Firework vs. Campfire Events

The Problem: Most Events Are Like Fireworks

Imagine this: You spend months planning an event. The marketing is strong, the hype builds, and the day finally arrives. The crowd is buzzing, the energy is high, and everything feels like a success.

But then—it’s over. The venue empties, the social buzz dies down, and within a week, your event is a distant memory.

This is what we call a firework event—big, exciting, and high-impact in the moment, but short-lived. While it might generate strong initial engagement, it lacks the sustained connection that keeps your audience engaged long after the final session.

So how do you make your event last? By shifting to a campfire event.

The Campfire Event: A Strategy for Long-Term Engagement

Unlike fireworks, which burn out quickly, campfires are long-lasting, bring people together, and create ongoing conversations. The most successful events aren’t just single moments in time—they build lasting communities, foster deeper relationships, and provide ongoing value.

Firework vs. Campfire: What’s the Difference?

So, how do you build a campfire event instead of a firework event?

Three Ways to Build a Campfire Event

1. Pre-Event Warm-Up: Engage Attendees Before They Arrive

Most event marketers focus all their energy on event day, but the most engaged audiences are those who feel connected before they even step foot in the venue.

How to Build Pre-Event Engagement:

• Create a private online community (LinkedIn, Slack, or Discord) where attendees can connect before the event.
• Host pre-event Q&A sessions or webinars featuring speakers or industry experts.
• Use interactive content like polls, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and attendee introductions to generate early excitement.

The goal is to ensure attendees feel invested in the event before it even begins.

2. The Event as a Starting Point, Not the End

Too many events focus solely on delivering a great experience on event day but fail to design an engagement strategy that extends beyond it. Instead of viewing your event as a standalone moment, think of it as a catalyst for long-term audience interaction.

How to Make Your Event More Engaging:

• Encourage real-time participation through live polling, interactive Q&As, and audience-driven discussions.
• Capture attendee stories and insights that can be repurposed into content later.
• Create social engagement opportunities by using event-specific hashtags and prompting attendees to share their experiences online.

By making attendees active participants rather than passive spectators, you build a sense of connection that extends beyond event day.

3. Post-Event Momentum: Keep the Conversation Going

One of the biggest mistakes event marketers make is letting engagement drop off after the event. Without a structured follow-up strategy, attendees often move on and forget about the experience.

How to Maintain Engagement After the Event:

• Distribute key takeaways and recaps through email newsletters, blog posts, and video highlights.
• Host follow-up virtual events such as live Q&As, roundtable discussions, or networking meetups.
• Encourage user-generated content by inviting attendees to share insights, photos, and experiences in a dedicated online space.

By giving attendees reasons to stay engaged, you create long-term value that extends well beyond a single event.

Real-World Examples of Campfire Events

Many organizations have already adopted this model, shifting from one-time events to year-round engagement strategies.

• TEDx Events foster local communities that stay connected long after the event through discussion groups and follow-up content.
• HubSpot’s INBOUND Conference serves as a launchpad for continuous engagement through blog content, webinars, and educational resources.
• Burning Man is not just a festival but a movement that thrives through an active year-round community.

What these events have in common is a commitment to ongoing engagement rather than a singular focus on event day.

The ROI of a Campfire Event

By shifting from fireworks to campfires, you create:

• Higher attendee retention. People return year after year because they feel connected.
• More brand loyalty. Attendees aren’t just customers; they become part of a larger community.
• A content engine that fuels future engagement. Instead of fading after a week, your event serves as a foundation for months of ongoing interaction.

How do you make this shift?

1. Start engaging your audience before event day.
2. Design your event as the beginning of a conversation, not the end.
3. Develop a structured post-event strategy to keep attendees involved.

Final Thoughts

The most successful events don’t end when the doors close—they create lasting engagement that continues well beyond the final session.

Next time you plan an event, ask yourself:

Are you setting off fireworks, or are you building a fire that will keep your audience engaged long after the last embers fade?