Georgia State University - Rampway Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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Festivals continu i1 Iront previous pj e Greek Festival (the city ' s biggest and most popular church (eslival) enables the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation to make their annual capital improvements. Both the bnglish Festival and the Greek Festival forward ed some of their proceeds to charitable organizations. So what goes into making a successful festival? The purpose of the event. answered Holly Mull, the Festivals Coordinator for the city of Atlanta. Without a distinct purpose, the festival is lost. What is also crucial is good organization, adequate volunteers, and the right idea as to direction Such ingredients were present in this years Light Up Atlanta celebration. ' Its not often that you get an event that successful. Holly added. We were lucky there, but It also took a great deal of work and research. We really had a home run. It ' s important to plan. agreed Ginnie Roglin. coordina- tor of the Greek Festival. We form committees in March (the festival is in October) and spread out the work so as to get the community involved. While sufficient planning for the festival itself may seem like the obvious answer to the question of its success, it is important to realize that proper preparation has multiple effects. Aside from solv ing problems of adequate food, enjoyable entertainment, sufficient parking and crowd control, the way a group plans for its festival is a key element in gathering the necessary support from the community and the general public. The queen of local festivals is. without a doubt, the annual Atlanta Arts Festival, sponsored by the Arts Festi- val of Atlanta. Inc. Because of its enormous popularity (the 1984 festival is expected to draw over one and a half million people), planning for the event has become a full- time lob. (CONTINUED NEXT PAGE) 22

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Celebration! The Festival Market Booms by Michael J Saxler Festivals, or organized celebrations, are the oldest form of human entertainment, and until the last century they were the only entertainment available to most people. Now with a television in every home, and a stereo system on every bicycle, festivals are making a comeback, even at a time in history when many people feel there is little to celebrate. Atlanta has become the playground for dozens of annual festivals, and though most are still traditional and often church- based, many have blossomed into huge profit-making ventures and fabulous outlets for corporate advertising. Such events, it is safe to say. have been successful in pleasing everyone — citi- zens, businesses and sponsors. Several groups rely on a yearly festival as their biggest single source of revenue. St. Bartholomew ' s Episcopal Church, which hosts the yearly Ye Olde English Festival in late September, is one example. This year ' s event, the church ' s eighth such festi- val, was a huge profit-making thing. according to co-chair- man Laurie Lowe; almost $X).000 was raised, half of which went to the church treasury. Likewise, the four-day (CONTINUE D NEXT PAGE) Opposite page Two Allanlans parly like banshees al the first annual light Up Atlanta testnal. At left and below Celebrating Greek-style at the Greek hestt- val. flWBi ' ;

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It ' s really an ongoing process. observed Ken- dall Hardin, the public relations director of Arts Festival of Atlanta. Inc. It takes all year to put it together. The formula for success employed by Arts Fes- tival of Atlanta. Inc. is one that is backed by a healthy budget of over $350,000. Public and cor- porate cash contributions along with a sizable contribution from the National Endowment of the Arts gives the Arts Festival its financial boost. And with increasing popularity, the festival has grown mto a major cultural event recognized and respected on a national level. Such increasing success is not confined to the Arts Festival alone. As a matter of fact, all of the city ' s major festivals have recorded significant increases in attendance at the events. The 1983 Greek Festival boasted over 40.000 participants, up 32% from the previous year. Similarly, the Much Ado About Midtown jubilee and the English Festival had larger crowds, primarily due to an increase in advertisement and improving reputa- tions. If this trend is to continue, the planners and promoters will not only continue to proclaim that this year ' s festival was our biggest ever. but will have to deal with the problems of accommo- dating the large audiences as well. While festival attendance is up. so is the num- ber of festivals to attend. This year ' s rookie suc- cesses were Light Up Atlanta, the International Marketplace, and the Festival of Trees; others, like Junefest and Archifest are barely a few years old. Such additions to the festival market and their increase in popularity are welcomed by the city, since they help to promote Atlanta and en- tice citizens to become more involved in the city itself. Celebrating in and around Atlanta brmgs the people together and subsequently brings out the best in people. Perhaps, in time, the percep- tion of Atlanta (particularly the downtown area) will change as a result of events such as Light Up Atlanta. I think Light Up Atlanta is a very important beginning that needs to bo followed up with a series of well thought out events. Holly Mull sum- marized. With the overwhelming interest in At- lanta ' s festivals, the beginning is already un. k derway. J At left A I isnor IriVn the orth uhtcf hii fk ' i h liov n PcJch tree, chiltlrcn create vrith i j tT eohri At the ' . Arti f-estivjt, A testne .iuiiienee enieys Of en Citi jl thi ' Pieittnotit Arts teslnjl Oppoiite P jtgf ClMil HjsfeHvtt. o the TV seriet knight Ruler. Jcts as in emeee t t thi ' tirst jnnujt Festival ct Trees ChnstmaSi A clown paints taces at the Atlanta Arts festnal owrrrtt ol rtt Frtn jt ..( Ail m City Fe livais 23