Esk Garden Fair

Destination Event Elevator Program
Written By Cristy Houghton

Esk Garden Fair, 2025

Website: eskgardenandlifestylefair.com

Socials: Facebook and Instagram

EVENT STORY

Proudly presented by the Valley of the Lakes Garden Club, this event began in 2016 and is a true community effort involving over 100 volunteers. Located in the heart of Esk, the fair celebrates gardening through dozens of specialist nurseries, expert speakers, and unique garden art, all while raising funds for community legacy projects like the Esk Mosaic Trail.

WHY THEY NEEDED OUR SUPPORT & WHAT THEY WANTED TO GAIN

The committee sought to professionalise their operations and embrace technology to improve efficiency. Key goals included developing their first-ever strategic plan, improving their marketing imagery, and establishing formal systems for delegation and succession planning.

WHAT THEY GAINED FROM PARTICIPATING

  • Delivered a highly successful 2025 event with positive financial results and an enhanced post event review process.

  • Established a formal strategic plan and detailed committee job descriptions to support succession.

  • Recruited new volunteers.

  • Successfully implemented new technology, including online Google Forms for stallholders and an ATDW listing for the first time.

  • Secured a grant for new event elements and created a professional sponsorship proposal.

  • Inspired to create a piece of public art each year from the event profits to leave a legacy for the region.

  • Removed plastic tablecloths and looked at other ways they could improve their environmental impact, such as repurposing coffee cups.

  • For the first time, the Committee created a volunteer business liaison position. This resulted in a lot more buy-in from the community and businesses to the event. 

TOP 3 LEARNINGS/OUTCOMES  

  1. We've embraced technology and created more professional approach. The shared drive was a game changer for us.

  2. Given us more confidence in running our event and our approach to sponsors, Council and the Community.

  3. We are more diligent in recording our processes to help with our succession planning.  Embracing AI to help in the process.

“As the organising team behind the Esk Garden Fair, we cannot speak highly enough of the support, structure, and strategic insight provided... This program has been a game-changer for us—elevating our planning, marketing, and execution to a whole new level.”
— Kerri Melville, Esk Garden Fair
Cristy Houghton

Cristy's unique career has taken her from country NSW to the city lights of Clarendon Street South Melbourne and back again. With an early career in radio as a copywriter and creative strategist, she is now a Jill of all trades as a graphic designer, website builder, blog writer, video editor, social media manager, marketing strategist and more. 

In fact, give her any task and this chick will figure out how to do it! Go on, we dare you!

No, really, we DARE you!!

Cristy has won two Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) for Best Ad and Best Sales Promotion, and even has an 'Employee of the Year' certificate with her name on it.

Cristy and her husband James have traveled extensively through Russia, China and South East Asia, and have two fur-babies, Sooty (cat) and Panda (puppy). Cristy loves drinking coffee, meeting people to drink coffee, coffee tasting and coffee flavoured cocktails. She also enjoys road trips, TED Talks and watching cat videos on youtube.

http://www.embarketing.com.au
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