Annual Conference

Oregon Festivals & Events Association Annual Conference

Our spring conference is our biggest gathering for festival and event industry professionals. Our speakers, seminars, round tables, entertainer showcases, a trade show and the Ovations! Awards provide an unparalleled opportunity to meet your peers from around the state while learning from experts.

We hope you'll join us along with event producers, sponsors, entertainers, volunteers, vendors and suppliers from across the state. Together, we can share information, resources and contacts to make our events more successful.

Mardi Gras in Seaside

February 29 - March 2, 2024

Seaside Civic and Convention Center

Grab your krewes, some beads, and join us for educational breakout sessions from industry leaders, showcases from top performers, a chance to network at our Trade Show, and our annual Ovations! Award night recognizing the most innovative and successful events out there and those that help make them happen. Plus a chance to catch up with old friends, make some new ones, and connect with others in the industry. Check back for more information this Fall. It's going to be a Bon Temps at the Beach!

2024 Conference Schedule

The OFEA Conference Committee is hard at work planning our 2024 event. We'll be updating the schedule as all our amazing speakers and sessions are confirmed. Some of the topics we'll be covering are: security, ticketing, sponsorship relations, digital marketing, event medical staffing, and event law.

Thursday Friday Saturday

Thursday

9am - Noon - Pre-Conference Workshop

11am - Registration Opens

1:30pm - THE Conference Begins!

2pm - Opening Kick-off

3:10-4pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS

5pm - Dinner on the Town - Check-in at the lobby no later than 5:30pm for your Dining Vouchers, then enjoy dinner at one of Seaside's great restaurants.

7pm - Networking Hospitality Night

times subject to change

Friday

9:30-10:20am - BREAKOUT SESSIONS

10:30am - 11:50pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Noon - 1:00pm - Annual Meeting Luncheon and Showcases

1:00 - 2:20pm - Trade Show: Visit suppliers, make connections, and get ready to play "Cards Against Festivals: Pirate Edition"

2:10 - 3:00pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS

3:10 - 4:00pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS

4:10 - 5:00pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS

5:30pm - Festivalpalooza - Reception and Silent Auction

6:30pm - Ovation! Awards Dinner (Sponsored by Celtic Security)

8:30pm - Hospitality Night

subject to change

Saturday

Click for Printable Conference Schedule (coming soon)

Click for Printable Session and Speaker Information (coming soon)

Pre-Conference Workshop

This is NOT a Drill!

What to do When you Actually Have an Emergency

What do you do when there's a lost child? Active shooter? Bomb threat? You may think you're prepared on paper but join us to put your plan to the test. We'll play out real life emergency scenarios with live emergency drills and practices for your teams.

Workshop facilitated by Scott and Jill Ingalls with expert assistance from first responders.

When: Thursday, Feb. 29
Time: 9am - Noon
Where: Seaside Convention Center
Cost: TBA

2024 sessions include:

Marketing: (Royal Media)
Special in-depth Saturday morning workshop

Audience Experience: (Jason Fellman)

Social Media Influencers: (Katie Schrock)

Vendor Management:

Entertainment:

Volunteers:

Ticketing:

Sponsors:

Budgeting:

Legal:

Site Layout:

Non-traditional Revenue Sources:

MORE TOPICS COMING SOON!

Conference Attendee Rates

What's Included Member Rates Non-Member Rates Trade Show Info

What's Included

Registration Includes:

Conference Welcome Packet
Educational Sessions from Leading Industry Experts
Access to Trade Show
Entrance to all Hospitality Receptions & Networking Evenings
Meals: Thursday Night Dinner on the Town, Friday Lunch, Friday Ovations! Awards Dinner, Saturday Lunch

Member Rates

Early Bird Rate (Register before Nov. 1 at last year's rates)

$265 - Full Registration
$199 - Additional Attendee
$199 - One Day Registration

Regular Registration (Nov. 1-Jan. 31)

$300 - Full Registration
$235 - Additional Attendee
$235 - One Day Registration

Late Registration (Feb. 1-29)

$325 - Full Registration
$260 - Additional Attendee
$260 - One Day Registration

Conference Add-Ons

$TBA - Pre-Conference Workshop
$150 - Trade Show Booth add-on, in addition to Conference Registration
$35-45 - Additional Guest Meals

Non-Member Rates

Trade Show Info

Our Trade Show booths are on display throughout conference with dedicated Trade Show time on Friday after lunch. Trade Show booths cost $150 in addition to conference registration. To register for the Trade Show, register for conference and add the "Trade Show Booth" add-on before check-out.

Trade Show Booths include:

10'x10' space
one 8' skirted table
one chair

Trade Show move-in: Thursday, February 29, 9am-1pm and 3-7pm

Trade Show move-out: Saturday, March 2, after 1:15pm

Click for printable Scholarship Application

Ovation! Awards Info

Entertainer Showcase Application (closed for 2023)

THANK YOU

to everyone that donated to our
silent auction and raffle tables

Funtastic Shows
Rational Unicorn
Habitat Store - Lebanon
Kulonis Family
Family Tree Relief Nursery
Rascal Rodeo
Oregon Jamboree
Honey Bucket
Waterfront Blues Festival
Astoria Chamber
Green Cactus
Oaks Amusement Park
Adam's Rib
Phoenix
Rouge Music Festival
Lincoln City Chamber
Brasada Ranch
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber
Linn Lanes
Lebanon Community Pool
Portland Rose Festival
Casacade Air Show
Oregon State Fair
Ontario Area Chamber
First Taste Oregon
Lebanon Strawberry Festival
Jackson Fair and Expo
Divine Distillery