9 ways to celebrate milestones with your community

By Stephanie Lamie

Whether your organization is a small business, large corporation, nonprofit organization or something else, you’re going to experience major milestones from time to time. Reaching significant anniversaries, achieving fundraising goals and opening or expanding a new facility are just a few examples of milestones that might be cause for celebration. Taking time to celebrate milestones can strengthen your organization’s culture by improving morale, fostering a sense of belonging and building momentum among your team.

There are countless ways to acknowledge special occasions. It’s also important to recognize your community and its support. Consider celebrating with those who’ve helped make what you’ve achieved possible. Let these business anniversary ideas and community celebration ideas inspire you the next time a significant milestone is reached.

Food festival

Use food as a theme and host a festival or feast. Maybe there’s a cultural or historical connection to the region or your business. Invite local restaurants to participate by creating their own spin on the chosen theme. Anything from strawberries to ice cream to macaroni and cheese can be the basis for a festive and mouth-watering celebration. Marking 25 years for your business? Offer 25 variations of cookies or hot wings.

Street party

Curate your own outdoor street party with live music, food and beverages, arts and crafts vendors, community organizations and more. Work with your local municipality to bring a new experience to a street or neighborhood that could use a boost.

Get employees involved in a creative project during the event, like mural painting or playground restoration. The mural might be in celebration of your organization’s new facility. Pro tip: Inviting employees to celebrate milestones can lift spirits—leading to increased creativity and a more positive work environment. Doing good in the community is a feel-good bonus!

Outdoor movie night

Turn a public park or other community space into an outdoor theater and delight a crowd of all ages. Choose a popular film that connects to your organization or industry. Or, if celebrating an anniversary, choose a fan favorite from the year the company was founded. Offer beverages, candy and filled popcorn bags commemorating the occasion.

Black-tie gala

Invite community members to don their finest attire and attend a black-tie gala. These events are often fundraisers, with the event space, food and other elements assembled as in-kind donations. Build displays related to your milestone achievement, like a timeline wall or through-the-years product display. Select a cause that resonates in your community and rally support one meal ticket at a time. Add a raffle or silent auction to deepen the impact. Decorate with round table throws and share important organizational information on retractable banner displays.

Concert

Bring people together for a live performance by a local favorite or touring musician. Promote it as a thank-you gift to the community for years of support. Use branded decorations and have the company leader introduce the headlining act. Incorporate a charitable angle to give back. Perhaps a portion of the proceeds benefit a local cause, or the event itself also serves as a food drive. Ask for donations and give bucket hats to those who participate. If warm weather is expected, give attendees guitar hand fans to stay cool.

Run, walk or ride

If your organization is connected to health and fitness—or if you want to get community members moving—plan a run, walk or ride. It could be anything from a walk around a park, body of water, attraction or landmark to one of the more than 1,000 marathons held across the United States each year. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of your company’s founding? Host a 10K race. Toasting a merger or major partnership? Make it a relay.

Sporting event

Many sporting events can bring people together to be active and mark a special occasion. Organize a golf outing, pickleball tournament or basketball invitational. Like other celebration ideas, these are opportunities to put your brand behind a charitable cause or raise money for your company’s foundation. If putting on a golf tournament, assemble gift bags for participants. Include golf umbrellas and golf balls featuring an imprint specific to your milestone achievement.

Enthusiast gathering

Gather enthusiastic hobbyists related to your organization. For example, a company connected to the automotive industry could plan a classic car show. A gardening or landscaping company might host a plant swap. Photography exhibits, comic book or action figure conventions, sewing and quilting exhibitions, and antique markets are other possibilities. Whatever the theme, create a commemorative milestone event pennant to give to the first 100 attendees.

Family fun day

Marking a 50th anniversary? Put a family-friendly spin on the traditional block party. Provide family-friendly entertainment, like carnival games, food trucks, craft stations, face painting, bounce houses, an obstacle course and more. Invite local educators to host music, art and other workshops. Book a petting zoo or a magician to perform. Invite employees to a photo booth or selfie station with a photo booth kit for attendees to make silly 50th anniversary Family Fun Day memories.

Community celebrations create connection

A community celebration for an organizational milestone can be a lot of fun. It can also improve your workplace culture, cultivate customer trust and help attract and retain talent, among other benefits. Whether hosting a concert, black-tie gala, movie night or something else, invite the community to take part in celebrating your accomplishments and build momentum toward the next exciting achievement.

Sources