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Renaissance Festival of Nebraska

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  • Industry: Events
  • Campaign Duration: Spring of 2026

The Challenge

The gates swing open for The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska the first three weekends in May every year, inviting guests into a larger realm. The festival, which has become an Omaha staple, is filled with live entertainment, colorful characters, artisan treasures, food, drink, and full days of merriment. The 2026 festival promised “more to see, more to do”, and therefor we were tasked with “more attendees”.

The Approach

Billboard advertising is a powerful way to drive event attendance. Billboard ads have been a foundational tactic for the festival for several years, and that was no different in 2026. Our first billboard, a coveted billboard along I-80, went up 4 weeks ahead of the festival. As the festival drew closer, our digital billboard strategy launched with multiple placements throughout the Omaha metro.

While at times people talk about local television as if it is from the Renaissance era, we know TV is still a powerhouse medium. Our strategy included two stations in Omaha and one Lincoln station. Programming featured local news, national morning shows, live sports, and primetime network shows. Creatively, the TV commercial featured elements of the billboard to achieve consistency across platforms.

Beyond our paid media strategy, we deploy focused public relations outreach leading into each festival weekend. Earned media included WOWT, KETV, and local Omaha creators.

The Results

Investing in upper funnel mediums showcased with great creative, PR, and organic social played a pivotal role in the festival achieving record attendance! We look forward to breaking new barriers in 2027.