US Cultural Events and Moments in October

Delivered September 13th, 2019. Contributors: Shannon L. and

Early FindingsUS Cultural Events and Moments in October

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US Cultural Events and Moments in October

Seven popular annual events that are scheduled for mid-to-late October that will attract the 18-34-year-old demographic include the Chicago International Film Festival, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Austin Film Festival, Old City Fest, and the Lewisburg Goat Festival.
CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALThe Chicago International Film Festival is scheduled for October 16-27, 2019, and will be held in Chicago, Illinois.
This is the 55th year for the festival.
 More than 55,000 people attend the festival on a yearly basis and 14% of attendees are between the ages of 18 and 34.
This is the "longest running competitive film festival in North America" and showcases the best U.S. and international films of the year. In addition to showing films, there are receptions, special events, on-site activations, awards events, and educational programs.
This event was selected because of its cultural significance in that film often mirrors and influences society. In addition, the large number of people who attend the event means it will likely be well-covered by the press and will probably trend on social media.
NEW HAMPSHIRE PUMPKIN FESTIVALThe New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for October 18-19, 2019, and will be held in Laconia, New Hampshire.
The festival is an annual event and in 2018 there were more than 40,000 attendees.
A family-friendly event, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival is a "community-hosted... celebration of fall and what is unique about New Hampshire. It is a celebration of artistry and creativity and all things pumpkin!" It features live music, a beer garden, and an "iconic jack-o'-lantern tower."
This event was selected because of the numerous activities that are available from food and craft vendors, to live bands, to amusement park rides. In addition, the 40,000 attendees ensure this event will be widely covered and photographed for social media posts. 
TRAILING OF THE SHEEP FESTIVALThe Trailing of the Sheep Festival is scheduled for October 9-13, 2019, and will be held in Hailey, Idaho.
An annual event, this year's festival is in its 23rd year.
In 2018, 25,000 people attended the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, with attendees coming from 49 states and 15 foreign countries.
While the Big Sheep Parade that sees 1,500 sheep relocated from the mountains to the pastures is the biggest draw of the festival (and the reason for it), there are also plenty of other events including "multicultural performers, storytelling, culinary events and cooking classes, a Wool Festival, Championship Sheepdog Trials, [and] a Sheepherders' Ball." The festival is family friendly and contributes an estimated $4 million to the local economy.
This event was selected because it has won numerous awards including "One of the Greatest Cultural Events in the West by Northwest Travel" and the "Idaho Governor’s Award for Cultural Heritage and Cultural Tourism." It is considered one of the most unique cultural events in the world and as such, will likely generate significant press coverage, photographs, and videos to be posted on social media.
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVALThe Austin City Limits Music Festival is scheduled for October 4-6 and October 11-13, 2019, and will be held in Austin, Texas.
This festival was founded in 2002 and has been held annually since then, making the 2019 edition the 17th annual event.
An estimated 450,000 people attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
The main attraction of this event is the music, with the festival featuring the "year’s biggest names in contemporary pop and old rock." There are eight stages with musical performances from "genres including rock, indie, country, folk, electronic and hip hop." However, there are also other activities such as Austin Eats and the ACL Art Market that also draw thousands of attendees. 
This event was selected because of the number of attendees and the cultural aspect of music and art. With 450,000 attendees, this event undoubtedly gets significant press coverage and will trend on social media.
AUSTIN FILM FESTIVALThe Austin Film Festival is scheduled for October 24-31, 2019, and will be held in Austin, Texas.
This is the festival's 26th year and hosts approximately 20,000 attendees throughout the week.
The goal of the Austin Film Festival is to further "the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story." Over the eight-day festival, about 175 films are screened and the event is "recognized as one of the top film festivals in the country."
This festival was selected because of the cultural significance of film and because the event is considered a top film festival in the United States. With 20,000 attendees, it will receive significant media coverage.
OLD CITY FESTOld City Fest is scheduled for October 13, 2019, and will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A fairly new festival, 2019 will be the sixth annual celebration of Philadelphia's historic district.
In 2018, 20,000 people attended the event, eclipsing the 15,000 mark set in 2017.
According to its website, Old City Fest is a "celebration of art and design, fashion and food, creativity and culture on the streets of America’s most historic square mile." There will be a stage with live music, runway fashion shows, family-friendly events, "pop-up street performances," and many food and shopping opportunities.
This event was selected because of its roots in American history, as Philadelphia is one of the United States' oldest cities. The 20,000 attendees are sure to get press coverage and with the various activities, they will likely be posting photographs and videos to social media as well.
LEWISBURG GOAT FESTIVALThe Lewisburg Goat Festival is scheduled for October 11-12, 2019, and will be held in Lewisburg, Tennessee. 
This is the 17th year for the Lewisburg Goat Festival and is expecting 19,000 attendees.
What began as an event to honor the "famous fainting goats of Marshall County" has evolved into a top 20 event for October according to the Southeast Tourism Society. It features free musical entertainment, goat shows, food, arts and crafts, kids games, and the annual 5K Goat Gallop. 
This event was chosen because of its uniqueness, since fainting goats are not something people see every day. For this reason, and because of the 19,000 attendees, it is likely the festival will be captured in photographs and video to be shared on social media. 
RESEARCH STRATEGYTo identify seven popular annual events scheduled for mid-to-late October in the United States, we began by searching reputable and large media publishers such as Conde Nast, Country Living, BizJournals, and others to find events that draw large crowds. From there, we specifically culled the lists of events to those that expect 10,000 or more attendees and would likely be attractive to people in the 18-to-34 age group. If the event did not provide demographic information on its attendees, then we made an assumption that family-friendly events would cater to this age group since they are the most likely group to be parents. We also assumed that any event that featured live music would also attract this age group because "millennials love music festivals."

