As an event organizer, you put so much time, energy, and love into producing wonderful experiences for your attendees. But even the perfect event can be a flop if the word doesn’t get out!
There are many ways to promote and build excitement for your event: Social media, posters, and advertisements, to name just a few. But have you tried getting media coverage for your event through event press releases?
Event press releases might seem old-fashioned, but traditional media coverage (think local newspapers, TV stations, and regional publications) can help you tap into crowds that you haven’t reached yet. And the primary way to catch a journalist’s attention is to send out a press release.
In this guide, you’ll find real-world event press release examples from successful event organizers — along with helpful guidance on how to nail your next PR campaign.
Should I bother creating a press release for my event?
Real talk 💯 — it’s not always worth the effort to create a press release.
It depends on the type of event you’re promoting. Remember, press releases are for “newsworthy” announcements. While there’s no formal definition of what’s newsworthy or not, here are some examples of events that are worth producing a press release for:
✔️ A major festival, conference, or other large event
✔️ A product launch party or launch event
✔️ A charity event
✔️ An event with a genuinely unique angle
✔️ A “first” in your area (like the first food and drink expo in your town)
✔️ A community fun run or another group activity
✔️ A big concert or artistic performanceÂ
And some events that may not necessitate a press release include:
❌ An open mic night at a local bar
❌ A recurring event series that happens often
❌ An internal event, like a company retreat or training
❌ A small private event with a limited number of tickets available
The main goal of a press release is to snag media attention for your event, and some events (like the ones mentioned above) simply have a better chance of catching a journalist’s eye.
Write your event press release from a journalist’s perspective:
- What makes this event newsworthy?
- What’s the “why” behind the event?
- What’s the unique angle that makes it stand out?
Sell more tickets with the all-in-one event marketing platform
Finally, remember that press releases are just one part of your event marketing strategy. Take some time to consider the promotional channels that are a good fit for your event type and target audience. There are plenty of free ways to market your event!
Event press release examples
Wondering what event press releases should look like? Below are some examples event organizers used for their events.
Film event press release example
Read the media release example here 👉 2023 FILM TOUR “ALL TIME”.
Why it works:
- Briefly summarizes the key details — featured athletes, filming locations, and what to expect from the film
- Includes a call to action — a cue to watch the trailer and buy tickets
- Builds excitement and engagement — lays out details for the People’s Choice award
- Summarizes the event details — the tour dates and preview of the 200+ locations
- Includes ways to learn more — contact details, media kit, and call-to-actions for readers
Legendary adventure film production company Warren Miller Entertainment tours the country annually with their new winter sports film. Warren Miller partners with Eventbrite to sell tickets and attract attendees to events in 200+ cities each year.
Promote film events with Eventbrite
Community event press release example
Read the press release here 👉 A Letter from Santa – SantaCon NYC.
Why it works:
- Catches the reader’s attention with a unique angle — penned and addressed by Santa himself
- An exciting community-focused event — SantaCon happens only once a year, and it’s a pretty big deal
- Charitable cause — SantaCon supports charities each year
“Santa” puts on a fun SantaCon event in New York City annually, raising money for local charities and bringing out hordes of Christmas revelers to the streets of NYC. Santa uses Eventbrite to sell tickets and manage SantaCon planning.
Take your event to new heights
3. Festival press release example
Read the festival press release here 👉 The Bloody Mary Festival announces nominees.
Why it works:
- Engages collaborators — calls out local bar/restaurant nominees for the best Bloody Mary (and encourages them to share with their own audiences)
- Includes all the details — covers the what/where/when briefly with a call to action to learn more
- Titled creatively — instead of “this event is happening”, the title sparks the reader’s interest and curiosity
- Published in a local newspaper — picked up by the Milwaukee Record for local publication
The Bloody Mary Festival hosts fun-filled food and beverage festivals all over the United States each year. They partner with Eventbrite to plan, promote, and execute these fan-favorite community festivals.
Explore comprehensive festival ticketing solutions
New product press release example
Read the product launch press release example here 👉 Midwest Trading Group Launches “The Voice” Electronics in Retail.
Why it works:
- Follows a standard format — sets a professional tone that complies with publishing rules for PR distribution networks
- Includes images — multimedia features increase engagement and provide journalists with images to use
- Provides contact information — clear contacts for media and business inquiries
The Midwest Trading Group is an Illinois-based electronics manufacturer and retailer. In its press release, the group outlined a new product line featuring a partnership with the popular TV series “The Voice”. The news release was likely intended to attract potential customers and business partners.
Get started with your own event press release with our free event press release template. And don’t forget to read our comprehensive guide on how to write a press release for your next event.
So 🤔… Can AI write my event press release for me?
Artificial intelligence (AI) can help you run your business more efficiently. But can you use this technology to write press releases?
Yes, you can — but it’s important to have human eyes on the end result to add more details on your own.
With Eventbrite’s AI-powered tools, you can easily craft your event descriptions, call to action, and more with the click of a button to use as content for your press release.
Alternatively, AI platforms like ChatGPT are great for asking simple questions or prompts.
To demonstrate, here’s a prompt and ChatGPT’s response:
Prompt: Write me a press release announcing a half marathon charity event on February 16, 2024.
Here’s a portion of the press release below:
As you can see, ChatGPT does a good job of following the standard structure of a press release. Add more details and you could have a good starting point.
How should I distribute my event press release?
Creating your press release is an important first step. Now it’s time to get your event some well-deserved attention!
There are several approaches worth considering:
- Reach out to local journalists directly via email.
- Use a press release distribution service, like PR Newswire or Business Wire.
- Send your release to event directories and websites that cover events in your region.
- Research publications and journalists that cover news for your specific niche (like a food and wine blog for your upcoming wine-tasting event).
A press release provides a great starting point for an event PR blitz to promote your event and reach a wider audience. You can even repurpose some of the content to use in social media posts and other promotional materials.
Build excitement and drive attendance with a well-crafted event press release
Press releases can be a valuable tool in your arsenal of event promotion tactics. Using the event press release examples above, you can get ideas on how to write a press release that truly stands out from the crowd.
Of course, press releases should be just a part of your overall strategy. Sign up to Eventbrite today to learn how to sell more tickets and attract bigger crowds to your next event.
