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Newport News Parks & Recreation wins multiple international festival awards, city staff report
Summary
Parks and Recreation staff reported at the work session that Newport News earned several awards at the International Festivals & Events Association conference, and staff said the recognition reflects a small team delivering nationally competitive events.
Newport News Parks & Recreation reported Oct. 14 that the department won multiple awards at the 2025 International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) conference. Department staff said the city earned several Pinnacle Awards and placed first in the Hampton Roads area.
Shelley (last name not specified in the transcript), a city events official, and Marquise Johnson, the department’s marketing coordinator, described the awards and credited interdepartmental cooperation. The city reported winning nine gold, five silver and eight bronze awards at the competition and said the recognition highlights the department’s success relative to regional peers.
Staff noted that the department operates with a relatively small team compared with other award‑winning jurisdictions and that the awards reinforce the department’s capacity to grow festivals and events. The Parks & Recreation office said it will apply next year for the IFEA World Festival and Event City Award and expects to submit an application that reviews the city’s capacity to host diverse and successful events.
Council members congratulated staff and praised the department’s success; no formal council action was associated with the awards report.
