Large Festival & Event Award (Presented By Explore NB)
Award Overview
The Large Festival & Event Award recognizes a festival or event with an annual operating budget over $250,000 that demonstrates excellence in planning, execution, visitor experience, and community impact while contributing significantly to the growth and success of New Brunswick’s tourism industry.
This award celebrates festivals and events that deliver exceptional experiences for attendees, showcase innovation and leadership within the industry, foster community pride and collaboration, and generate substantial economic and tourism benefits. It recognizes organizations that successfully leverage their scale and resources to create impactful events that enhance New Brunswick’s reputation as a premier destination for visitors.
Past Winners
2025 Festival du Homard Shediac
2024 La Grande Grouille
Eligibility Criteria:
Nominees must demonstrate excellence in the following areas:
Event Planning and Management – Successfully plans, organizes, and delivers a high-quality event that reflects industry best practices and operational excellence.
Visitor Experience and Satisfaction – Creates exceptional, engaging, and memorable experiences that exceed visitor expectations and encourage repeat attendance.
Innovation and Creativity – Demonstrates innovative approaches to programming, marketing, operations, technology, or audience engagement that enhance the overall event experience.
Community Engagement and Collaboration – Builds meaningful partnerships and actively engages local businesses, organizations, volunteers, and residents in the success of the event.
Economic and Tourism Impact – Generates measurable economic benefits, attracts visitors, and contributes significantly to the growth of New Brunswick’s tourism sector.
Destination Promotion and Legacy – Enhances awareness of New Brunswick as a tourism destination and creates lasting positive impacts for the host community and tourism industry.
To recognize and celebrate a broader range of individuals, businesses, and organizations within the community, the same recipient may not win the same award category in two consecutive years. This policy is intended to promote greater diversity among award recipients while continuing to recognize excellence, leadership, and meaningful contributions throughout the community.
Judging Considerations:
Nominees will be evaluated based on:
- Demonstrated excellence in event planning, execution, and operational management.
- Evidence of exceptional visitor satisfaction and memorable attendee experiences.
- Innovative and creative initiatives that contribute to the event’s success and industry leadership.
- Community involvement, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.
- Measurable economic impact, visitor attraction, and tourism growth.
- Contributions to promoting New Brunswick as a destination and creating a lasting positive legacy.
Ideal Recipients:
Major festivals, cultural celebrations, music festivals, sporting events, culinary events, signature tourism events, and other large-scale events with an annual operating budget over $250,000 that demonstrate excellence in visitor experience, innovation, community engagement, and tourism impact.
Nomination Requirements:
Each nomination package must include:
- A completed nomination form.
- A written summary (max 750 words) describing the event and how it meets the criterias for this award.
- Supporting documents (e.g., analytics reports, visuals, links to campaigns, testimonials).
- Optional: 1–2 letters of support from industry partners or clients.
