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Fall has FINALLY arrived in Wilmington and even though we’re all going to miss racing to the beach after class, autumn has a lot in store for us… Especially Halloween!  Just because we’re “grown-ups” now doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate with the rest of them! Whether you live for thrills or prefer a quiet night in carving pumpkins, here’s are 5 Halloween-inspired activities to try out this season:

1. Harvest Arts Fest: Dozens of local vendors and artists will set up at Tidal Creek Food Market on October 21st.  It’s always great to support local artisans and this is the perfect way to do so!   Additionally, there will be entertainment from local musicians Laura McLean and Broccoli Brothers Circus.  To top it all off, there will be a silent auction at the end of the event with all of the proceeds going towards a Reverse Osmosis filtration machine that will be placed at DREAMS Center for Arts Education.  Shopping, supporting local, live music and a great cause?  Sounds like a good time to me!

2. Phobia Haunted Trail: CarnEvil in the Woods: Another spooky adventure can be found at Phobia Trails off of Shipyard Blvd.  This years theme is clowns- you’ve been warned!  Grab a few friends and stroll through the woods as creepy actors with eerily realistic makeup do everything they can to make you have nightmares for the rest of the year!

3. Mikes’ Farm:  Not into the scary stuff?  Don’t worry- you’re not alone!  If you’re   willing to make a bit of a drive, Mike’s Farm in Onslow County is the place for you.  Offering classic hayrides leading to a large pumpkin patch; Mike’s is just right for a festive date, or day out with friends!

4. Crawl-o-Ween: For our 21+ readers, Hell’s Kitchen hosts an awesome Halloween bar crawl that goes around Downtown Wilmington!  Don’t forget to wear your most creative costume- you just might win a prize!  Best of all, the crawl benefits Nourish NC, which is a local organization that provides children in need with healthy food choices and helps them to succeed in the classroom and throughout the community.

5. Not in the mood for an expensive adventure? We are college students on a budget after all. There are countless trails in Wilmington that will be stunning as the leaves continue to change!  Grab your pup and your headphones, relax, and take in the beautiful sight of fall at the Dub.  Top the day off with your fave Halloween movie and some warm apple cider!

Whether or not you’re a “Halloween person,” autumn in Wilmington is breathtakingly beautiful and full of countless activities and adventures just waiting to be had!  Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and candy-filled upcoming holiday!

-Rachel Zima

Oktoberfest is a festival that is held once a year, originating in Munich, Germany, in celebration of the marriage between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810. At the time, the couple invited the entire city to celebrate with them. Citizens of all ages came and participated in the festivities, enjoying the spectacle of horse-racing and the drinking of beer (tailgating at its finest). Due to the sheer size and turn-out of the celebration, it became a tradition for many years to come. In the United States, cities all across America participate in Oktoberfest as well, celebrating their German ancestry through the drinking of beer, fine cuisine, rides, and games.

In North Carolina, the tradition of Oktoberfest can be found in many major cities. Cities such as Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington, and Asheville participate and celebrate in their own unique ways. Festivities such as these require not only extensive preparation and planning, but their success relies greatly on how well they can be marketed throughout their town, the surrounding areas, and even the state.

Raleigh, NC- Once a year in the Lafayette Village in Raleigh, the city celebrates its very own version of Oktoberfest with food, drink, games, and even a wiener dog race. This charitable event helps support local animal help groups and is a fun way to enjoy the afternoon. Usually held in the middle of September, the event relies heavily on word-of-mouth and community postings in order to market themselves to the local communities.

Charlotte, NC- Held every year in the beginning of September, the Charlotte Oktoberfest consists of games, locally and nationally craft beers, hearty German cuisine, and live music. The festival also supports various local charities, such as Charlotte Family Housing, RescuedMe, and On Eagle’s Wings. Being that the festival is a fairly large event, much of their marketing is done through sponsorship’s, social media, and word-of-mouth communication.

Wilmington, NC- Oktoberfest Under the Bridge is put together by Waterline Brewing Company in Wilmington, NC. Since this year (2017) was only their second year running the festival, they are still trying to get their event advertised throughout the New Hanover region. Relying much on traditional outlets such as word-of-mouth, social media, and bulletins/print postings, this event held at the end of September is sure to grow with an increasing number of breweries and events joining the celebration.

Asheville, NC- Being that Asheville has a unique culture unto itself, the Asheville Oktoberfest mixes German and mountain influences into one great celebration. Held in the beginning of October, this festival consists not only of the drinking of beer, but includes live music, a keg-rolling contest, and yodeling. Since this is more of an exclusive event (only 3,000 tickets sold) the festival can successfully advertise itself by not only relying on unique events at the festival, but also through the contents of the ticket packages sold. Likewise, they market themselves through various social media outlets and partnered sponsorship’s.

