In September 2008, a London, UK, group of Twitterers came up with the idea to set up an event for the local Twitter community where they had the chance to socialize offline, meet some faces behind Twitter’s avatars, have a good time together with the local community, enjoy some nice entertainment, have some drinks in combination with a food drive, and try to do some fundraising for a local charity that supports the homeless.
The entire event was set up in less than two weeks. The local Twittersphere used all of their talent and a bit of financial support to make this London event happen.
Then from all across the world, similar events started to get organized. Local Twittersphere communities started to come together and also took action to support a good cause. So Twestival came from the idea that cities could work together on a global scale but organize an event on a local level. If this could take place, a spectacular impact could be generated.
The phenomenon Twestival hoped that by rallying together on a global scale and under relatively short timescales, awareness for just one single goal on the same day would lead to spectacular results. Twestival was born!
Twestival Asheville 2009
On February 5th the Asheville Twittersphere decided to take the pledge and organize their very own Twestival. The iPledge project in Asheville was born and on February 7, 2009, the event had many people pledge $5 to the Charity Goal: Water.
In just a week’s time, the Asheville Twitter community had organized their own Twestival which raised some $1500 charity water and more than $2500 in auction items. What a great Twestival!
Los Angeles Twestival 2009
Twestival is a charity event at which more than 170 cities from across the world were coming together for festivals organized on the same day, (March 25) to raise money for a good cause.
In 2010, the Los Angeles Twittersphere raised money for Concern Worldwide, a globally-operating humanitarian organization that works to transform the lives of the most marginalized and poorest children in the world through better access to healthcare and education.
On Thursday, March 25, 2010, Los Angeles Twestival was held at the LA Roxy Theatre at 7 pm.
@LATWESTIVAL @The Roxy featured remixer/turntablist Mike Relm live (Webby Awards); Tweet Museum; Twitter art; Public Digital Photobooth; a 16-year-old DJ prodigy; Jake Simon the music blogger; and surprise guest performance! The Twestival event was co-hosted by Oprah Radio’s Derrick Ashong (@dashong) and @ShiraLazar and was streamed by Ustream.
Twestival Toronto 2010
Twestival Toronto joined hundreds of cities around the world to use social media for social good. The Toronto organization cordially invited everybody to an exciting event on March 25, after raising $16,000 with the help of over 700 Torontonians in 2009.
Many people joined their community, both off- and online, to rally behind the ever-important cause of training and education for @Concern. This is still an issue that involves so many different elements like water, hunger, the building of schools, teacher training, etc. Organized 100% by volunteers, Toronto Twestival ensured that 100% of all tickets and sponsorships went directly to projects. Tweet. Meet. Give, regardless of the color of skin just like children would see it.
Many Twitter followers joined their community for the third and largest Twestival Toronto in 2010. The organizers were working hard to feature fun hosts, loud music, mix/mingle areas, big raffles, lots of cash bars, tons of Twitter fun, and to present an all-around exciting event experience.
The Twestival organization ensured that 100% of all ticket sales went directly to projects with Concern Worldwide. Interested people had to be 19+ to attend the Toronto event.