NY Knicks 2015 Draft Party

The New York Knicks hosted the 2015 Knicks Draft Viewing Party Presented by Chase on June 25th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Approximately 3,000 fans came out to see who the hometown team would select with the 4th Overall Selection of the 2015 NBA Draft. They selected Kristaps Porzingis, a 7’ 1’’ forward from Latvia, with their pick. Soon afterwards, there was a live phone call between the CEO of MSG and Porzingis (which was shared with the audience), and the fans cheered to welcome him when it was completed.

Of course, a FILO event would not be complete without other various attractions to keep the attendees engaged. The night included Knicks Legends Walt Frazier and John Starks, who talked on stage to the crowd, a full-size court that hosted multiple competitions, including a 3-point shootout, and many prizes for all of the activities, which included 4 tickets to Opening Night and a private tour of Terminal 23. DJ Mode and the Knicks Dancers also attended to energize the fans.

FILO’s role included driving a box truck across America with the custom full-court and warm-up court, as well as graphics and signage installation and creating a custom branded countdown clock to showcase the NBA Draft as it took place.

Festa Italiana returns to Harriet Island!

Festa Italiana will be held on Harriet Island on July 17th from 11am to 10pm and July 18th from 10am to 10pm. Harriet Island lends the perfect setting to produce an Italian festival. It is located across the Mississippi River from The Levee, an Italian community that once occupied an area in St. Paul until the 1970's. The Mississippi River is also the perfect setting for a gondola ride and a Via Dell'Amore.

Festa Italiana MN is a non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the Italian heritage found in St. Paul and surrounding communities of Minnesota. Festa's mission is to provide a platform to showcase Italian heritage through music, dance, a heritage building, gondola rides on the Mississippi, a Via Dell'Amore with authentic vendors, an artesian tent, authentic food and beverages, and family friendly activities.

This is Festa's fourth year, with this year proving to be even better and stronger with a new artesian tent, a wine tasting area, new vendors, new displays in the heritage building, and new entertainment, including The Rat Pack Revival. Many new groups from around Minnesota will also be taking part in this festival such as The Italian American Men's Club. Team Festa is proud to organize this authentic ethnic festival, not only for the people of Minnesota but for their community as well. This is their legacy; one that they are proud to say will carry the Italian story well into the future.

2nd Annual GermanFest

The 2nd Annual GermanFest Heritage Festival took place on June 19th-21st at the Historic Schmidt Brewery site. After having the success that the inaugural festival had in 2014, it was easy to imagine an even bigger event this year. Once again, the focus was on celebrating German culture through food, entertainment, art, and community. And we received another year of great weather, which helped to attract large crowds, especially on Sunday.

Many of the popular activities were brought back for 2015; these included the Strongman competition, dachshund dog races, many different cultural demonstrations and presentations, and the various walking and bus tours. Our partnership with the St. Paul Fire Department’s Operation Warm was expanded this year, to include a GermanFest/SPFD calendar and a human foosball game (with all proceeds and donations going towards providing children with winter coats).

Of course, without the World Cup viewing party and the re-lighting of the Schmidt sign that took place in 2014, other feature attractions were created for this years’ event. The new activities included a 5K bicycle ride, a Friday night that was open to the public and featured a Beatles re-creation band (Rubber Soul), a large screen showing German films throughout the festival, and an expanded kid’s area. Since Father’s Day fell on the Sunday of GermanFest this year, many families came to spend an afternoon together while exploring their German heritage.

Nearly every upgrade this year proved to be successful. Grouping many of the food vendors together provided a “food row” and allowed people to try different types of German offerings. The marketplace vendors were also grouped closer together and placed in the middle of the festival, encouraging all visitors to shop as they walked from one end of the site to the other. The addition of Festival Director, Linda DeRoode, was critical to expanding GermanFest and for growing FILO’s list of festivals.

FILO looks forward to bringing back GermanFest in 2016 for the 3rd consecutive year, and looks forward to making the festival even bigger and better next year!

FILO and the NY Rangers Team Up for Playoffs

On Monday, May 4th, FILO teamed up with the New York Rangers for the second year in a row to manage another playoff Fan Fest called Blueshirts on Broadway Presented by Chase. This free event was held in Herald Square for Rangers Fans and included a fan fest, pre-game party and a LIVE showing of Game 3, Round 2 between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals, competing for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

There was a custom Chase branded photobooth that implemented social media, a NYR Gameface booth to get your face painted, hometown RangersTown letters with spot-lights, an ice resurfacer, a custom New York Rangers RV with a stage, player cutouts to get a photo next to your favorite player, alumni autographs, and a 16’ x 20’ main stage. The highlight of the evening though, was the 11’ x 17’ LED Jumbotron to showcase the game, LIVE!

