10.2 SR 09-16-2024City of
River
To
City Council
Meeting Date
September 16, 2024
Item Description
Elk RiverFest 2025
Request for Action
Item Number
10.2
Prepared By
Joe Stremcha, Business Services Director/Assistant
City Administrator
Reviewed by
Cal Portner
Tina Allard
Action Requested
Discuss changes to Elk RiverFest and Sips on Main in 2025.
Background/Discussion
Staff will present options to consider improving the event in 2025.
Financial Impact
None
Mission/Policy/Goal
Reflect the culture of citizens and what is important
Attachments
1. Elk RiverFest Updates for 2025
The Elk River Vision
A 2welcoming community zvitb revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional remce, and community p 0 M E R E U Y
engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
381
Elk RiverFest Updates for 2025 for Communications
Social Media
Currently, Elk RiverFest events/posts are posted on the City's Facebook and then shared on Parks
and Recreation and the Liquor pages. In 2023, just the city's posts alone reached almost 90,000
people. However, in 2024, the posts' reach was less than 40,000 on all three pages. We believe this is
due to the content getting lost amongst regular City and Parks and Recreation content.
Due to these analytics and the growing success of Elk RiverFest, the decision has been made to
make a Facebook page dedicated to Elk RiverFest. This page is where Elk RiverFest events and
posts will be originally posted before being shared to other pages. Any ads will be run off this page
as well. Additionally, with Elk RiverFest having its' own page, we can post more often about history,
event details, sponsors, and more.
■ Objective
o Create a Facebook page solely for Elk RiverFest.
■ Cost
o Free. Ad costs will come during Elk RiverFest promotions.
■ Tools
o Facebook
■ Content
o General event information, historical facts, sponsorship opportunities, sponsors,
posts regarding specifics for the event, parking information, weather changes, vendor
highlights, and more. Importantly, launching the big changes for 2025.
■ Timeline
o Facebook page created by January 10, 2025.
■ Communication
o A communication plan encouraging people to like this new page will occur. We will
post on the City, Parks and Recreation, and Liquor pages encouraging people to
come follow the official Elk RiverFest page to learn about the new 2025 details.
o Additionally, we can include the new page in our City E-Newsletter, News Flash, and
promote on the website.
Website
Currently, Elk RiverFest has its' own webpages on the E1kRiverMN.gov site. In July 2024, the Elk
RiverFest webpage generated 6,465 hits, with 1,691 on July 27 (event date) alone. The Family Zone
subpage generated 2,425 hits and the Sips on Main subpage generated 2,204 hits.
These pages are hosted on a government site which means we are limited to how much space it
takes up (without overcrowding the other information) and how we can design the pages.
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Due to the increasing popularity of Elk RiverFest and the added event details annually, we
recommend Elk RiverFest has its' own website with the domain ElkRiverFest.com.
■ Objective
o Purchase a domain and create a website solely for Elk RiverFest.
■ Cost
o Domain costs are typically around $25 annually with the first year being 50% off.
o Squaresite charges around $16 monthly (around $200 annually) for website hosting
with a startup fee of around $20.
■ Tools
o GoDaddy for domain registrar.
o Squaresite for website host.
■ Content
o Event details, parking information, sponsorship information, current sponsors,
history of Elk RiverFest, purpose of Elk RiverFest, FAQ, etc.
■ Timeline
o Website created by March 1, 2025.
■ Communication
o The current Elk RiverFest webpage would redirect to the new site.
o The current Elk RiverFest webpages would be marked inactive.
o The current Elk RiverFest webpage short links would redirect to the new site.
o All marketing communication items will have the new link instead.
o An introductory post can be done on the new Facebook page.
Communication Notes for 2025
■ Stronger advertising for the skatepark show.
■ All day and night activities will be at Orono Park — tentatively 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
■ Get ahead of communicating parking:
o Include on the website.
o Coincide with communicating it will all be at Orono Park.
o Invite attendees to have overflow parking in the City Hall lot.
o Vendors and staff to park at the library.
■ Do a poll on Facebook for what kind of music/bands people would like.
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