Rachel Robertazzi-Fanfest wrap-up!

Last week ( or maybe it was two weeks ago?) I wrote about the annual event my library puts on, Fan Fest! Now that the 2025 one is over, I wanted to share some details and offer tips in case anyone is interested in putting one on at their library.

My number one piece of advice is don't have it in November lol. This year and last year, the winds were INSANE, and it felt colder than it really was. Last year, we actually had to take down a tent we had put up over the band because it would not stay up. At the yard sale table this year, I witnessed many items flying away in the wind that I didn't think could fly. Thankfully, the winds died down after a few hours, and all the items stayed on the tables afterward. In the end, we made $190! That money all goes to the Friends of Sayville Library. 

My second piece of advice is to plan for the unexpected. You never know what the weather will be like, how many people will show up, or how many food trucks will show up. You must go with the flow with this type of event.

From a social media perspective, marketing is super duper important for a big event like this. We did a countdown on social media, starting 10 days out and continuing up to the big day. We consistently posted on Facebook and Instagram about the vendors who would be there, the RC car racing, the band playing, etc. The graphics were colorful and bright, and the posts made it clear it was going to be a fun day.

One of our readings last week discussed balancing three types of social media posts: information, community, and action. The idea comes from a study by Lovejoy and Saxton (2012) that examined how nonprofits use social media to connect with their audiences. They found that strong engagement usually falls into one of these categories:

1. Information: sharing updates, facts, or news about what’s going on
2. Community: starting conversations and showing appreciation for your followers
3. Action: inspiring people to do something, like attend, donate, or participate

When I thought about it, Fan Fest really covered all three. Before the event, we shared informational posts, including schedules, vendor spotlights, and sneak peeks, to build excitement. During the event, our community posts like shout-outs to cosplayers and local businesses got the most engagement, with people commenting, tagging friends, and sharing their own photos. And finally, our action posts, like reminders to stop by the Friends’ yard sale or catch the live band, helped ensure attendance.

I really think that balance made a real difference. Informational posts kept people in the know, community posts made it feel personal and connected, and action posts gave people a straightforward way to get involved. 

 Excuse the poorly formatted photo below!