67th annual convention featured representatives from 10 countries, 29 states
The City of McAllen recently earned 75 awards, as well as an international designation and a coveted industry award, at the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Insurance Pinnacle Awards and the IFEA World Festival & Event City Awards during the 67th Annual International Festival & Events Association Annual Convention, Expo and Retreat, held recently in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments and top-quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. Pinnacle awards were handed out in 73 different categories including: TV/Radio; Social; Multi-Media; Print; and Merchandise; Sponsorship; Emergency Preparedness; and Entertainment programs.
The Grand Pinnacle, the highest award given by the IFEA, was awarded to the McAllen Public Library for the South Texas Book Festival. This is the third time that South Texas Book Festival has received the Grand Pinnacle award, winning its category.
Other winning events from the City of McAllen included the McAllen Holiday Parade; MXLAN; South Pole Illuminated Festival; McAllen International CarFest; McAllen Marathon Scott Crane Running Series; and various events from Quinta Mazatlán and McAllen Public Library.
“I am proud of the amazing work that the City of McAllen does to plan, organize, host and promote the quality festivals and events in our community throughout the year,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “Most importantly, these festivals and events continue to elevate the quality of life for our residents and visitors to our great city and are a reflection of the dedication, professionalism and creativity of our McAllen employees. These awards are truly well-deserved; it’s inspiring to be honored in such amazing company with other festivals and events from around the world.”
The McAllen Holiday Parade was once again recognized as the Best Parade in the World, earning this award for the eight time.
Additionally, the City of McAllen was awarded IFEA’s highest honor for a city for the third time: being named an IFEA World Festival and Event City, along with Gwangju Dong-gu, Republic of Korea; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Phuket, Thailand; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to IFEA, festivals and events create tremendous community and economic capital in the markets that they serve, but the partnership with and support from the local community, at all levels, is critical to the success and sustainability of existing festivals and events, as well as the ability to attract and encourage new events.
"We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of our Pinnacle Award winners for their exceptional contributions to this year’s competition,” said Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE, President & CEO of the IFEA. “The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and top-tier creativity, promotional efforts, operational excellence, and community outreach demonstrated by festivals and events worldwide. By striving for the highest standards across all budget levels and regions, this competition not only elevates the quality of festivals and events globally but also shows how event producers can use innovation and creativity to achieve a higher level of success.”
McAllen received the IFEA World Festival and Event City designation, in part, because it hosted more than 800 events last year alone, with an economic impact of over $91 million. Other factors in the award selection included community overview; diversity and success of community festivals and events; government and non-government support for the festivals and events; and health care and safety support; marketing opportunities of the festivals and events in other areas.
“The festivals and events reflect the best of our city, our people and our values. Aside from being economic generators for McAllen, these festivals and events bring our community together,” said McAllen Assistant City Manager Joe Vera and IFEA World Board Chair-Elect Joe Vera.
The City of McAllen received 33 gold, 26 silver and 16 bronze Pinnacle Awards for the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group, as well as the multiple events hosted by Quinta Mazatlán, including Planta Nativa and ReFest; the McAllen Public Library’s World Languages Festival and South Texas Book Festival; the McAllen Convention Center’s CarFest, South Pole Illuminated Festival, and MXLAN; and the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department’s McAllen Marathon.
“We are always hosting something, whether it be a small music fest, a large-scale cultural celebration or our very own internationally acclaimed McAllen Holiday Parade,” added Vera. “These events and festivals and celebrations are why people from throughout the Rio Grande Valley, northern Mexico and beyond flock to McAllen,” he concluded.
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 Pasadena Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, CA; the Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, PA; the Seafair Festival in Seattle, WA; Celebrations of Traditions Pow Wow in San Antonio, TX; Canada Together in Vancouver, BC, Canada; Vivid Sydney in Sydney, Australia; Festival Lent in Maribor, Slovenia; Chiang Mai Blooms in Bangkok, Thailand; Rome Future Week® in Roma, Italy; Huangling Shaiqiu Cultural Festival in Shangrao, China; the Cheonan World Dance Festival in Cheonan, Republic of Korea and of course, multiple events from the City of McAllen.
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