Community Event Planning

Rebecca Cotter, M.A., PMP, CSEP

Introduction

Community events foster connections, create places, animate spaces, propel tourism, invest in economies, build identity, and instill pride. Perhaps above all, community events make memories. By their nature, community events are largely the product of local individuals, groups, or organisations, and reflect a community’s people, culture, and history. This chapter examines Community Event Planning through the role events play in shaping communities and the functions and responsibilities of community event organisers. A selection of the unique factors that differentiate community events from more traditional ‘special events’ are examined in detail, and systems for defining, classifying and evaluating community events including PESTEL and municipal event classification frameworks offer perspectives on how organisers plan for and manage community event benefits and challenges.

Community event organisers have the responsibility for planning safe, accessible, and inclusive experiences and activities. This chapter examines community event planning processes including stakeholder analysis, venue selection, applying for permits, and the role of provincial, regional and local regulatory authorities. The availability of local community event planning resources such as municipal event planning guides and online toolkits are reviewed as tools that support common programming and logistical arrangements and reinforce the relationship between community events and placemaking, tourism and community engagement. From this perspective, readers will gain a greater understanding of the power of events to influence community economic and social well-being.