How Community Events Shape our Summers
Parks and recreation professionals have unique opportunities to bring people together and create connections that allow their communities to thrive. Humans are social creatures, and participating in events like community carnivals, summer concerts, rodeos, dances, and races is a great way to feel connected to the community you live in. We asked a few members of the Sportsman Software team to share their own stories of how events organized by their community leaders have impacted them. Here’s what they had to say:
“I have always been more of an out-and-about kind of gal than a home body so when my husband and I moved into our house about nine years ago, I was excited to find that our city hosts a ton of great events around the holidays and in the summertime. Joining in the yearly town days celebrations including a parade that runs within a few blocks of our house, pickleball tournament, rodeo, carnival and breakfast at the park has become a family tradition for us. When I head over to the city park or walk to the parade route, I almost always run into friends from my neighborhood and families that I know from my children’s school. My kids have great memories of eating pancakes, getting their faces painted, climbing into a fire truck, riding the carnival rides, and feeling at home at their city park. I hope that continuing to make those memories in their city will give them a strong sense of identity and belonging in the future.”
“Our community hosts a yearly daddy-daughter dance that I got to attend with my daughter. When I asked her what her favorite part was, she said it was “the slow dance with Daddy”. She loved putting her arms around my neck and staring lovingly into my eyes. She was happy to see her friends there and had a good time dancing new friends she made at the dance. Apart from the slow dance, she loved the fairy boutique and hugged the full-length mirror for more than her fair share of time. I was happy to share in her excitement, and loved hearing her say the cutest things like, “the music is getting into my body and I just can’t stop it right now!”
“In my home town, we love celebrating summer. Strawberries and cream, elephant ears and carnival rides take over downtown for an entire week. We also host several events like pickleball tournaments, grass volleyball tournaments and a massive parade.
But the rodeo is the thing that everybody gets most excited for. Four nights of roping and riding and tumbling and cheering. Fireworks light up the sky to cap the last night of the rodeo and everybody has an amazing time. Maybe with the exception of those who are in charge of selling tickets and checking people in.”
The organizers of community events put in a ton of time and effort to provide a great experience for all. Often the only exception to an otherwise perfect event can be a long line for ticket sales, or disorganized check-in processes. That’s where Sportsman Software can help. Sportsman makes it so easy to sell tickets online and deliver them to patrons via email and/or text. When it comes time for the event, employees scan tickets using a tablet or cell phone and what would otherwise have been a daunting line becomes a smooth flow of people into your event. If you’re planning an event in your community and would like to find out how Sportsman can help, get in touch!