HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.1a CGCVB Events Update
TO: Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
FROM: Julie Prior-Miller, Marketing and Communications Specialist
DATE: May 13, 2022
RE: Convention and Visitors Bureau Events Update
Background/Discussion
April 30 – Cottage Grove Area Chamber Community Showcase
Details: The 17th annual Cottage Grove Area Chamber Community Showcase was held on April
20 at the Park Activity Center. Almost 700 people attended the annual event that is back after a
two-year hiatus. Staff supported the booth by talking with visitors during the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
showcase. Visitors Guides and miscellaneous trinket items were handed out.
Marketing: Social media posts, City of Cottage Grove website, City of Cottage Grove Reports
monthly newsletter to homes, electronic signs at River Oaks Golf Course and Ice Arena. *The
Cottage Grove Chamber has also done their own additional marketing for this event.
Giveaway Items: Visitors Guides, frisbees, pens, luggage tags
June 11 – Cottage Grove Community Night at the St. Paul Saints Game
Details: Discover Cottage Grove and the St. Paul Saints have partnered together to bring the
community together for Cottage Grove Community Night at the St. Paul Saints. Discover
Cottage Grove has been running contests for people to win tickets by signing up to receive our
newsletter and following Discover Cottage Grove on social media. In addition, the Saints are
donating $2 for every ticket sold through the Cottage Grove portal to the Lions Club, a local
Cottage Grove non-profit. To purchase tickets, go to saintsgroups.com and use the codeword:
“CottageGrove.”
Discover Cottage Grove will have a booth set-up at the Saints game near section 116 on the
third base side of the concourse, near the Spire Sun deck and City of Baseball Museum. At the
booth, staff will be able to talk with people about Cottage Grove, the upcoming Strawberry Fest
and handout giveaways. The game begins at 7:07 p.m.
Marketing: Social media posts, social media ad campaign, social media event creation, two
contests to win tickets, City of Cottage Grove website, Discover Cottage Grove website, City of
Cottage Grove Reports monthly newsletter to homes, Discover Cottage Grove monthly e-
newsletter to subscribers, Explore MN events calendar, Discover Cottage Grove events
calendar, “micro-influencers” who are helping us promote via their social media channels, Java
with Jennifer (2X), all staff emails, promotion at community committee meetings, posters and
Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
November 19, 2021
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information sent to senior center at the school district as well as the Cottage Grove Chamber.
*The Saints have also done their own additional marketing for this event.
Giveaway Items: Visitors Guides, frisbees, pens, luggage tags, Strawberry Fest information,
Have Fun Biking maps
June 18 – Strawberry Fest Marketplace
Details: Discover Cottage Grove, along with other organizations and businesses, will be at
Cottage Grove’s Strawberry Fest Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 18.
Discover Cottage Grove will be handing out Visitors Guides, answering questions about Cottage
Grove, and hosting games at their booth for folks to win some fun Discover Cottage Grove
giveaways.
Marketing: Ad placed in Minnesota Monthly magazine’s May/June edition with their Summer
Bucket List, social media posts including general event postings and individual event postings,
social media event creation, information distribution at Saints game on June 11, Java with
Jennifer to CG staff (2X), social media ad campaign, Explore MN events calendar, Discover
Cottage Grove events calendar, all staff emails, posters and additional information sent to senior
center at the school district. *The Strawberry Fest Committee has also done their own marketing
for this event.
Giveaway Items: Visitors Guides, frisbees, pens, luggage tags, Have Fun Biking maps
Recommendation
Receive the Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau events information.