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A master of ceremony with a microphone will help your event flow. This person does not need to
talk the entire time, but can buy time if needed. They could:
• thank guests for attending
• share local food stories/issues
• thank volunteers and hands that prepared the meal/food
• announce raffle prize winners
• guide guests through logistical challenges if needed
Beyond Food – Make Your Event Great
Use a Theme to Unify
Once you have a purpose, a theme helps focus your project. Pioneer/old fashioned fun, harvest,
everything pumpkin, French or Ukrainian heritage - each succinctly target energy and interest.
Once you pick a theme stick with it and resist the temptation to include everything. “Let’s leave
something for next year,” is a good phrase to use and keep a file of ideas. Joan Tobin says it best in
her document Event Planning: Marketing Local Food:
A consistent presentation of your event’s theme is the key to success. Your theme should connect to
the food served, the décor, the music and the atmosphere. For example, an Autumn Harvest
celebration could showcase locally grown pumpkins, and apples in traditional pies and butters.
Remembering your purpose is to sell local food, locally grown potatoes, squash, and onions should
all be displayed as key ingredients in traditional autumn harvest dinners. Having the recipes on
hand for customers will encourage them to buy the ingredients and make the dishes at home.
Visually appeal to your customers with traditional harvest themed décor with cornstalks,
pumpkins, and gourds. High spirited music will round out the event and provide a fun and lively
atmosphere.
While this example may seem straightforward, I have been to several events where the presentation
was inconsistent and the theme was lost. For example, a country fair should not offer music by the
local church choir. While the choir may be excellent and the lead singer may be your wife, the tone
set by the music is inconsistent with the theme. Your message will be lost in the contradictory
presentation and customers may lose interest.
Shopping Adds Entertainment Value and Profit
A favourite activity, after eating, is shopping. Have something for sale at your event for guest to
browse and buy. Be sure it matches with your theme and goals. Local foods including sauces and
jams featured on the menu make sense as long as they are properly made, packaged and labeled.
Local arts and crafts, souvenir shopping bags, magnets, and/or postcards can also work.