ABSTRACT
Official events are increasingly staged in central, public spaces such as parks, streets and squares. This trend is referred to here as the 'urbanisation of events'. It is important to illustrate this trend and to explore why it has occurred. Urban festivalisation is regarded as the overarching process within which the urbanisation of events is taking place. This chapter explains how and why events have been urbanised, with specific attention dedicated to the potential benefits for key stakeholders. Eventalisation refers to the way events produce public space by animating existing spaces or by creating new public spaces. Eventification is the commodification of space via events; a process that is inherently linked to the privatisation, commercialisation and securitisation of space. Events have been urbanised through: the relocation of events from specialised venues; the extension of existing venues; and the migration of events from rural areas.
