate Festivals?
Traditional corporate events can feel like a long day at the office, whereas festival-style events are a breath of fresh air, literally. This is how to convert attendees from passive listeners into active participants, in outdoor spaces with potent elements like live music and creative workshops.
This shift boosts employee morale and supports creativity. Plus, it’s hard to stay disengaged when you’re sipping Mojitos under a fairy light canopy.
Leave a Lasting Impression
Launching a product? Celebrating a milestone? A corporate festival leaves the kind of mark PowerPoint presentations just can’t. Because you’re making memories that stick by immersing attendees in a branded experience.
Accordingly, it’s your job to provide your audience with a day full of photo-worthy moments to light up Instagram feeds. And let’s be honest. If your event isn’t igniting social media, did it even happen?
Network with a Twist
Networking can be contrived and awkward. But the festival vibe gets conversations flowing as freely as the craft beer. For this reason, connections can happen more naturally when you trade traditional events for casual mingling spaces.
As a result, relations feel less transactional and more meaningful amongst attendees when they:
· Chat over tacos at a food truck
· Bond during a friendly tug-of-war match in the team building zone
· Connect on LinkedIn while enjoying a chilled acoustic set
Walk the Talk on Modern Values
A corporate festival goes way beyond fun. Additionally, it’s also a great way to showcase your company values.
For example, a festival-style event is your stage to highlight:
· Sustainability - Think zero-waste food stalls, reusable cups, and solar-powered stages.
· Wellness - Yoga, meditation, no/low alcohol and healthy snack stations.
· Community engagement - Partner with local vendors, performers and other stakeholder groups to give something back.
It’s a subtle (but effective) way to shout, “We care!” without hollering or virtue signalling.
Why Venues Are Key to Success
Of course, none of this can happen without the right venue. After all, the venue sets the tone, provides the backdrop, and impacts how festival-like your event feels.
Some of The Venue Hunters’ top picks include:
· Outdoor estates and country parks - Perfect for a larger scale corporate festival with multiple zones.
· Rooftop venues - Bring summer vibes to the heart of the city.
· Marquees and pop-up spaces - Ideal for flexible, customisable setups.
· Urban green spaces - Think city centre parks transformed into mini-festival villages.
At the end of the day, you’re evolving beyond hosting an event when you get your venue right. Moreover, you’re creating an experience.
Get in touch with The Venue Hunters. Our FREE venue finding service will help you find the right venue and most innovative suppliers to bring the festival vibes the glorious life. So, who else is ready to trade in lanyards for wristbands?
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