Evaluating the Economic and Social Impacts of the Barton Village Festival

Abstract

The Barton Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) organizes the Barton Village Festival, which occurred most recently on June 11, 2022. While the event intends to create a sense of community and bring economic growth and prosperity to the business district, little is known about the social and economic impacts of the festival. A team of McMaster University Research Shop researchers collaborated with the Barton Village BIA to conduct this study to investigate the financial and social impacts of the festival. To do so, they conducted an online survey of 45 respondents who attended the festival, carried out an online survey of five local business owners, and facilitated a semi-structured interview with one business owner. The findings from this research describe the economic impacts of the Barton Village Festival on local businesses, the sense of community and pride among attendees, and overall satisfaction with the festival to inform future planning.