The Vilnius Light Festival transforms Lithuania’s capital into a living gallery of light each January. In this episode of Event Explorer, host Daniel Roth sits down with Petras Bevs from the festival’s creative team to explore how history, architecture, and contemporary light art come together to celebrate the city’s birthday in the heart of winter.

We talk about how Vilnius shapes the festival’s creative direction, curating international and local artists, using hidden courtyards as immersive spaces, and why light festivals have become a powerful new form of public art.

Learn more about the Vilnius Light Festival, including dates and program details, at https://lightfestival.lt/

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Carnaval de Québec is one of the world’s longest-running winter festivals, transforming Québec City into a place of celebration, culture, and shared tradition every February. In this episode of Event Explorer, host Daniel Roth talks with Jérôme Déchêne, Director of Programming and General Manager of Carnaval de Québec.

They discuss how you program a festival built around winter, how Carnaval balances history with the need to stay relevant, and the role the event plays in the cultural and civic identity of Québec City. Jérôme also shares insights into community engagement, creative decision-making, and what it takes to lead a festival that belongs as much to its residents as it does to its visitors.

A conversation about legacy, creativity, and what happens when a city fully embraces the season.

#EventExplorer #CarnavalDeQuebec #WinterFestival #FestivalProgramming #CulturalEvents #EventDesign #CityIdentity #LiveExperiences

#CarnavalDeQuébec #FestivalDHiver #Événementiel #ProgrammationCulturelle #CultureQuébécoise #VieUrbaine #ExpériencesLive

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is home to one of the most unique traditions in the country. Each year, volunteers carve thousands of blocks of ice from Lake Flower to build an Ice Palace that becomes the heart of a weeklong celebration. Host Daniel Roth sits down with Chairman Jeffrey Branch to explore how this tradition has survived the elements, grown with the community, and turned into a beloved symbol of winter in the Adirondacks.

From the parade and yearly themes to the volunteer culture that powers every detail, this episode takes you inside a festival that brings people together and brightens even the coldest days. Follow Event Explorer for more stories behind the world’s most remarkable cultural celebrations.

The Día de los Muertos Festival at Mesa Arts Center began with a few altars and a dream of bringing people together. Now, it’s one of Arizona’s most beloved celebrations of life and memory. Host Daniel Roth sits down with Ginny Montano to explore how the tradition grew, what makes it special, and why it matters today.

#DiaDeLosMuertos #MesaArtsCenter #EventExplorer #FestivalCulture #ArizonaEvents #CelebrateLife #Community #ArtsAndCulture #Podcast #CulturalHeritage #MesaAZ

Every October, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware comes alive with Halloween fun by the sea. Costumes, parades, live music, and a smiling green witch fill the boardwalk as the Sea Witch Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary.

In this episode of Event Explorer, host Daniel Roth talks with founder Carol Everhart, President and CEO of the Rehoboth Beach–Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, about how this seaside celebration grew from a simple idea into one of the East Coast’s most beloved fall traditions. From the first parade to the dog costumes and family memories that keep people coming back year after year, it’s Halloween with a coastal twist — and a community story that keeps getting better.

🎃 Learn more at beach-fun.com | eventexp.org

#SeaWitchFestival #RehobothBeach #Halloween2025 #FallFestivals #HalloweenEvents #FamilyTravel #ThingsToDoInDelaware #HalloweenFun #FallGetaway #EventExplorer #SpookySeason #Festivals #FamilyFriendly #TravelPodcast #WeekendTrips #AutumnVibes #HalloweenByTheSea #ExploreDelaware #FallEvents #PodcastShow

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest ballooning event in the world and one of the most photographed. Each October, more than half a million people gather before dawn to watch hundreds of hot air balloons rise into the New Mexico sky.

In this episode of Event Explorer, host Daniel Roth is joined by Tom Garrity, founder and president of The Garrity Group and one of the Fiesta’s best representatives for nearly three decades. Together they explore the history of the event, what it takes to launch 500 balloons each morning, the role of volunteers and chase crews, and why breakfast burritos are as much a tradition as the balloons themselves.

If you’re planning to go, the 2025 Balloon Fiesta runs October 4–12, with October 3–11, 2026 already on the calendar. Details at balloonfiesta.com.

What does it take to launch a professional tennis tournament — from scratch?

In this episode of Event Explorer, host Daniel Roth sits down with Alex Demuth, Tournament Director of the Cranbrook Tennis Classic, an ATP Challenger Tour event hosted on the campus of Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Now entering its third year, the tournament draws international players — some of them Grand Slam veterans — and delivers world-class hospitality for athletes and fans alike. But it's not just about the tennis. Run by the nonprofit Tennis Forward, all proceeds support the Palmer Park Tennis Academy in Detroit, helping create new pathways for young athletes.

Alex shares how the event started, what makes it one of the top-rated Challenger tournaments in the world, how they attract global talent, and why hospitality, community, and vision matter just as much as the matches.

#tennis #events #sportsbusiness #atpchallenger #cranbrooktennis #eventexplorer #detroit #podcast

Since 1907, the Portland Rose Festival has brought the city together with parades, dragon boats, fireworks, and flowers - lots of flowers. In this episode, Event Explorer host Daniel Roth speaks with Jeremy Emerson, incoming President of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation, about what it takes to keep this tradition relevant, inclusive, and uniquely Portland.

From milk carton boat races to the Grand Floral Parade, we explore the history, quirks, and civic heart behind one of America’s most iconic city festivals and how events like this can help revitalize a city and reflect its evolving identity.

Follow or rate Event Explorer on your favorite podcast platform, and share your festival stories with Daniel at rosefestival.org 📍 Stream all episodes at eventexp.org

#PortlandRoseFestival #Podcast #FestivalCulture #Parades #PortlandEvents #EventProfs #CityCelebration #CivicPride #Events