Note that we expanded the "mid-October" range to include October 11-13 because this is the weekend before the middle of the month, which falls on a Wednesday and is not a popular day of the week for festivals.  We also assumed that all events that include performances of any kind or unique activities would inspire photographs and videos to be shared on social media. This is because 81% of people share their experiences on social media because they "enjoy the feeling of having others engage" and when they "see or create an image that enlivens" them, they "send it to others to give them a bit of energy and effervescence." Events such as the ones presented here are definitely full of images that will enliven the attendees. Moreover, most events are family friendly and given that millennials are of parenting age, we assumed many millennial parents would bring their children to these popular events.

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US Cultural Events and Moments in October 2

Seven additional popular annual events that are scheduled for mid-to-late October that will attract the 18-34-year-old demographic include the Southern Festival of Books, the Kansas City Music & Arts Festival, the Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival, the San Carlos Art & Wine Faire, the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, and Shriek Week.
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKSThe Southern Festival of Books is scheduled for October 11-13, 2019, and will be held in Nashville, Tennessee.
This festival has been "celebrating the written word since 1989," which means this year will be its 30th edition.
Although attendance has waned since its high of 40,000 in 1990, it still draws nearly 30,000 attendees, including 300 authors, 80 publishers, and 50 panels. 
The festival is a free three-day event that allows readers and writers to "celebrate the joy of reading and lifelong learning." Along with the author panels, visitors can enjoy exhibitor booths; food trucks; "musical, theatrical, and spoken word performances;" and activities for children.
This event was selected due to the cultural nature of books and art, along with its high attendance numbers, which will ensure significant media coverage.
KANSAS CITY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVALThe Kansas City Music & Arts Festival is scheduled for October 19-20, 2019, and will be held in Lenexa, Kansas.
Although the festival has not published its founding year, it is an annual event that draws 160,000 people each year.
Festival attendees enjoy free "live music, fine art displays, a classic car show, a custom motorcycle show, and dozens of fun attractions and highlights." It also features the Taste of KC Food Garden where visitors can sample "delicious cuisine, and cold domestic and craft beers."
This festival was selected because of its focus on music and arts, which draw large numbers of millennials. With 160,000 attendees, this will surely be well-covered and should trend on social media.
SANTA BARBARA HARBOR & SEAFOOD FESTIVALThe Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival is scheduled for October 12, 2019, and will be held in Santa Barbara, California.
In 2019, the festival will celebrate its 18th year and expects to draw approximately 33,000 attendees.
This free event features boating activities and fresh seafood from local fisherman to include a "special local seafood and wine pairing event at Santa Barbara Maritime Museum." There is also a craft fair with more than 40 vendors with activities for visitors of all ages.
This event was selected because it will likely draw a significant number of millennials since the festival is focused on food. Millennials are often referred to as the "foodie generation," so it stands to reason they enjoy attending festivals centered on food. In addition, food festivals lend themselves to online sharing as posting photos of food to various platforms is a popular social media activity.
SAN CARLOS ART & WINE FAIREThe San Carlos Art & Wine Faire is scheduled for October 12-13, 2019, and will be held in San Carlos, California.
This will be the festival's 29th year and organizers are expecting 55,000 attendees.
Visitors to the faire are treated to live music on three stages, wine tastings, pop-up art displays, and an "amazing array of delicious International food all along the event." More than 250 fine artists and craft makers sell their wares at the festival and there is even a classic car show as well.
This festival was selected because it contains several components that make it attractive to millennials, which are music, food, and wine. The large attendance also means the event will be well-covered in the media and the food aspect will make it a social media-worthy event.
HALF MOON BAY ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVALThe Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for October 19-20, 2019, and will be held in Half Moon Bay, California.
In its 49th year, this festival is expecting to see 60,000 visitors.
Known as the World Pumpkin Capital, Half Moon Bay rings in the autumn season with "a special display of gigantically enormous/heavyweight champion pumpkins, smashing entertainment with four stages of stellar live music," crafts, foods, premium wines, pumpkin carving, and a pie eating contest, among other activities. It is a family friendly event that also features a battle of the bands, a 24-foot rock climbing wall, and selfies with "the delightfully rotund, playful and mischievous Pumpkin Festival mascot 'Gourdy.'"
This event was selected due to its attendance numbers and the fact that it is family friendly. Young parents fall in the millennial age bracket and are likely to bring their children to events such as this. In addition, it features music, food, and wine, all of which tend to attract members of the millennial generation. 
WINTER PARK AUTUMN ART FESTIVALThe Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is scheduled for October 12-13, 2019, and will be held in Winter Park, Florida.
This is the 46th year for this festival and it is expected to draw 150,000 attendees.
The festival features a "community-oriented sidewalk show presents quality visual art and live entertainment the whole family can enjoy." It is free to attend and is the "only juried fine art festival exclusively featuring Florida artists."
This event was chosen because of its huge attendance numbers and because it is a family friendly festival. This means millennial parents will be bringing their children to enjoy the activities and entertainment. In addition, a visual arts festival goes hand-in-hand with photography and social media sharing.
SHRIEK WEEKShriek Week is scheduled for October 18-26, 2019, and will be held in Boca Raton, Florida.
In its 15th year, Shriek Week is expecting to see 12,000 attendees.
This event is a family-friendly Halloween event that features a haunted house, glow-in-the-dark carnival games, animal encounters, a mystery marketplace, trick-or-treating, food, and carousel rides. Activities require tickets, but the Trick-or-Treat Trail is free. 
This event was selected because it is a family-friendly event that celebrates the cultural holiday of Halloween. Millennial parents will likely bring their children to participate in the safe trick-or-treating activity and the costumes and sets lend themselves to photography and videography, along with social media sharing.
RESEARCH STRATEGYTo identify seven popular annual events scheduled for mid-to-late October in the United States, we began by searching reputable and large media publishers such as Conde Nast, Country Living, BizJournals, Event.net and others to find events that draw large crowds. From there, we specifically culled the lists of events to those that expect 10,000 or more attendees and would likely be attractive to people in the 18-to-34 age group. If the event did not provide demographic information on its attendees, then we made an assumption that family-friendly events would cater to this age group since they are the most likely group to be parents. We also assumed that any event that featured live music would also attract this age group because "millennials love music festivals."