Festivals and celebrations are a great way to bring communities together and support local charities/organizations. Being that there are many moving parts to making a cities Oktoberfest the best it can be, it is important to advertise and promote effectively and efficiently. By choosing many different forms of media and communication outlets to market themselves, festivals such as these can ensure that their attendance and community awareness continue to grow each year.

-Matt Tripp-Cox

 

 

There are multiple options when it comes to determining how to promote an event. Knowing the ins and outs of event promotion can be useful to us personally and career wise. One great, local example of event promotion is the NC State Fair. This year is the 150th North Carolina State Fair so you can imagine they have some practice at it. Here are 3 ways NC’s State Fair is a good reference for superb event promotion.

1. Social Media Developing a following on social media sites is one of the best ways to reach a large amount of people. Pretty much everyone is constantly scrolling and refreshing their feeds and social media has become one of the easiest ways to reach target audiences! The State Fair utilizes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Google+, Flickr, a blog page, and even a Snapchat account that follows an employees antics around the fair. Here’s a post from their Facebook page: “In addition to being Senior Citizens Day, the State Fair has a TON of activities for you today! Check out our Top 5!” The post includes a video that shows pictures of the 5 activities and is a great example of an entertaining and relevant post. 
2. Website A well developed and detailed website is the cornerstone and home base for any event. It’s where the public can access all the general information such as a detailed description of the event, times, prices, and featured attractions. Taking it a step further and including things like videos or a direct link to purchase tickets are great tools as well. If you look up the State Fair’s website they have an easy to use interactive website with user friendly tabs that lead to specific information.
3. Get Coverage from the Media The best publicity is free. Media outlets need stories to run and events to put on their calendars so getting your event out there for them to know about is one of the best things you can do. Contact local news stations, magazines, and town centers and create something tangible you can give to them that summarizes your event. 

While these are just a few promotion tactics they are a great starting point!

-Savannah Russell

Oktoberfest is a tradition that was started in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of King Ludwig of Munich, Germany where citizens took to the fields in front of the city gates to rejoice in this occasion. Oktoberfest has taken on a whole new meaning in America– a fall festival dedicated to lederhosen-wearing children and adults, domestic craft beers, along with pretzels and bratwurst galore.

Many cities across the country participate in holding their own version of Oktoberfest that gives a hometown feel to those who want a taste of their region, yet with a Bavarian twist. Let’s check out how some cities make Oktoberfest tailored to their own area!

Bend, Oregon

The Bend Oktoberfest is one of the more unique festivals around. They hold traditional German events such as the stein hold competition (a group of beer-drinkers hold their mugs up for as long as possible) and traditional German music is played by live artists. Something that makes them stand out from the rest is their wiener dog race which could have something to do with the classic bratwurst that is served!

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati, otherwise known as Zinzinnati for this celebration, holds the largest Oktoberfest in America and is held its 41^st this year. They hold bratwurst eating competitions and this year’s winner reported there were 70 bratwursts downed in 10 minutes—it doesn’t get more American than eating competitions! Zinzinnati Oktoberfest also holds a partnership package with the Cincinnati Reds baseball team for tickets to a game and the festival during your stay. Some baseball and German craft beers, for those of age, always make for a good time!

Stowe, Vermont

You will be transported into a Bavarian Village when you walk into the tents of Stowe’s Oktoberfest in the Northeast corner of the country. This ‘fest has Vermont brewed beers on tap and hosts traditional sing-alongs and dances in the middle of the tent’s floor. Not only can you enjoy a bit of German tradition but the ‘fest supports many local charities and scholarships with the entry fee. You can sing and drink (those of age J) to the good that you are providing the community!

You can see that no matter where in the country you are, each city takes its own spin on what parts of traditional Oktoberfest they want to keep alive while incorporating their own rituals to the fun! Partnerships and advertisers use these events as a time to get themselves out into the community in a friendly atmosphere such as the Cincinnati Reds and the craft beer companies in Oregon partnering with the festivals to get their products and names to consumers. Be sure to research where the closest Oktoberfest near you will be next year to continue the nearly 200-year-old tradition!

-June Crawford

Who hasn’t heard of Oktoberfest? People flood to Germany each year to celebrate the best in beer, bratwurst, and entertainment. The event dates back to 1810, and now attracts over 7 million people during the course of the month-long celebration who want to be a part of the biggest celebration in Europe.

Through the use of IMC, Oktoberfest has become one of the most famous and long-lasting festivals today. Here’s how they do it:

1. Sell the experience!

Nobody is traveling across the world to buy a beer, although that may be a perk to some. They don’t buy a plane ticket for pretzels and bratwurst. People attend events because they want an experience. The combination of live music, authentic food, and beer creates a one-of-a-kind experience that you can’t miss.

2. Plan, plan, plan

Any event is planned down to the hour, and Oktoberfest is no different. Preparation starts months in advance. It helps that this event has been held for 180 years, and there’s been plenty of room for trial and error. They know and understand how to effectively market to their target audience.

