Outdoor Festive Events

Large outdoor events are dynamic gatherings that bring together diverse audiences in expansive, open-air settings. These events can range from festivals, concerts, and sporting events to community celebrations and cultural showcases. Organizing such events requires meticulous planning, including site logistics, crowd management, safety measures, and seamless coordination among vendors, performers, and staff. The outdoor environment adds unique challenges like weather contingencies and accessibility while also offering opportunities for creative setups and immersive experiences. With vibrant atmospheres, interactive elements, and wide-reaching appeal, large outdoor events foster community engagement and create memorable experiences for attendees.

Event Profile 1: Canada Summer Games Festival 2018

The Canada Games Festival was the central hub for spectators, athletes, visitors and Winnipeggers throughout the Games from July 29 – August 12, 2017. It was a platform to foster a broadly inclusive, nation-building experience and to celebrate the half-century milestone of the Canada Games while paying tribute to Canada’s 150th birthday.

The Festival program featured a different Canadian province each night with a variety of music, performing arts and displays paying homage to culture from across the country.

Nightly headline artists included Serena Rider (Ontario), Brett Kissel (Alberta), Alan Doyle (Newfoundland), Loverboy (British Columbia), The Crash Test Dummies w/ the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (Manitoba), Coeur de Pirate (Quebec), Tanya Tagaq (Nunavut) and The Sheepdogs (Saskatchewan) and The Trews (Nova Scotia).


With massive crowds, Canada 150 installations, a fully licensed site, nightly fireworks displays and top caliber arts programming spanning two weeks, the event is widely recognized as the most successful Canada Games Festival in it’s 50 year history.

Event Profile 2: Manyfest

In 2018, Smith Events, in partnership with True North Sports & Entertainment, was hired by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ to overhaul the already highly successful “ManyFest”, an annual event located on Broadway Ave, Memorial Blvd and Memorial Park in the downtown of Winnipeg.

They immediately brought in Archevents and their team to provide site and bar management, as well as to oversee food truck wars and the family area.

Over the subsequent two festival years, ManyFest increased sponsorship revenue by over 20% and attendance by over 40%, to a high of 85,000 people in 2019.

Food truck wars participants increased from 41 to 54 and high profile attractions such as Wondershows carnival rides and a Third + Bird artisan market were added, making ManyFest one of the most successful and largest outdoor events in Manitoba.

Credits:
Indigenous Day Live
Manyfest
Manitoba150
Canada Day
Police and Fire Games
Canada Summer Games
Kidsfest
Great Outdoor Comedy Festival