EventMarketer Sizzle: Your Biweekly Feed of All Things Experiential
12.19.25
Thanks for being a subscriber of The Sizzle! This is the last edition of 2025, and we hope youve enjoyed scrolling through all of this years buzzworthy news, case studies and roundups from around the industry. Well be raring to go in 2026, kicking off the year covering CES in Las Vegas. Send any tips on cant-miss activations and events for CES, Super Bowl, SXSW and Houston Rodeo to the editors. Happy holidays!
📷 Photo of the Week
 
 
The Farmlink Project partnered with 260 Sample Sale to transform its Fifth Avenue flagship into a pop-up apple orchard, dishing out 20,000 pounds of free, locally grown New York apples. ’Tis the season for giving… Read more.
🗨️ Insight of the Week
 
“It’s really important for us to keep the events free, just because it establishes trust with the consumer. Trust is important in the buying experience, and we’re starting to see that more and more, especially with the younger generation.”
–Katie Mattox, VP-Marketing, Spherex
Community Marketing
Inside Cannabis Brand Spherex's Community Skating Event Strategy
When Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division started cracking down on cannabis consumption events, Spherex pivoted to hosting themed roller-skating events… Read more.
Fan Conventions
Think Pink: A Preview of the First-Ever Barbie Dream Fest
The countdown is on for the inaugural Barbie Dream Fest, set to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, March 27-29. Melissa Anelli of Mischief Management gives us the inside scoop… Read more.
Tips
10 Tactics for Building Blockbuster-Worthy Entertainment Experiences
Headline-making activations don't appear out of thin air. Event marketers leverage fan traditions to ensure their experiences slice through an oversaturated landscape… Read more.
Q&As
Experiential in Color Mentorship: Meet Sofia Figueroa and Felicia Kelly
Mentee Felicia Kelly was ready for her second act but needed a mentor to get her there. Thanks to guidance from Sofia Figueroa of Square, she was able to land a new position… Read more.
Research
The Big Takeaways from the EventTrack 2026 Research Study
Watch as we review the most consequential data from EventTrack 2026, the largest and most comprehensive, multi-audience annual research report on experiential marketing… Read more.
💡 ICYMI Last Week
 
📌 EM Updates
 
EMS 2026 Ultra-Early-Bird Rates End Dec. 31: Join fellow creators of the brand experience at Experiential Marketing Summit 2026, May 18-20 at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, to discover the latest event solutions, sharpen your strategy and stay ahead of what’s next. The complete EMS 2026 agenda will be announced in January, but register by the end of the month to lock in ultra-early-bird rates.
 
Ex Awards Now Open: Enter your events, trade show booths, integrated live campaigns and more into the Ex Awards, celebrating the best in brand experience. New for 2026, alongside our winners, we’ll also be recognizing select campaigns with Honorable Mentions. Submit your entry.
✉️ Contact Us
 
The Sizzle is produced by Event Marketer, the industry’s largest information resource on experiential marketing. Learn more.
 
Send story ideas and news to: Juanita Chavarro Arias | jchavarro@accessintel.com
For ad and lead-gen opportunities: Jon McLoughlin | jmcloughlin@accessintel.com
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