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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EventFest announces agreement with Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla:
New company boasts 104-year-old celebration as first client

TAMPA, FL – June 17, 2008 – Darrell R. Stefany, best known for his role in the production of Tampa’s Gasparilla Festival — a 104-year-old, annual festival featuring celebrations on land, sea, and air — announces the opening of EventFest. Stefany is the company’s founder and president. EventFest is a full-service company specializing in the production of multi-dimensional, interactive public and community festivals and events through the Southeastern United States. EventFest’s first client is Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the founding organization of Tampa’s historic Gasparilla celebration.

“Through the Krewe’s 18 year association with Darrell Stefany, our Gasparilla events have seen explosive growth; today, more than one-million people participate in various events throughout a three-week period,” says Jim Robbins, captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. “We are excited to continue our relationship with Darrell in his new role as EventFest president to further enhance a Tampa tradition that generates an economic impact of more than $45 million for our community.”

“It is an honor to continue my work with Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. In the future, people can anticipate an even greater interactive and sensory experience through our partnerships with a variety of sponsoring organizations,” says Stefany. “Today, companies are very interested in events like Gasparilla. Through an activation of festival sponsorships, a company can create an emotional connection between their product and their customers; something that is not possible with the more traditional forms of marketing.”

Stefany is past-chair of the Florida Festivals & Events Association (FFEA) and recipient of FFEA’s Event Professional of the Year award. He continues to serve FFEA as a member volunteer and in also involved with SMEI Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay & Company, and Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, Stefany most recently served as president of EventMakers, a Tampa (Florida) event planning and management company.

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