Southeast Festivals and Events Association

09/01/2026

🥓 Welcome our newest SFEA member, the Ellijay Bacon Fest Page!

Ellijay Bacon Fest is a nonprofit organization bringing the community together for a fun (and delicious!) event while supporting local organizations and giving back to Gilmer County, GA.

Their 5th Annual Bacon Festival is coming up Sunday, September 27 at Gilmer River Park in Ellijay, GA! Enjoy bacon and pork-themed dishes, live music, arts and crafts vendors, games and plenty of fun in the beautiful North Georgia mountains.

📅 September 27, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–5 PM
📍 Gilmer River Park | Ellijay, GA

Guests are also encouraged to bring canned goods or make a monetary donation to support the Gilmer County Food Pantry.

We’re excited to have Ellijay Bacon Fest as part of the SFEA family! 🥓🎉

Learn more: https://ellijaybaconfest.com/

08/31/2026

Congratulations to SFEA Board Member Alicia Richards on her recent promotion to Director of Events and Community Engagement with Visit Tuscaloosa!

Alicia has been a valued part of the SFEA community through her service on our Board of Directors, Education Committee, and as our Alabama State Ambassador. We’re proud to celebrate this exciting next step in her career and look forward to seeing all she continues to accomplish in Tuscaloosa and beyond.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/local/2026/08/28/visit-tuscaloosa-makes-leadership-team-changes/91411816007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx29p001250c001250e009475v11xx29d--xx--b--xx--&gca-ft=140&gca-ds=sophi

08/18/2026

New to event planning or just tired of figuring it out alone?
You don’t have to do this solo. Swipe through, find your tier and join the family!

Link in bio.

08/17/2026

We had such a great time bringing everyone together in Chamblee last Thursday! 🎉

We had a packed room, tons of networking, great conversations and so much valuable information shared throughout the day.

A huge thank you to all of our speakers, panelists and attendees for making the Chamblee Seminar such a success! We’re especially grateful to the City of Chamblee, GA for hosting us and to RCS Productions for sponsoring the event and helping make the day possible.

We loved seeing so many familiar faces and meeting plenty of new ones, too! 💙

08/13/2026

Networking has started at today’s SFEA Chamblee Seminar!

We’re excited to have a full house of festival and event professionals connecting, sharing ideas and getting ready for a great day of education.

Let’s get started! 👏

08/12/2026

🚨 CHAMBLEE IS SOLD OUT! 🚨

The SFEA Summer Seminar in Chamblee, GA is TOMORROW and we can’t wait to welcome a full house of festival and event professionals, tourism organizations, vendors, and industry partners from across the region!

And we have a powerhouse speaker lineup ready to share their experience and expertise:

Elmer Veith – City of Chamblee, GA District 4 Council Member
Brittney Lindsay – City of Chamblee, GA
Corinne Wilde – City of Johns Creek, Georgia - Government
Tod Elmore – RCS Productions
Sheriah Gibson – Posh Occasions by Sheriah
Gabriela Gonzalez-Lamberson – Telemundo Atlanta
James Tsismanakis – Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau / Sports DeKalb
Mary Beth Gibbs – Atlanta Sports Council
Stephen Moore – RCS Productions

A huge thank you to our host, the City of Chamblee, GA and our sponsor, RCS Productions, for helping make this seminar possible! We have a great day of education, conversation, and connection ahead.

We’ll see you tomorrow! 🎉

07/30/2026

Chamblee, we’re coming your way!

Registration is open for SFEA’s August Seminar on Thursday, August 13, at Chamblee City Hall.

We’re packing the day with real conversations, practical ideas and lessons event professionals can put to work right away. We’ll dig into organizational goals, guest experience, lessons from events that didn't go as planned and takeaways from this summer’s biggest soccer moments.

Plus, there will be coffee, lunch, networking and a tour of Chamblee!

Registration is free for SFEA members and $50 for non-members. Grab your spot today: https://memberevents.southeastfestivals.org/2026/08/13/557565/sfea-summer-seminar-chamblee-ga

07/27/2026

There’s still time to register for tomorrow’s webinar, Ask the Experts: When the Sky Says No! ⛈️

We’re so excited to have this incredible group of panelists ready to share their expertise and answer your questions about severe weather, emergency planning, event safety, and making those difficult go or no-go decisions.

Have a question for our panelists? Submit it on your registration form or leave it right here in the comments!

Register here:

In the Southeast, severe weather season never really ends. Tornadoes can strike in late winter and again in the fall. Hurricane season runs June through November. Summer storms can pop up in minutes. If you're planning an outdoor event, you need more than a weather app and a prayer. This session bri...

07/21/2026

What an incredible example of how technology can transform storytelling at events! Open Sky Productions used 1,500 synchronized drones to bring 250 years of American history to life, featuring iconic images such as the American flag, the Statue of Liberty and a soaring bald eagle.

Watch the full drone show here:

🇺🇸 America's story has never been told quite like this.To celebra...

07/14/2026

Meet the experts helping festival and event professionals prepare for the moments when the sky says no. ⛈️

Join us on July 28 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET for Ask the Experts: When the Sky Says No, a live panel discussion about severe weather risk and decision-making for festivals and outdoor events.

Our panel includes:

🌦️ Alexa Horvath, Meteorologist with Live 5 News in Charleston
🚨 Nick Lolley, Director of the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency
🎪 Stephanie McIntyre, with Staircase Event & Sponsorship Management and also known for her work with the North Carolina Seafood Festival

Register now and submit your questions for the panel in advance through the registration form or in the comments below. Your question could be answered live during the seminar!

https://memberevents.southeastfestivals.org/2026/07/28/583286/ask-the-experts-when-the-sky-says-no/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTCVlVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyRGtQSnVhZkhjR3cwTjdjc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjyumC0Ze9LvBEG-9rvCJCa8Gf_u7wgamItVtb2cFZ3gUhoxYG9Smg40Bp5E_aem__xGPFd0mnx1FCh7jYggeJA