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.
Rhinestone Rodeo
February 27 - March 1, 2025
Seaside Civic and Convention Center
Saddle up, y'all! Bedazzle those boots and get ready to 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. We guarantee it's going to be a rootin', tootin', boot-scootin' good time!
2025 Conference Schedule
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.
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11am - Registration Opens
1:30pm - THE Conference Begins!
1:45pm - Opening Kick-off
2:40-3:40pm -
Breakout Sessions
3:50-4:50pm -
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 - Campfire Night, Flannels & Long johns
Don your comfiest flannels and long johns, sip on your favorite drinks, tap your toes to some rootin'-tootin' music, and make lasting connections with fellow event professionals. This is the perfect opportunity to meet some new folks, share ideas, build relationships, and unwind after a day of conference sessions.
times subject to change
Click for Printable Conference Schedule (coming soon)
2025 sessions to include:
Digital Marketing Sucks!
Jake Zufelt, Weldwood Marketing
Digital marketing sucks. It's complicated. It's constantly changing. And it's entirely necessary. As a business owner, you have a billion things to worry about: finances, events/products, staffing, troubleshooting, etc. But marketing is that thing to make all the effort turn into MONEY! Get these things in place to make your website, social media accounts, Google services, and email marketing NOT suck!
Maximizing Success in Sporting Events
Jason Unruh, Hoopla
Explore best practices for organizing and managing successful sporting events. From local competitions to large-scale tournaments, learn how to engage audiences, secure sponsorships, and handle logistics. This session will provide valuable insights on how to elevate your sporting event, attract participants, and create memorable experiences for everyone involved.
Ways with No Means
Scott Ingalls, 360 Events NW
We’ll explore how to produce impactful events with limited budgets and resources. Learn from industry experts who have successfully navigated financial challenges and still delivered memorable, high-quality festivals and events. Discover tips on finding sponsorships, leveraging community support, and using innovative solutions to stretch your budget without sacrificing quality. Perfect for event planners who are looking to maximize their impact despite financial constraints.
Plus sessions on:
- Vendors
- Non-profit organizations
- Event Medical
- Ticketing
- Board Management
- Volunteers
Check back for more info soon ...
Conference Attendee Rates
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
Donate to our Silent Auction
Where to Stay
We do not have a host hotel in Seaside this year. For hotels in the area, please check HEREÂ for the Seaside Chamber of Commerce Directory.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Some memories from our 2024 Conference in Seaside, Oregon.
Mardi Gras in Seaside
To view/download more photos from previous conferences click here