Macon, Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival received 25 prestigious industry awards for the 2023 Festival’s programming, merchandise, social media campaigns, events, and sponsorship program. The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) paid tribute to the Cherry Blossom Festival in October during the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Ceremony held at the 66th Annual IFEA Convention, Expo & Retreat, presented by Clover, in McAllen, Texas, U.S.A., where they were presented with 25 awards in the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition. The 2023 Cherry Blossom Festival was executed by President and CEO Stacy Moore and her team along with the Board of Directors, Board Chair Elizabeth Cleveland, and Festival Chair Kenny Burgamy. Awards were presented to the applicable community and Cherry Blossom staff members following the Festival’s board meeting on November 30, 2023, at River North Country Club. The 2024 Festival will take place March 15-24,2024. For programming and more information visit https://cherryblossom.com.
GOLD
- Best Organizational Website – cherryblossom.com designed by The Miner Agency
- Best New Promotion Activity – Trash Can Trot – Thanks to a partnership with Ryland Environmental, a brand-new-event and first-of-its-kind event in the world took place in downtown Macon as spectators got the first glimpse to see who was the fastest in a trash can as teams of two raced down Cherry Street.
- Best Pin – Pink Poodle Pin
- Best Festival/Event Merchandise – Stuffed Pink Poodle Toy
- Best Give-Away Item – Bag of Cherry Blossom Festival goodies
- Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal – Trash Can Trot – Ryland Environmental
- Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor – Trash Can Trot – Ryland Environmental
- Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report – Trash Can Trot – Ryland Environmental
SILVER
- Best Overall Sponsorship Program – Cherry Blossom Festival Sponsors – Stacy Moore
- Best Overall Entertainment Program – Nightly Concert Series, Shows & Attractions and Bicentennial Performers
- Best Instagram Site – @pinkestparty – The Miner Agency
- Best Facebook site – www.facebook/com.cherryblossomfestival – The Miner Agency
- Best Food and Beverage Program – Food Truck Frenzy ft. Cherry Market
- Best Digital/Social Ad Series – CBF Event graphics designed by The Miner Agency
- Best Single Magazine Display Ad – Macon Magazine
- Best Ad Series – ¿Que Pasa?
- Best Promotional Photograph – Third Street Park fountain at night
- Best Outdoor Billboard – Festival Dates – Alex Habersham
- Best Sponsor Partner – Drew Expositions for their support of the midway at The Festival at Carolyn Crayton Park
BRONZE
- Best Sponsor Gift – Pink Tumbler
- Best Hat – White hat with pink CBF Logo
- Best Promotional Brochure – Cherry Blossom Festival Rack Card designed by The Miner Agency
- Best Parade – Cherry Blossom Parade – 41NBC
- Best Mobile App – CBF App designed by The Miner Agency
- Best Full-Length TV Program – Live Broadcast at CCP – WGXA
About the Cherry Blossom Festival:
Founded by Carolyn Crayton in 1982, Macon, Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival works to enhance the quality of life, community fellowship, and civic pride of all Macon and Middle Georgia residents through the encouragement, development, and coordination of selected recreational, cultural, educational and social activities. Through each activity, the Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the Macon and Middle Georgia community by honoring “Love, Beauty, and International Friendship.”
About the IFEA:
Sponsored by industry leader Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, the professional competition drew entries from some of the world’s top festivals and events*. Winning entries came from organizations as diverse as the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, CO; the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, OH; the South Texas International Film Festival in Edinburg, TX; the Saint Louis Art Fair in St. Louis, MO; the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, KY; the Pasadena Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, CA; the City of McAllen Holiday Parade in McAllen, TX; the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, MI; The Parade Company in Detroit, MI; the Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, PA; the United San Antonio Pow Wow in San Antonio, TX; the Washington’s Birthday Celebration in Laredo, TX; ¡ARTE VIVA! in Naples, FL; and Folklorama in Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Canada Together in Vancouver, BC, Canada; Vivid Sydney in Sydney, Australia; Festival Lent in Maribor, Slovenia; and Chiang Mai Blooms in Bangkok, Thailand.
Recognizing the outstanding accomplishments and top-quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by Festivals and Events around the world, awards* were handed out in 70 different categories including: TV/Radio, Social and Multi Media; Print and Merchandise, in addition to Festival and Event programs such as Sponsorship; Education, Accessibility; Children’s; Emergency Preparedness and Entertainment. The Grand Pinnacle, the highest award given by the IFEA in recognition of those Festivals and Events* who have a balance of all the elements necessary to ensure a successful event was also awarded.
“We would like to congratulate all of our Pinnacle winners for their outstanding entries into this year’s competition,” said IFEA President & CEO, Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE. “The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and top quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. Striving for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions and operations in every budget level and every corner of the globe, this competition has not only raised the standards and quality of the festivals and events industry to new levels, but also shows how event producers can use innovation and creativity to achieve a higher level of success.”
Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) is The Premier Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide. In partnership with global affiliates under the umbrellas of IFEA Africa, IFEA Asia, IFEA Australia, IFEA Europe, IFEA Latin America, IFEA Middle East (MENASA), and IFEA North America, the organization’s common vision is for “A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration.” The Association offers the most complete source of ideas, resources, information, education and networking for festival and event professionals worldwide.
