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Festival Planner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

By Landmark

Festival Manager & Promoter

Plainfield, NJ · On-site +1

$70 - $80/hr

... Planning & Operations Develop and manage comprehensive master plans for each festival, including timelines, budgets, logistics, and staffing schedules Source, negotiate, and secure vendor agreements ...

Livenation

Insomniac - Festival Producer

Calabasas, CA · On-site

THE ROLE The Festival Producer takes a key leadership role in the planning and execution of assigned festivals, concerts, and branded shows.They work with the Promoter to create the vision of the ...

Livenation

Insomniac - Festival Producer

THE ROLE The Festival Producer takes a key leadership role in the planning and execution of assigned festivals, concerts, and branded shows.They work with the Promoter to create the vision of the ...

Livenation

Insomniac - Festival Producer

THE ROLE The Festival Producer takes a key leadership role in the planning and execution of assigned festivals, concerts, and branded shows.They work with the Promoter to create the vision of the ...

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Festival Planner information

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$33K

$69.6K

$113K

How much do festival planner jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for festival planner in the United States is $69,591.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,000.00 and $81,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a festival planner do?

A Festival Planner is responsible for organizing and coordinating all aspects of a festival or large event. Their duties typically include selecting venues, securing permits, managing budgets, coordinating vendors and performers, overseeing marketing efforts, and ensuring the event runs smoothly. They often work closely with sponsors, local authorities, and event staff to create a memorable and successful experience for attendees. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously are key qualities for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a festival planner, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Festival Planner, you need strong project management, budgeting, and organizational skills, often supported by a degree in event management or hospitality. Familiarity with event planning software, ticketing platforms, and vendor management systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving abilities, and creativity help you excel in coordinating diverse teams and engaging audiences. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering seamless, memorable events that meet both logistical and experiential goals.

What are some common challenges a festival planner faces when coordinating large-scale events, and how can they be addressed?

Festival Planners often encounter challenges such as managing tight timelines, coordinating with multiple vendors and stakeholders, and adapting to unexpected changes like weather or last-minute cancellations. Effective communication, strong organizational skills, and contingency planning are crucial for overcoming these obstacles. Building solid relationships with reliable vendors and maintaining a detailed event plan can help ensure smooth operations and a successful festival experience.

What is the difference between Festival Planner vs Event Coordinator?

AspectFestival PlannerEvent Coordinator
CredentialsRelevant experience, certifications in event planningSimilar credentials, often with event management experience
Work EnvironmentPrimarily outdoor, large-scale festival settingsVaried environments, including corporate, social, and outdoor events
Industry UsageUsed mainly in festivals, fairs, and large public eventsUsed across diverse event types, including festivals
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for festival-specific rolesBroader, includes festival planning

Festival Planners focus on organizing large-scale festivals and outdoor events, requiring specialized skills and certifications. Event Coordinators handle a wider range of events, including festivals, but often with a broader scope. While both roles involve planning and logistics, Festival Planners specialize in festival-specific details, making them distinct in focus and environment.

More about Festival Planner jobs

What cities are hiring for Festival Planner jobs?

Cities with the most Festival Planner job openings:

What states have the most Festival Planner jobs?

States with the most job openings for Festival Planner jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Festival Planner jobs?

For Festival Planner jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Festival Planner jobs near you
Infographic showing various Festival Planner job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,591 per year, or $33.5 per hour.

Festival Director

West Valley City, UT • On-site

West Valley City
Public Administration • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about West Valley Cityexternal

