The countdown is on for the biggest, most vibrant community celebration of the year in Holly Springs! On Saturday, October 25, thousands of residents will flock to Sugg Farm for HollyFest. It’s got almost everything: non-stop entertainment, endless fun for the kids, incredible local artists showcasing their talents, food and beverage vendors, local businesses promoting their offerings, and more. But well before the first festivalgoer enters the park, months and months before, planning this massive event began. Here’s a look behind the scenes at what it takes to make such a large-scale event go off without a hitch.
Planning Begins Early
For Nic Ziccardi, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator with Holly Springs Parks & Recreation, HollyFest planning kicks off around Valentine’s Day. While others are thinking about chocolates and flowers, Ziccardi is busy securing vendors, parking services, bands, performers, rides, and attractions.
“It’s a labor of love,” Ziccardi said. “On the event day, when you see everything come together and get to see families and friends enjoying themselves, it makes me realize how fortunate I am to have a job like this where I get to work with so many fantastic people and Parks and Recreation professionals.”
A Collaborative Effort
Ziccardi is at the heart of coordinating with numerous Town departments, including the Holly Springs Police, Fire, Risk Management, Public Works, Communications & Marketing, and the Chamber of Commerce (for the business expo area). Kristen Denton, Parks & Recreation Assistant Director, oversees the event team and provides support and direction.
“Teamwork, preparation, and collaboration — with safety as a priority — that’s what makes a successful event,” Denton said.
More than 30 Parks staffers, a similar number of public safety employees, and several Public Works staff members work the event throughout the day. Additional staff set up booths to engage with residents about Town services. Event coordination extends to over 150 outside vendors, including food and beverage providers, children’s activity organizers, artisans, and nonprofits. Juggling all these different aspects is often the most challenging part of the job.
Denton noted that HollyFest requires the largest staff team due to the sheer volume of participants, vendors, and the diverse facets the team manages. Yet, even with all the moving pieces, she admits the biggest hurdle is usually the weather.
“Weather is a challenge because you can’t control it or predict it,” she said. “Another challenge is accommodating the growing number of people interested in attending our events. I really enjoy working the events to be able to spend that time with our staff team because we get to engage in a different way than we do every day. We’re all in Parks & Recreation because we enjoy working with the community, so anytime we get to engage with each other and the community, it’s really fun.”
Preparing the Grounds
Parks Maintenance Manager John Atkins and his team are responsible for ensuring Sugg Farm and the surrounding area are ready for the event. A significant part of their preparation involves staging more than 600 traffic cones inside and around the park to direct traffic — a task that takes roughly 50 labor hours between Parks Maintenance and Public Works employees. While the Town owns a number of traffic cones, additional ones are borrowed from Wake County.
Other critical maintenance preparation tasks include mowing, measuring and marking vendor spaces, staging light towers and equipment, and checking electrical outlets — and finding a way to fit in event preparation around regular park maintenance duties. If rain delays event preparation or an event element needs a last-minute shift, quick adjustments must be made. During the event, the maintenance team is busy collecting garbage and ensuring a safe environment for everyone. The Parks Maintenance team is often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
“We spend so much time behind the scenes, getting ready, and it’s rewarding to see it all come together and people having a good time,” Atkins said. “It’s just satisfying knowing the work we did making that possible.”
The Big Day and Beyond
Before the sun rises on HollyFest day, staff are at the park finalizing event staging. They’re typically heading home as the sun sets, around 7-8 p.m.
“You know it’s been a successful event when, at the end, families and friends are not just leaving happy but are leaving with memories built from this,” Ziccardi said. “If it becomes an annual tradition for the family, that’s how I know it’s a true success.”
HollyFest is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sugg Farm. Learn more at hollyspringsnc.gov/hollyfest.
Don’t Miss Other Favorite Fall Events!
Family Spooktacular
Saturday, October 11, 1-4 p.m.
Enjoy candy stations, games, and slime-making! Children are invited to participate in costume contests, and gather around the fire to roast marshmallows for s’mores.
hollyspringsnc.gov/spooktactular
Haunted Trail
Friday, October 10, 7-10:45 p.m.
Along the trail, you’ll encounter all types of monsters, from zombies to scary clowns. This haunted trail is not for the faint of heart! Recommended for ages 14 and older, but younger children are allowed with a parent.
hollyspringsnc.gov/hauntedtrail