Note that we expanded the "mid-October" range to include October 11-13 because this is the weekend before the middle of the month, which falls on a Wednesday and is not a popular day of the week for festivals.  We also assumed that all events that include performances of any kind or unique activities would inspire photographs and videos to be shared on social media. This is because 81% of people share their experiences on social media because they "enjoy the feeling of having others engage" and when they "see or create an image that enlivens" them, they "send it to others to give them a bit of energy and effervescence." Events such as the ones presented here are definitely full of images that will enliven the attendees. Moreover, most events are family friendly and given that millennials are of parenting age, we assumed many millennial parents would bring their children to these popular events.

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US Cultural Events and Moments in October 3

Seven additional popular annual events that are scheduled for mid-to-late October that will attract the 18-34-year-old demographic include the Cape Coral Oktoberfest, Boggy Fest, the Oyster Bay Oyster Festival, the LaFayette Apple Festival, the Taste of DC, the Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival, and the Bridge City Gumbo Festival.
CAPE CORAL OKTOBERFESTCape Coral Oktoberfest is scheduled for October 18-17, 2019 and will be held in Cape Coral, Florida.
This festival turned 28 in 2013, which makes 2019 its 34th year.
Approximately 40,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which is the largest Oktoberfest in Florida.
Attendees will enjoy "freshly poured domestic and German beer, live music on several stages, laughter, [and] dancing." The event is also family friendly, as there is a carnival area for kids, handmade crafts, and vendors and exhibitors. 
This event was selected for several reasons that are likely to draw the millennial crowd. First, it features music, food, and beer, all of which are popular with millennials. Second, it is a family-friendly event and because many millennials are of parenting age, they will be bringing their children to enjoy the activities designed for that age group. Third, the number of people attending assure the event will receive significant coverage and will trend on social media.
BOGGY FESTBoggy Fest is scheduled for October 18-20, 2019 and will be held in Niceville, Florida.
Formerly known as the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival, the event has been occurring annually for more than 40 years. 
The music festival features big-name country music acts and expects to attract 60,000 attendees. 
In addition to the country music, there is a Kidapalooza area that offers activities for children, including face painting, balloon artists, pony rides, and karaoke. Adults will be treated to artists such as Colt Ford, Trace Adkins, Michael Ray, and Jimmie Allen, along with food and craft booths.
This event was selected because it features music and food, both of which are attractive to millennials. Moreover, the event is family friendly, meaning millennial parents may bring their kids to the festival as well. Finally, the 60,000 attendees mean it will be well-covered by the press and social media.
OYSTER BAY OYSTER FESTIVALThe Oyster Bay Oyster Festival is scheduled for October 19-20, 2019 and will be held in Long Island, New York.
The 36th annual Oyster Festival is expected to attract 145,000 people.
The Oyster Festival features a food court where "volunteer chefs and culinary pros work side by side, cooking and serving dozens of unique oyster, clam and other seafood concoctions along with traditional festival fare." In addition to the food, which is the main attraction, there will also be live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, pirate shows, amusement rides, and "the iconic oyster eating and shucking contest."
This festival was chosen because of its focus on food, which is a draw for millennials. Moreover, the 140,000 attendees will receive media coverage and the oysters will provide good subjects for social media photos and sharing.
LAFAYETTE APPLE FESTIVALThe LaFayette Apple Festival is scheduled for October 12-13, 2019 and will be held in LaFayette, New York.
In its 47th year, this festival is expected to see 65,000 attendees.