3. Keep tabs on social media

Even though Oktoberfest occurs once annually, its Facebook page lives on throughout the year. Keeping tabs (pun intended) on social media keeps people interested and excited for the next time September rolls around. It allows for interaction with the public, and is an easy way to market when it gets closer to the event.

Until next year, Oktoberfest!

-Lauren Arsena

What do we love about UNCW? Well, our undefeated football team and the beach of course! The only problem with going to a school on the coast are the natural disasters that come with it. In my four years here we have experienced tropical storms, hurricanes, and a tornado. These disasters can not only destroy the campus, but also the brand of universities and businesses.

When a hurricane is headed UNCW’s way they have to take into account all their audiences: students, faculty and staff, and parents. In terms of students, lets be honest, we only care about one thing…are classes canceled?

Whereas the faculty and staff are concerned about their schedules. If a disaster comes and classes are canceled, then they have to redo their course plan. They also have to prepare for the flood of emails they are about to receive regarding the schedule.

Then there are the parents. They can be the worst audience of them all, but they do this out of love. They are concerned for their children, so when they see a natural disaster headed towards Wilmington they worry. Mother nature will not mess with their child and if classes stand in the way they won’t have it. They want their kids home safe.

Now last year UNCW’s brand received criticism after Hurricane Matthew. Why? They had a mandatory evacuation of the campus and then the storm affected other areas of North Caroline worse. What made most people even more upset was the fact that they were unsure of canceling class even though most students couldn’t make it back to campus. Parent and students were very upset. Comments, like the one below, flooded UNCW’s social media.

“You should never have waffled so much on whether the campus was going to be open or closed. You put my daughter in a dangerous situation because she planned to evacuate, so she started to come home, then you changed your mind, and she went back, afraid to miss something or get in trouble, then closed again, sending her back home in worse weather the second time. Next time, close the school and COMMIT to it. Stop jerking the students around. It endangers their safety”

It is difficult for universities to handle natural disasters, because we truly never know what mother nature is going to do. We pay for an education, so they don’t want to cancel class, but they also need to make sure everyone is safe. There is always room for improvement and UNCW is currently improving their natural disaster response by doing the Zephyr exercise. With that being said, lets pray we never have to us it.

Wilmington is a wonderful place to live because not only does it have a wonderful atmosphere, but hidden gems reside here as well. Dig a little deeper and you will come across a unique part of Wilmington. Below are five places to visit that are off the beaten path and will fit any budget.

1. OCEANIC PIER

The Oceanic Pier is a great place to go to when in Wilmington. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this is the place to visit when needing a break from the stress of college. It is quiet and peaceful. A place where you can get lost in the smell and sound of the ocean. Another great aspect of this place is that the pier is free to everyone, and it has its very own restaurant you can visit. Not to mention, there is a coffee shop and beach store across the street from the parking lot.

 

2. THE IVY COTTAGE

Needing a little décor to spice up your dorm room or apartment? Ivy Cottage is the way to go. Antiques come from all over NC and are showcased in four buildings, for all to see and buy. They have everything you can imagine at great prices. One of a kind antiques, that has a story and a charm of its own. You will get lost in the wonder and along the way, you may be able to find an antique that speaks to you.

 

3. THE DEAD CROW COMEDY CLUB

Sometimes you just need a pick me up after a long day of classes, work, and assignments. The Dead Crow is a great place to go for getting rid of the blues, and for putting on your happy shoes. Enjoy the relaxed and quaint atmosphere as the comedians entertain you with their comedic scripts. Food, drinks, and adult beverages are served to help make your experience more enjoyable. The Dead Crow is located in the heart of downtown Wilmington. Once the show is over, feel free to pop across the street to I love New York Pizza. Their pizza is a great way to end the night.

 

4. THE END OF 421

Some challenges in life can feel endless. However, what if I told you could complete a challenge here in Wilmington? A once in a lifetime opportunity that you can always remember? That challenge is going to the End of 421, the very END. The road turns into sand and disappears beneath you as you tread forward. You are met with the sound of crashing waves and seagulls chirping. There are little paths you can follow once you get to the end and a hill that you can climb to see a magnificent view from the very top. It is a very beautiful and serene place to visit.

 

5. THE BLACK CAT SHOPPE

The Black Cat Shoppe is a place out of this world when it comes to finding exotic and unusual things. When you walk in you will see old fashion toys such as witch fingers and all types of creepy crawlies. Magic sets and even a couple of Ouija boards can be found, waiting to be bought. Soap and essential oils freshen up the room with fragrances out of this world. Go further in and you will find more interesting things that will remind you of what it was like to be a child again. Once you have found all your goodies and your tummies begin to rumble, feel free to visit the ice cream shop next door. Their ice cream will make your tastebuds soar.

-Myranda Ross