A company festival calls for a venue with space, accessibility and the option to build temporary infrastructure. Think festival sites, country estates, recreational areas or large stretches of grassland.

The infrastructure is more complex than at a regular event. You need stages, power generators, sanitary units and a bar and catering set-up. Often lighting and décor too, to reinforce the festival atmosphere.

You can also hold a festival on your own company grounds if you have enough outdoor space. That's tax-efficient via the WKR and gives it a uniquely personal feel.

The programme of a company festival is all about variety and freedom of choice. Not one programme everyone has to follow, but multiple stages and zones where people choose for themselves what they want to do.

A typical festival set-up includes: a main stage with live music and a DJ or live band. Activity zones with workshops, games, sports activities or VR experiences. A food zone with food trucks and bars. And optionally a content stage for short talks or a message from the leadership.

Entertainment makes the festival. Choose artists that match your audience's taste. Mix well-known names with surprising acts. And build it up: start relaxed, build towards a climax. Just like a real festival.

A business event costs roughly €200 to €500+ per person ex. VAT for 250 to 500 guests. For 500 to 1,000 guests, reckon on around €150 to €400+ per person. For 1,000 to 2,000 guests, around €125 to €350+ per person. For more than 2,000 guests, around €100 to €300+ per person. All amounts exclude VAT and include venue, catering, entertainment and production.

The exact budget depends on the type, the venue and the programme. The brackets above indicate the range for an average business event.

A company festival is logistically more complex than a regular event. Think ahead about transport (shuttle buses, parking), safety (crowd management, first aid, security), permits (event permit, noise permit) and a weather contingency.

Start preparing early. A festival of this size needs 3 to 6 months of lead time, depending on the scale. Permits are often applied for 8 to 12 weeks in advance with the local council.

This is very much an event to outsource to an events agency. The production and logistical complexity calls for professionals who do this every day.

More and more organisations want to run their company festival sustainably. Use reusable materials and work with local suppliers. Opt for vegetarian or plant-based catering. Minimise waste with deposit-return cups and separated waste collection.

Sustainability and festivals are an increasingly good fit. It takes conscious choices in the planning, but it needn't mean compromises in experience or quality.

Read more about sustainable events for concrete tips by category.

Ready to organise a company festival your employees will be talking about for years? Live Impact has the experience and the network to produce a complete festival, from concept to breakdown.

We work with a fixed team of producers and technicians who have staged festivals of every size. From small-scale festivals for 200 people to large-scale events for more than 3,000 employees.

Call us on 085 401 40 14 or email hello@live-impact.nl. Seriously fun.