International Journal of Event and Festival Management Open Issues

Festivals as adaptive governance systems: deriving a nano-scale framework for sustainability and crisis management from Thrissur Pooram, India

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Purpose

Thrissur Pooram, a renowned temple festival in Kerala, serves as a living laboratory for sustainability, integrating cultural heritage, economic vibrancy and environmental responsibility. This study examines how the festival navigates socio-environmental challenges while preserving its rich traditions, with the objective of developing a contextualized framework for sustainability assessment and crisis management in large scale cultural events.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative case study approach, the research incorporates ethnographic observations, stakeholder interviews and document analysis to explore the interplay between sustainability practices, crisis management and cultural governance.

Findings

A key contribution is the study-derived Nano-Scale Assessment Model (NSAM), which categorizes sustainability dimensions into internal, external, interrelated and extraneous factors to assess festival sustainability holistically. By integrating Social-Ecological Systems (SES) Theory, the study highlights how traditional governance and participatory planning shape sustainability outcomes in high-intensity culturally embedded event settings.

Research limitations/implications

Findings reveal an urgent need for improved crisis management, stakeholder collaboration and structured sustainability interventions to mitigate overcrowding, environmental strain, and economic vulnerabilities. The NSAM framework offers a replicable tool for a sustainability-driven governance mechanism in a similar festival context globally.

Originality/value

The study positions Thrissur Pooram as a replicable model for sustainable festival management, offering policy insights for event organizers, cultural policymakers and sustainability practitioners. It extends SES theory through the introduction of a layered, even specific analytical model, enabling a granular understanding of sustainability transition in a complex socio-cultural system.

Sentiment analysis of the 2024 Paris Olympics using RoBERTa language model

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Purpose

This study investigates public views of the Paris 2024 Olympics by analyzing tweets with the aim of elucidating public perceptions and identifying the factors that influence engagement, sentiment, and discourse related to this mega event.

Design/methodology/approach

Two advanced models, ChatGPT and Roberta, were used to compare sentiment analysis on the dataset, which included 30,300 valid tweets. This research analyzed by RoBERTa the trends and fluctuations of the sentiment in engagement, regarding cultural, social, and geopolitical aspects. Sentiment trends were analyzed by country, sport, gender, user engagement, etc.

Findings

91.1% of the tweets were either neutral or positive, showing a generally favorable public opinion. Certain events, such as the basketball semifinals and the javelin finals, received high engagement, while the opening ceremony garnered mixed reactions, underscoring the importance of cultural and social sensitivities in event design. Country-specific analysis showed positive feedback from the USA and India, national pride and athletic success, and negative sentiment from Russia, possibly because of the country’s exclusion from this Olympics. The top three sports with positive reactions were basketball, athletics, and swimming. On the other hand, boxing was criticized for fairness debates. A gender-based sentiment analysis showed positive sentiment toward female athletes in 57% of the tweets. Negative tweets, although lesser in number, received more likes and retweets.

Originality/value

This paper investigates sentiment fluctuations during the Paris 2024 Olympics using advanced language models, exploring the convergence of sports, culture, and public perception to provide actionable insights.

Beyond the stage: exploring the complex motivations driving music festival attendance

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the motivations behind festival attendance and segments attendees into groups based on their preferences. Understanding these motivations enables event organizers to enhance participant experiences and tailor their offerings to meet diverse needs.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the data collected from 531 responses on festival-goers' motivations and preferences, the research begins with a descriptive analysis to gain initial insights, followed by exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying motivational components. A cluster analysis then categorizes attendees into key segments. The analysis of differences among these segments highlights the value of customizing festival experiences to align with each group’s unique priorities.

Findings

This process identifies three main drivers: logistical considerations, social connections and escapism. Then, the analysis reveals key differences among attendee segments. “Socially engaged but logistically unconcerned” attendees prioritize social interaction, while “practical and balanced festival-goers” value both logistics and social engagement. In contrast, “logistically neutral, low social engagement” attendees focus primarily on practicality. Women often prioritize safety and logistics, whereas men emphasize themes and performers. Major motivators include escaping routines and fostering community.

Research limitations/implications

Several limitations should be noted. The study’s sample may not be fully representative of all festival attendees, as motivations can vary widely. Self-reported data may also introduce biases, with respondents possibly misrepresenting their true motivations. The segmentation method, while helpful for broad trends, may oversimplify complex motivations, and focusing solely on three factors may miss other influences, such as environmental concerns or specific performer types. Future research should expand the sample and explore additional motivators to build a more comprehensive understanding of festival attendance behaviors.

Practical implications

This study provides festival organizers with insights to create experiences tailored to three distinct attendee groups. For “socially engaged but logistically unconcerned” attendees, organizers should focus on community-building activities, as these attendees prioritize social aspects over logistical details. “Practical and balanced festival-goers,” who value both practical and social elements, may appreciate streamlined logistics like accessible transportation and cost clarity. Lastly, for “logistically neutral, low social engagement” attendees, practical considerations should be a priority to attract their attendance. Targeted marketing based on these segments can help organizers enhance satisfaction by aligning festival features with each group’s specific preferences.

Social implications

This analysis underscores the role of festivals as spaces for diverse social interaction, especially for the “socially engaged but logistically unconcerned” group, who see festivals as opportunities for social bonding. Festivals, thus, foster community and inclusivity, which can benefit local culture and economies. The digital engagement noted among attendees emphasizes the need for online interaction, which extends the festival experience and contributes to social cohesion. By catering to these motivations, festivals can go beyond entertainment, becoming platforms that reinforce community connections both on-site and online.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the growing body of research on music festivals by offering a nuanced view of audience motivations through descriptive, factor and cluster analyses. By identifying unique attendee groups, the study reveals motivations that extend beyond demographics, incorporating logistical, social and escapist factors. These insights provide festival organizers with valuable guidance for designing tailored experiences. This approach challenges the one-size-fits-all model, allowing for a more personalized and satisfying festival experience for diverse audiences.