Strategies to Boost Visitation to Your Downtown Holiday Events

Picture this: Your downtown is packed with locals and visitors for holiday events. There are lights in the trees, music in the air, the shops are buzzing, the streets are alive, and for a few magical weeks, your community is beaming with pride and festivity. 

Then the event wraps up, and the questions start rolling in. Was it a success? Was it worth all the effort, resources and funding? Which businesses actually benefited?  

From Holiday Magic to Measurable Impact 

Holiday events are more than feel-good moments - they’re powerful economic drivers for local businesses. But to fully make the most of them, local leaders need to understand who’s coming, who spends money, and take strategic steps to boost turnout. 

How we help:

1. Boost Event Turnout -  Our advertising technology reaches exactly the right people to motivate them to come to your events.

2. Boost Spending - We know the history of who spends at events and local businesses, and how to reach them.

3. Show your Impact - We give you the attribution data to show exactly how your efforts boosted attendance and how much money was spent at local businesses as a result. 

Step 1: Boost Event Turnout by Reaching the Right Audience Before the Lights Go On 

We help you reach and motivate people who are likely to come to your holiday events.  We build a digital audience of people who are in the holiday spirit - those who have attended other holiday events, participated in other festive activities, or even traveled for seasonal festivals in the past.  Then, we help you reach them with ads that feel relevant, festive, and informative. 

Step 2: Boost Spending to Support Local Businesses 

We’ll show you exactly which audiences tend to spend money in your downtown. Whether you’re aiming for people who shop, dine, or stay overnight, we’ll customize your audiences - and your messaging - to maximize total turn out, and optimize for the folks who are most likely to spend money in your local businesses.

Step 3: Measure and Report your Success

The event has ended and the lights are coming down, but it’s not a wrap until the numbers are in. Datafy will show you how many people showed up, how much money was spent at local businesses, and how your efforts and advertising directly contributed to the positive impacts. 

That means you can go back to your board, city partners, or event sponsors with real proof that your efforts paid off. 

A final thought ~ The holidays may come and go, but the impact of a strong holiday season can last all year long. And with Datafy, you’re not just planning an event - you’re building a stronger, more connected community.

Ready to make the most of your holiday season? Datafy’s here to help you bring more visitors — and more value — to your downtown celebrations. Schedule time to meet with us here.