SFEA 2027 Annual Conference Climb Higher

Climb Higher in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 2027 SFEA Annual Conference is heading to Asheville, North Carolina!

Picture it: mountain air, mountain views and three days spent with the people who actually understand what it takes to pull off a great festival or event. That's what's waiting for you in Asheville.

Save the date and get ready to:

- See live artist performances and get a head start on finding the perfect entertainment for your upcoming events
- Spend one-on-one time with vendors and partners who can make your next event a success
- Network with peers and event experts from across the Southeast
- Watch a drone show that'll light up the Asheville sky like nothing you've seen
- Attend the Kaleidoscope Awards Gala, honoring the best in the business
- Have room to breathe and explore everything Asheville has to offer, mountains included

New year, new keynote. We're bringing Beth Inglish to the Asheville stage. Beth is an artist and community builder on a mission to help people trade burnout and survival mode for creativity, connection, and joy. If you've spent years pouring everything into creating memorable experiences for everyone else, Beth's message is for you.

Learn more about Beth at https://bethinglish.com/

Brand new to the industry or a seasoned pro with years under your belt? Either way, you'll leave Asheville with fresh ideas, practical takeaways, and a network of festival and event people who get it.

Early bird rate ends on January 15, 2027 at 11:59pm ET, so don't wait!

 

Hotel block booking information:

- Call toll-free at 1-844-330-0296 (24/7) to our central reservations call center and mention the group name Southeast Festivals and Events Association or the group code SFE to receive the special group rate.
- Call the local number at 828-285-2603 during normal business hours Monday - Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm and ask for in-house reservations mentioning the Southeast Festivals and Events Association.
- Visit the hotel website, enter the block dates needed, and enter the group code SFE.
- Use the booking link Southeast Festivals & Events Association 2027 Booking Link which will automatically add the contracted block dates and the group code.

Please note that all contracted Villas and/or Suites must be booked directly with the hotel and are not available through the central reservations office or the online booking link. Please call the hotel directly at 828-285-2635 to book villas/and or suites, as well as any days outside of the contracted dates.

Room block rate end date is 1/31/2027, so book early! Our block rate is valid 2 days pre- and post-event, so if you want to come early or stay late, call the hotel directly and ask for someone in sales - they can make or adjust a reservation for you. 

Need help getting to or around Asheville? Check out these guides from the Asheville CVB:

https://www.exploreasheville.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here

https://www.exploreasheville.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around

Monday is Festival or Event T-shirt day, so rep 'em proud and loud!

If your community wishes to attend the conference but is struggling for economic or other reasons, apply for one of our Hardship Relief Scholarships.

Join SFEA today and get member pricing to attend our conference!

Want to get your name in front of more faces or enhance your brand? Check our our sponsor deck for the 2027 Annual Conference and contact us to become a sponsor!