Tulsa International Mayfest Wins Ifea Pinnacle Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kristin Ware, Kazoo Marketing & Communications
(918) 527-0617

Heather Pingry, Mayfest

(918) 582-6435 office or (918) 852-8214 cell

TULSA INTERNATIONAL MAYFEST WINS IFEA PINNACLE AWARDS

Tulsa, Okla. (Oct. 2, 2015) – The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) paid tribute to Tulsa International Mayfest on Sept. 21, 2015 during the twentieth anniversary of the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Ceremony held at the IFEA’s 60th Annual Convention & Expo, presented by Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, in Tucson, Arizona. Mayfest received four awards in the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards competition. Awards received include:

Silver - Best ad series (created by Bryan Cooper)

Silver - Best T-shirt design (created by Dell Chambers)

Silver - Best press/media kit

Bronze - Best new merchandise (for the coaster featuring Matt Moffett’s poster artwork)

This is the ninth year Mayfest organizers entered Mayfest into the Pinnacle awards. Over the past years, Mayfest entries won multiple awards per year in various categories.

“The Pinnacle awards feature events from across the United States and the world,” said Heather Pingry, executive director of Mayfest. “We are excited to receive recognition among leaders in our industry while showcasing Tulsa to event planners from across the world in this competition.”

Sponsored by industry leader Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, the professional competition draws entries from among the world’s top festivals and events. Winning entries came from organizations as diverse as the 500 Festival, Indianapolis, Ind.; the Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines, Iowa; the National Archives, Washington, DC; the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Pasadena, Calif.; the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mount Vernon, Wash.; SunFest, West Palm Beach, Fla.; and the Edmonton Heritage Festival in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

“These awards are an incredible honor,” said Bruce Smith, Mayfest festival chair for the 2016 event. “We are especially thrilled merchandise was recognized, because the coasters both raised additional money for the arts in Tulsa as well as showcased the poster artwork by local artist Matt Moffett. His contributions, and contributions from other local artists, are what make Mayfest such a wonderful event.”

The 2015 Mayfest attracted approximately 320,000 attendees over four days. The art festival offers vendors selling arts and handmade goods, various art shows, live music and food vendors.

International contenders included such diverse event organizations as Destination NSW in Sydney, Australia; Ludwig Van Beethoven Easter Festival in Krakow, Poland; the Singapore Garden Festival, Singapore; RedFilo Events in Abu Dhabi, UAE; Showtime Events; New Delhi, India; Festival Lent, Maribor, Slovenia and the Gimje Horizon Festival in Gimje City, South Korea.

“We would like to congratulate all of our Pinnacle winners for their outstanding entries into this year’s competition,” said IFEA president and CEO, Steven Wood Schmader. “The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and top quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. Striving for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions and operations in every budget level and every corner of the globe, this competition has not only raised the standards and quality of the festivals and events industry to new levels, but also shows how event producers can use innovation and creativity to achieve a higher level of success.”

About Tulsa International Mayfest

Tulsa International Mayfest is a family friendly outdoor tribute to the arts and music created to promote a broader knowledge of and appreciation for arts and humanities among serious, as well as casual art lovers. More than 350,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event, celebrating 43 years of Mayfest, on May 19-22, 2016. For more information, visit Mayfest is presented by MidFirst Bank.

About International Festivals & Events Association

Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) is The Premiere Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide. In partnership with global affiliates under the umbrellas of IFEA Africa, IFEA Asia, IFEA Australia, IFEA Europe, IFEA Latin America, IFEA Middle East (MENASA), and IFEA North America, the organization's common vision is for "A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration." The Association offers the most complete source of ideas, resources, information, education and networking for festival and event professionals worldwide.

For a complete list of winners and more information on the IFEA, go to

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Tulsa International Mayfest

Office 918.582.6435 Fax 918.517.3518