$79K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

West Valley City rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Come join a team dedicated to making a positive impact in our community, where the well-being of our residents is always our top priority. We offer flexible scheduling options (based on position) and foster professional growth through comprehensive training programs and learning opportunities. Shape your future in a career that empowers you to make a difference and thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.
The Festival Director is responsible for the conceptual creation, strategic planning, operational execution, and long-term local, regional, and national growth of West Valley City's signature, large-scale annual festival. The Director leads the entire event lifecycle from master planning, site layout, infrastructure build-out, partner relationships, sponsor cultivation, vendor procurement, marketing, public-safety coordination, and financial accountability.
Starting Pay: $79,000.00 - $138,000.00 - Open to exceeding the top of the payband for an exceptional candidate with proven track record of directing, national-scale event production experience.
Benefits: Full Benefits; health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, parental leave, pet insurance, tuition reimbursement
Retirement: Utah Retirement Systems, pension and/or 401(k)
Schedule: Flexible 40 hour work week
FLSA Status: Exempt
Application Deadline: Open until filled
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Event Planning & Execution:
  • Serve as the director and project manager for the City's signature, large-scale annual festival.
  • Build, maintain, and execute the comprehensive multi-year master plan, production timeline, and operational scripts for the entire festival footprint.
  • Research best practices for cultural festivals, food festivals, arts events, destination events, and community celebrations to inform festival planning and improvement.
  • Design the physical site layout, crowd flow maps, electrical/water infrastructure networks, and waste management plans for a massive-scale outdoor venue.
  • Direct all real-time, on-site event operations, managing the rapid setup, live execution, and complete teardown of the festival marketplace and stages.

Logistics, Permitting, & Public Safety:
  • Lead meetings with City Police, Fire, Public Works, and Risk Management to build and execute mass-gathering security and traffic control plans.
  • Work with City departments to coordinate resources and event needs.
  • Identify staffing and volunteer needs.
  • Secure all necessary municipal, county, and state health, structural, and operational permits.
  • Work with WVC business licensing and state tax commission.
  • Contract and oversee third-party logistics firms, heavy equipment operators, stage production crews, and structural engineers.

Local & National Procurement & Asset Management:
  • Identify and work with local food vendors and restaurants that will participate in the festival.
  • Identify and work with local entertainment acts, community groups, non-profits and partners.
  • Scout, negotiate, and legally contract with high-volume food vendors, regional and national commercial merchants, and entertainment acts.
  • Build out highly competitive sponsor packages and pitch national brands, corporate donors, and tourism boards to secure elite multi-year funding partnerships.
  • Control the festival's full multi-year business plan, ensuring strict adherence to public-sector procurement laws, ethical standard compliance, and revenue-generation goals.

Analytics & Quality Control:
  • Establish data-driven key performance metrics evaluating visitor satisfaction, economic impact, and vendor profitability.
  • Manage comprehensive post-event audits to fix operational bottlenecks, streamline multi-million-dollar budgets, and expand national visibility.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Directly exercise supervision over contracted event management firms, seasonal staff, third-party operators, and large-scale volunteer networks assembled to execute the festival.

Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
  • Possess five (5) or more years of relevant professional experience in large-scale event planning, directing, and/or implementation.
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred, but not required.
  • A combination of education and work experience may be substituted one for the other on a year-for-year basis.

Language Skills
  • Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills in the English language.
  • High-level negotiation and contracts capability to communicate directly with national partners, corporate executives, and City leadership.

Certificates, Licenses, and/or Registrations
  • Possess a valid Utah driver's license or have the ability to obtain one.
  • Professional certifications in Event Management (e.g., CSEP, CMP) or crowd safety management are highly desirable.

Other
  • Deep, practical knowledge of commercial vendor logistics, heavy event infrastructure (power distribution, structural staging), and complex mass-gathering safety regulations.
  • Proven track record of pitching, closing, and managing high-dollar corporate sponsorships and municipal event partnerships.
  • Mastery over fast-paced, high-stress, real-time crisis management during live multi-day outdoor productions.
  • Ability to work independently.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical Demands
  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • This is a highly active operational role. The employee must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, work outdoors in varying weather conditions, and lift up to 50 pounds.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear.

Work Environment
Shifts between a professional office environment and on-site event grounds. Expect non-traditional hours including late nights, early mornings, and full weekends, especially during peak festival production cycles.
Any position in which the employee handles currency, has access to computer terminals, is responsible for the care or instruction of children, has access to building master control or key systems, has access to the personal information or identifying information of another person, has access to the financial information of the employer or another person, or works in an area of the City which has been designated as a security sensitive area, such as a server or evidence room; and is in a position of trust that requires restraint and the ability to keep a high level of confidentiality. Employees in security sensitive positions will be required to successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per BCI Standards. Employees in security sensitive positions are required to self-report convictions of a Class C Misdemeanor or above.
If you are reading this and hesitating to click "apply" because you do not check every box in the posting, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.

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