The Autumn Festival

Since 2019, Simply Promotions has partnered with the Wiregrass team to transform their seasonal programming and build signature community events. What began with local Markets and a charity pumpkin patch grew into a multi-day, branded festival now known as The Autumn Festival.

The Challenge

With a goal of elevating the shopping center’s profile, The Autumn Festival sought to:

1. Increase foot traffic and customer engagement
2. Create family-friendly, memorable events
3. Strengthen community ties and foster local partnerships
4. Maximize event impact on a lean budget
5. Attract diverse audiences to the retail hub
6. Establish a hallmark seasonal celebration for stronger brand recognition

Our Solution

Simply Promotions collaborated with The Shops at Wiregrass to develop two key projects:

1. Autumn Festival:
   • Curated an extensive Wednesday-to-Sunday event schedule appealing to families, shoppers, and the broader community
   • Organized three themed events throughout the festival, from live concerts to community-focused activations, maximizing appeal and attendance
   • Developed visual identity and branding for a true Fall Festival experience, including a community-loved charity pumpkin patch
   • Collaborated with the Pasco County Sheriff’s office for an integrated Community Day, deepening local partnerships and public engagement
2. Symphony of Lights Launch Party:
   • Supplied trusted event staff, ensuring seamless guest experiences and memorable interactions with festival visitors
   • Provided professional video services to capture highlights and create assets for ongoing promotion
   • Supported advertising initiatives for maximum public awareness and reach

Success Results

The collaboration between Simply Promotions and The Shops at Wiregrass yielded impressive outcomes:

1. Customer Engagement: Over 1,400 customer connections made across festival activities
2. Festival Reach & Attendance: 5-day program maximized seasonal visibility and participation
3. Diverse Programming: Featured high-profile acts, Homegrown & The Zac Brown Experience, drawing wide audiences

4. Community Partnership: Strengthened ties with local law enforcement and organizations

5. Strong Seasonal Branding: Established The Autumn Festival as a community favorite, highlighted by the charity pumpkin patch
6. Increased Foot Traffic: Significant crowds experienced the retail center during all events
7. Enhanced Brand Recognition: Both The Autumn Festival and Symphony of Lights launched as signature Wiregrass events

The Autumn Festival’s evolution from a seasonal pumpkin patch to a standout, multi-day celebration illustrates the value of holistic event marketing, where thoughtful design, integrated branding, diverse programming, and strong partnerships create lasting results for retail destinations.