2023 IFEA World Festival & Event City Award Recipients

Looking for a city with a heart for celebration? I know a place. I know a place that brings people closer. A place where cultures blend, friends gather, and new traditions are created. I know McAllen, Texas.

McAllen is a bicultural community that grew under the Texas sunshine into an event city like no other. McAllen's roots are woven into every celebration, creating new traditions and transforming seasonal events into unforgettable experiences - like the McAllen Holiday Parade. Not only is it the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas, has been selected as the Best Parade in the World 5x and Best Parade in Texas 5x by the International and Texas Festival & Events Associations, respectively.

Designated by the Texas Governor, McAllen is the official South Pole of Texas, Santa's warm weather winter getaway, and home to holiday events that blend seasonal fun with south Texas personality.

McAllen created original festivals like Fiesta de Palmas and MXLAN where Latino culture thrives, and a place for special events that celebrate the arts, subcultures, competition, and inclusive outdoor fun. McAllen hosts over eight-hundred events each year that generate over sixty-nine million in annual economic impact; with an additional eleven-point-eight million dollars of impact from the McAllen Holiday Parade. Thanks to the work of over twenty-seven hundred volunteers and a dedicated special events team.

Feel like celebrating?
Experience McAllen, so you'll be the one who knows a place-McAllen, Texas.

The City of Philadelphia, founded in 1682, has been dubbed “the Birthplace of America” for a reason. As one of the country’s first cities, Philadelphia is deeply rooted in rich history and culture that helped shape America’s early government. Recently designated a Certified Welcoming City, Philadelphia is the largest city in the nation to gain this certification. This formal designation recognizes cities that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to build truly welcoming communities.

The diverse communities that call this city home are proud to showcase historical attractions, beautiful parks, and many modern adaptations, all to ensure Philadelphia lives up to its "City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection" moniker.

Philadelphia has a long and extensive history when it comes to the event and hospitality industry. The first international trade show in the United States, the Centennial Exposition, took place in Philadelphia in 1876, exactly one hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Today, as the United States of America approaches the sesquicentennial milestone, Philadelphia remains in the international spotlight. In 2025, Philadelphia expects to host the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps to commemorate the 250th birthday of each branch. Philadelphia will take center stage in 2026, hosting USA250 celebrations throughout the year, the FIFA World Cup and Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend festivities.

Philadelphia stands ready to work with the world's best event producers over the next three years to deliver signature events, honor our country, and bring people together in creative and meaningful ways.

“Sukhothai” means “the dawn of happiness” as this is a city of happy people who are always ready to share their happiness with visitors. Nestled in the peaceful mountainous landscape and steeped in Thailand’s cultural heritage of a glorious kingdom, Sukhothai not only paved the way for Thailand as a nation, but is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, proving its value for all humanity. In addition, the city’s abundant agriculture, combined with its local cultural legacy, has contributed to Sukhothai becoming a city of creative economy in folk art. The local festivals amid the unique historical backdrop serve as a testament to how rich in culture the city is. Not only that, with the government and the private sector collaborating to develop infrastructure and facilities, the historical city of Sukhothai is now ready to host diverse types of international festivals. The people are also ready to welcome organizers and travelers from all over the world to Sukhothai where they can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of this world heritage city, experience the abundance in cuisine and agriculture, as well as join in passing along the cultural and folk heritage through unique festivals and events that will leave a lasting impression on any visitors.

Tongyeong is located in the central part of the southern coast of Korea, and the center of s the central city of Hallyeohaesang National Park. Tongyeong, the city with a population of 140,000 is a beautiful Tourism Vacation City surrounded by 570 islands. Tongyeong was selected as the UNESCO Creative City of Music and a city of art where famous artists such as Isang Yun, Jeon, Hyukrim and Pak, Kyongni came from and also designated as the 1st Night Tourism City of Korea and it is the representative Tourism City of Korea. And Tongyeong is the festival city hosts Four Season Festivals such as Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival, Tongyeong Heritage Night, Tongyeong International Music Festival, Tongyeong Theatre Arts Festival, Tongyeong Art Festival, The International ISANGYUN Competition etc.