Event Marketer Sizzle: Event Trends, Interviews, and In-the-Field Coverage
08.07.26
Raves at Dave & Buster’s are a thing now, and we’re here for it. We’ve covered offbeat raves at coffee shops, but arcades are a new venue. In partnership with SoCal event company Brownies & Lemonade, the “Rave & Buster’s USA Tour” features surprise guest headliners and multigenre lineups. The tour began July 30 in Honolulu and is traveling around the country through the fall and winter. Make some noise!
📷 Photo of the Week
 
 
HBO transformed California’s Venice Beach Handball Courts into an IRL “Mortal Kombat II” arena for the “Finish Him” event that taught women functional fitness and self-defense techniques… Read more.
🗨️ Insight of the Week
 
“We do pre-testing, during testing and post-testing to help us understand if the concepts are landing, and then if they are, what’s the long-term impact on brand affinity scores, as well as purchase intent?”
–Stephanie Eaddy, Cultural Marketing Lead, Coca-Cola
‘Lush Life’
Lollapalooza 2026: 10 Experiences from the Chicago Festival Grounds
Pop artists made their mark on Lollapalooza this year, and sponsors surprised fans with air-conditioned festival destinations, Ferris wheels and shelter from the elements… Read more.
Paint the Town (Coke) Red
Coca-Cola Activates its Largest Footprint Yet at Essence Festival
Keeping a presenting sponsorship fresh after 31 years is challenging, but Coca-Cola ensures its presence at Essence Festival of Culture is never flat. Enter: “Shine City”… Read more.
Fanning the Flames
Comic-Con 2026: 7 More Quests, Character Journeys and Cafes
The SDCC 2026 adventure continues in part two of our coverage. Brands like Apple TV, Disney and Funko transformed their movies, shows and games into IRL fan experiences… Read more.
Coloring Outside the Lines
Crayola Hosts a Camping-Themed Launch Event for Grown-ups
As adults battle burnout and seek creative, screen-free ways to decompress, Crayola is tapping into this new demographic with its “All Grown Up” line and “Camp Crayola”… Read more.
‘Finish Him’
The Brief: FX’s Retro Mall and Utz’s Cheese Ball Challenge
This week’s hot topics in experiential marketing cover the Million Cheese Ball Challenge, The House of Lexus, an ’80s-themed mall takeover and HBO’s self-defense class… Read more.
💡 ICYMI Last Week
 
📌 EM Updates
 
Join EMS Connect: A new monthly virtual series built around small-group, community-led discussions, EMS Connect will focus this month’s conversation on: Where Does Your Creative Spark Come From? Submit your interest, and we’ll match you with a group. The Connection Leader will send an email with the time/date of the discussion. Sign up by 11:59 p.m. ET tonight.
✉️ 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:
Susanna Lione | slione@accessintel.com
Jon McLoughlin | jmcloughlin@accessintel.com
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