Unfortunately, Rangers fans did not get the outcome they had hoped for, falling to the Capitals 1-0. However, the fun and energetic atmosphere left thousands in attendance with an unforgettable experience! The weather was beautiful and sunny during the day for the Fan Fest, and continued to be great all night for the live viewing party. FILO really enjoyed teaming up with the New York Rangers for another successful event and are looking forward to the next round!

FILO Manages Cavs Fan Fest

FILO Productions has been in Cleveland for the Cavaliers playoff run, managing the Cavs Fan Fest outside of Quicken Loans Arena for all home Cavaliers playoff games. Festivities for the Fan Fest include a beer garden, live music & entertainment, and interactive basketball elements including a Full Court, Slam Dunk Court, In the Zone, Basketball Vortex, Sling Shot Jam, Tall and Short and Pop-a-Shots. All activities before Cavalier home playoff games start two and a half hours before tip off and conclude after a viewing party in the plaza for those not attending the game.

For the away Cavalier playoff games, Quicken Loans Arena is opening their doors for a free viewing of the game on the big screen in their arena. The interactive elements are moved indoors for all in attendance to participate. Activities for the away games start one hour before tip-off and the event wraps up after each away game.

FILO Productions will be in Cleveland for the entirety of the Cavaliers playoff push! Come hang out with FILO if you are in the Cleveland area and support the Cavaliers!

Celebrate Israel: Boston 2015 Coming Soon!

FILO is excited to have been selected by Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) as the Event Agency to help produce a new large-scale, community-wide festival celebration in support of Israel that informs, engages and inspires people in the Greater Boston area. Celebrate Israel: Boston will be a one-day event on May 31st held at Gann Academy in Waltham, MA.

The inaugural festival blends the presence of an Israeli pop-rock band Ethnix, nationally-recognized headliners such as Josh Nelson and Neshama Carlebach, and local stars such as Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys. This family-friendly event has plenty of entertainment options for children, such as Dod Haim (Israel’s premier children’s entertainer), a rock wall and bungee trampolines, a petting zoo, camel rides, face painters, Henna tattoo artists, and a Ga-Ga pit.

Working hand-in-hand with CJP has been very beneficial for FILO. Partnering with an organization that understands the preferences of the potential guests of the festival helps to guide the design of the event. Many of the entertainment, community organizations, vendors and food participants are from the Boston area. It is much easier to organize and manage such a large event when a great organization (like CJP) is your partner every step along the way.

This large-scale festival is a new push of FILO’s services, as it will be the first of four major heritage festivals executed, by FILO, in 2015. In June, FILO will put-on their 2nd annual Germanfest in St. Paul, MN, as well as help manage Festa Italiana and an Oktoberfest in the metropolitan area of Minnesota.

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) combines expertise and resources to create positive, life-changing results for people in need, for our friends in Israel and for the future of the Jewish community. CJP brings together the people, partners and resources to fulfill the most important needs and aspirations of the community. Rooted in compassion and justice and driven by innovation, they care for the vulnerable, forge strong connections with Israel and above all, inspire the next generation to embrace Jewish life and learning. They consider their greatest resource to be their people — the volunteers, partners, staff and leaders who help make Greater Boston’s Jewish community a welcoming home. It’s this energy and commitment that drive CJP’s mission.

For more information, please check out the festival website at www.celebrateisraelboston.com!

GermanFest 2015 Coming Soon!

Welkommen to the second annual GermanFest, Minnesota’s largest German cultural event held at the historic Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul, June 19-21, 2015!

This event is free and open to the public starting with Friday night Gemütlichkeit from 4pm to 10pm. Gemutlichkeit means merriment, fun or happiness and is the theme of Friday night at GermanFest. The night will be filled with German food, beer and a live band sure to entertain you for hours.

Bring your friends and family on Saturday from 10am to 10pm and experience a day filled with food, great beer, entertainment, music, family friendly games, arts and crafts, cultural exhibits and much more.

On Sunday from 10am to 5pm, come enjoy good food, a friendly libation, and a chance to hang out with family and friends. GermanFest will surely have something for everyone.