Outdoor festivals, concerts, and county fairs draw huge crowds — we’re talking thousands (and sometimes tens of thousands) of people. If you’re not taking advantage of such an ample advertising opportunity, then you should consider it in the future!


Let’s use the music festival Lollapalooza as an example. Since 1991, Lollapalooza has been rocking Chicago and bringing fans from all over to enjoy not only the music, but the whole experience of the festival. It is the people you meet, the food you eat, the overpriced merchandise you buy, and the activities at Lollapalooza that keep Grant Park completely packed for three days straight! You know what that means? That’s three whole days to get your company name out there.


Here are a few items I would have jumped at the chance to take at a festival:


Neon Sunglasses
You’d think that people would bring their own sunglasses to an outdoor festival or event, but that’s not always the case. And what happens if their pair breaks? Or what if they lose them?  What do you know; you’ll have a spare pair to hand out to that poor squinting human being! Not only are sunglasses useful, but they’re stylish as well. My advice would be to hand out brightly-colored sunglasses like the neon variety pictured to the right, so they’ll stand out in the crowd. This sets them apart from being just another boring pair of sunglasses.


Water Bottles
What happens when people stand outside in hot weather for a long period of time? They get thirsty and dehydrated. Sure, there are water fountains around, but people get tired of walking back and forth when they could be enjoying a show in the front row or playing a game with friends. Keep them from missing out on anything important simply by handing out a water bottle with your logo, which is sure to get a lot of use. Saving people from dehydration and promoting your company at the same time is a definite win-win.


Drawstring Backpacks
This is one item that will come in handy without a doubt! You’re bound to get some kind of merchandise at concerts, and you’re bound to win trinkets and prizes at fairs. Whether it’s a t-shirt, a poster, a CD, or an adorable stuffed animal, attendees probably won’t want to carry it around in their arms the entire day. A personalized backpack takes care of that problem so that people have free arms to walk with food and beverages (or dance around in front row), while holding all of their treasures. This promo item is also useful to hold the other giveaways you may have distributed, so they don’t end up on the ground next to half-eaten pizza and empty beer cans!


Sweat Bands
I don’t know why the sweat band has made a comeback at festivals, but it has. You’ll see these on the heads of many, many people if you hand them out in hot temperatures. Sweat bands are kind of like the sunglasses; they’re stylish and actually useful! If you’re going to be standing out in 90-degree weather and moving around, you’re going to be working up a sweat. So hand out a customized sweatband and create a human billboard for your company all over the venue!


Handheld Fans
Out of all of the promo items I mentioned in this post, the handheld fan would be my first choice. When I’m taking a break from the sun and trying to find a nice shaded area, a handheld fan is just what I need to help get me pumped back up. Fanning yourself with flyers only does so much in the heat, and your own hands can actually make you feel hotter when you’ve become too tired to keep moving your arms back and forth. But with a handheld fan, you’ll be able to display your brand to many people who are extremely happy you were thinking logically when deciding which kind of promotional products you were going to hand out! Or, for a less expensive option, try a handheld paper fan instead.


You have to be smart about your giveaways if you’re choosing an outlet like Lollapalooza. For instance, you probably shouldn’t hand out stress balls to a bunch of teenage boys waiting to see Black Sabbath. When it comes to concerts, festivals, and fairs, you have to think about who you’re trying to reach. Do your research! Will the crowd consist of mixed age groups, or one in particular? Check that your findings are consistent with your promotional goals. Think about the weather, too, and find ways to benefit crowds of people while promoting your company.


These are just a few promotional products you could hand out at a festival or major outdoor event, whether it’s as huge as Lollapalooza or not. For more giveaway ideas for fairs and concerts, think of things that would benefit your company and your target audience, and keep rocking!