Ohio Festivals & Events Association

Ohio Festivals & Events Association
Name	Ohio Festivals & Events Association
Abbreviation	OFEA
Formation	1979
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Columbus, Ohio
Region served	Ohio, United States

Ohio Festivals & Events Association The Ohio Festivals & Events Association is a statewide nonprofit trade association that supports Columbus, Ohio-based and regional event organizers, suppliers, and venues. Founded in the late 20th century, the association connects stakeholders from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and the Akron area with resources modeled after similar organizations such as International Festivals & Events Association and regional counterparts like the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet programs. Leaders and members often collaborate with entities including Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Arts Council, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Clinic, and university partners such as Ohio State University and University of Cincinnati.

History

OFEA was established in 1979 amid growing interest in festival tourism and events management influenced by national trends exemplified by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the growth of civic festivals like Taste of Cincinnati and Cleveland International Film Festival. Early collaborations involved municipal partners from Cleveland City Council, Cincinnati City Council, and county tourism offices such as Cuyahoga County, Franklin County, and Hamilton County. The association expanded during the 1980s and 1990s alongside state initiatives such as the Ohio Bicentennial Commission and federal programs that benefited from partnerships with organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. OFEA’s archival records reflect connections to event producers who ran festivals comparable to Columbus Arts Festival, Cincinnati Music Festival, Blossom Music Center summer events, and small-town celebrations in places like Granville, Ohio and Chagrin Falls.

Mission and Activities

The mission centers on professional development, advocacy, and standards for event production, paralleling missions of groups such as the Event Safety Alliance and the American Bus Association. Core activities include developing best practices informed by case studies from the Cleveland Orchestra concert series, emergency planning aligned with protocols used by Federal Emergency Management Agency and Ohio Emergency Management Agency, and marketing guidance reflective of campaigns run by Experience Columbus and Visit Cincinnati. The association promotes collaborations among vendors referenced by procurement lists from Ohio Department of Transportation projects and venue operators managing sites like Nationwide Arena and Progressive Field.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises festival producers, municipal convention bureaus such as Visit Columbus (CVB), event suppliers, and nonprofit boards modeled after governance structures seen at Smithsonian Institution affiliate museums and arts organizations like Playhouse Square. The board of directors frequently includes representatives with prior leadership roles at Midwest Musical Manufacturers Association-style trade groups, executives from cultural institutions such as Cleveland Museum of Art, and administrators with experience in the National Association of Convention Centers. Governance documents follow nonprofit best practices similar to filings at the Ohio Secretary of State and oversight frameworks used by the Better Business Bureau.

Programs and Services

OFEA offers training workshops influenced by curricula from New York University continuing education programs and event safety modules comparable to American Red Cross certifications. Services include vendor directories echoing lists used by Eventbrite and Ticketmaster, grant-writing assistance modeled after Foundation Center guides, and volunteer management resources used by AmeriCorps partners. Technical assistance covers site logistics for venues like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base community events and permits coordination with agencies such as Ohio Department of Health and local health districts.

Conferences and Events

The association hosts annual conferences and regional summits similar in scope to gatherings run by the National Association for Catering and Events and the International Live Events Association. Programs often feature keynote speakers with backgrounds at institutions like Coca-Cola marketing divisions, case studies from Cuyahoga County Fair, and panels including representatives from the National Weather Service and Transportation Security Administration. Networking events draw participants from festival franchises like Parade Companies and independent producers of events such as the Columbus Pride Festival and Ohio Renaissance Festival.

Awards and Recognition

OFEA administers an annual awards program recognizing excellence in categories akin to awards given by the International Festivals & Events Association and industry honors such as the Tony Awards for theater producers translated into festival programming. Awardees have included producers of prominent Ohio events comparable to Cincinnati Flower Show winners, tourism promotion campaigns celebrated by Ohio Travel Association, and volunteer programs acknowledged by organizations like Volunteers of America.

Impact and Community Outreach

The association’s outreach initiatives coordinate with community partners like United Way of Central Ohio, Habitat for Humanity, and local chambers of commerce to leverage festivals for economic development in regions such as Youngstown and Marietta. OFEA-supported studies mirror economic impact analyses conducted by Bureau of Economic Analysis and university research centers at Ohio University and Kent State University, documenting benefits to hospitality sectors including operators of hotels affiliated with Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International. The organization also advances accessibility practices informed by guidance from Americans with Disabilities Act-focused consultants and cultural inclusion projects similar to those at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Ohio Category:Festivals in Ohio