Beginning with an apple pancake breakfast on both days, festival attendees can enjoy arts and crafts from local vendors. In addition to the expo, the event features special events like a scarecrow contest and an apple pie contest. There will also be roaming entertainers, music, rides, and food.
This event was selected because it is a family-friendly festival that includes both food and music. It celebrates the culture of "one of the primary apple producing regions of Upstate New York" and the 65,000 attendees will draw significant media coverage.
TASTE OF DCThe Taste of DC is scheduled for October 26-27, 2019 and will be held in Washington, D.C.
The first Taste of DC event was held in 1989, meaning 2019 will be its 30th year.
More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the Taste of DC this year.
At this year's festival, there will be two stages for musical entertainment, more than 50 participating restaurants, and the "area's largest beer garden." An artisan market will also feature local businesses and attendees are invited to "sip, savor & celebrate all weekend long."
The combination of food and music will draw in millennials and the 35,000 attendees will garner significant media coverage. In addition, there is already a hashtag for the event (#tasteofdc), which means the festival is social media-ready.
DUNGENESS CRAB AND SEAFOOD FESTIVALThe Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival is scheduled for October 11-13, 2019 and will be held in Port Angeles, Washington.
This will be the 14th annual festival and is expected to attract 20,000 attendees.
Local restaurants, chefs, and fishermen prepare and present exceptional regional food and attendees can enjoy the Grab-a-Crab Derby, live music, and a craft and merchant show. An old-fashioned crab feed occurs each day at the Crab Central Tent and Friday features a Community Crab Dinner.
This festival was chosen because of its focus on food, which will undoubtedly attract millennials. In addition, the event is family friendly and the 20,000 attendees will receive media coverage, both traditional and online.
BRIDGE CITY GUMBO FESTIVALThe Bridge City Gumbo Festival is scheduled for October 11-13, 2019 and will be held in Bridge City, Louisiana.
This event began as a small church festival in 1973, making 2019 the 46th annual event.
Approximately 65,000 people are expected to attend the Bridge City Gumbo Festival this year.
Known as "The Gumbo Capital of the World," Bridge City's festival will feature 2,000 gallons of seafood, chicken, and sausage gumbo. There is also a gumbo cooking contest, continuous live entertainment, carnival rides, a haunted house, and the coronation of King Creole Gumbo and Miss Creole Gumbo.
This event was chosen because the 65,000 attendees will ensure this event receives significant media coverage and the focus on food will attract millennials from all over the region. 
RESEARCH STRATEGYTo identify seven popular annual events scheduled for mid-to-late October in the United States, we began by searching reputable and large media publishers such as Conde Nast, Country Living, BizJournals, Event.net and others to find events that draw large crowds. From there, we specifically culled the lists of events to those that expect 10,000 or more attendees and would likely be attractive to people in the 18-to-34 age group. If the event did not provide demographic information on its attendees, then we made an assumption that family-friendly events would cater to this age group since they are the most likely group to be parents. We also assumed that any event that featured live music would also attract this age group because "millennials love music festivals."

Note that we expanded the "mid-October" range to include October 11-13 because this is the weekend before the middle of the month, which falls on a Wednesday and is not a popular day of the week for festivals.  We also assumed that all events that include performances of any kind or unique activities would inspire photographs and videos to be shared on social media. This is because 81% of people share their experiences on social media because they "enjoy the feeling of having others engage" and when they "see or create an image that enlivens" them, they "send it to others to give them a bit of energy and effervescence." Events such as the ones presented here are definitely full of images that will enliven the attendees. Moreover, most events are family friendly and given that millennials are of parenting age, we assumed many millennial parents would bring their children to these popular events.