LE3 .A278 2003

2003

Colton, John

Acadia University

Master of Recreation Management

Masters

Recreation Management

Kinesiology

Festivals are unique cultural celebrations that are a growing sector of the cultural tourism industry. Volunteers are the individuals charged with the production of these festivals. They have received comparably little attention in recent research although their efforts frequently determine the success of these festivals. This study was undertaken to determine how festival participation by community members who volunteer impacts their relationship with their community. The study focused on the town of Liverpool, Nova Scotia and the Privateer Days festival that occurred there between June 27 and July 1, 2002. There were three complimentary research methods utilized for this study. The researcher attended the festival as a short-term observer as participant. After the festival a Nominal Group Technique meeting was arranged with eight volunteers and ten in-depth interviews were held with festival volunteers. The themes that emerged from the data analysis demonstrate some interesting results related to the study purpose. Festival volunteers clearly have strong ties to their community and its unique history. Many stakeholder groups co-operate with festival organizers, thereby increasing the social capital of the community. Many volunteers indicated that their relationship with their community is enhanced by their volunteer role in the festival.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2745