Celtic Colours International Festival - Friendly Designated Business Program

About The Festival

The mission of Celtic Colours International Festival is to promote, celebrate and develop Cape Breton's living celtic culture and hospitality by producing an international festival during the fall colours that builds relationships across Cape Breton Island and beyond.

Over the last 13 years, the festival has grown from 26 performances in 1997 to 44 concerts in 2009. Cultural Learning Experiences have grown from 22 in '97 to over 250 in 2009. Community Group Hosts have also increased from 25 to 90 in 2009.

The major areas of growth in the past two years have been in the areas of educational programs and community events. In 2008 there attendance was over 13,000 for education and cultural events. The festival continues to grow and this year Celtic Colours International Festival will be introducing a new initiative called the Celtic Colours Friendly Designated Business. The aim of this program is to increase the visibility of the festival around the island. It is designed to create a greater connection between the communities in which the festival takes place, the festival itself, and the visitors who travel all over the island to attend its events.

What Is The Program?

The Friendly Designated Business Program will partner Celtic Colours International Festival with businesses in communities around the island. Public display signage will be put up during the festival at businesses that are chosen fo the program. This will signify it as a Celtic Colours Friendly Business.

Banners will be attached to locations signifying them as Celtic Colours Friendly Businesses. A window decal will also be placed on doors or windows at street level. The Celtic Colours Friendly Business Program will be reinforced by street banners placed on lamp posts and telephone poles in the community to help festival attendees identify participating communities. Plus, it includes a listing on the website as a Celtic Colours Friendly Business. As well, next year the businesses will be listed in the official Celtic Colours International Festival Guide and will also be identified in the Map Guide.

Training Sessions

The training sessions will be held the week before the festival in various communities. It will last for approximately 1 hour and will cover various aspects of the festival. Topics of discussion include a brief festival history, audience characteristics, how to access information, and the differences between concerts and cultural experiences.

How Will This Benefit My Business?

This initiative will provide a visible attachment of your local business to the festival, as well as an identified attraction for festival attendees. It is expected that there will be some economic benefits for local businesses from those attending the festival. Festival attendees spend an average of $267 daily per person on non festival purchases. These are purchases that could be made at your Celtic Colours Designated Friendly Business.

What Are My Obligations?

There are a few expectations of our Celtic Colours Friendly Business. Participating businesses are expected to offer a minimum 15% discount to festival attendees who present a ticket stub when making a purchase. This is intended to create awareness of your business as a Celtic Colours Friendly Business. It also provides an incentive for our festival audience to visit your business and make a purchase or two! Employees of participating businesses must attend a Celtic Colours International Festival information and training session. This training is meant to educate employees on festival events in their area and how to get specific info on the festival. Essentially your business will act as a community information site to help those inquiring about the festival access the info they desire. You can help guide and show the “Accidental Tourists” where to find events that are part of Celtic Colours International Festival. You can advise on events in the areas that you represent and inform people where they can get tickets. You can have a positive impact on both the visitor experience and the economic impact of the festival by giving the visitor what they are looking for and giving them reason to stay in Cape Breton longer.

How Do I Get My Business Designated Celtic Colours Friendly?

There is a $105 annual fee for the chosen applicants. This fee covers all materials as well as a training session which employees must attend. The fee also covers installation and removal of banners and window decals prior to and after the festival.

As an introductory offer any business chosen for 2009 will receive the same status in 2010 at no additional cost. This also includes the additional benefits of your business being listed in the Official Program Guide and Map Guide for 2010. There are a limited number of opportunities and they are selected on a first come first served basis through a screening process. The selection process will determine chosen businesses based on their significance to the Celtic Colours International Festival mission statement and the goals of our program. To apply, or if you have any other questions, please contact Darren Power, Island Marketing Co-ordinator, at the Celtic Colours office by phoning 902.562.6700 ext 223. You can also reach us via email by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Download Our Friendly Designated Business Program Brochure & Application

Celtic_Colours_Friendly_Business.pdf 1.25 Mb

Contact

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Office: (902) 562-6700 (ext.223)
Cell: (902) 574-7395
850 Grand Lake Road, Suite 8
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Canada, B1P 5T9