Navigating uncertainty: exploring festival and community events’ crisis management in three North American countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic affected many industries, including the organisation of community events. One of the main consequences of the pandemic has been ongoing uncertainty. Defining and managing uncertainty is complex and has been explored from different angles; however, little has been written from the perspective of event and festival organisations. This study employs qualitative interviews with festival organisers in Mexico, the United States and Canada at two points during the pandemic. Based on Uncertainty Management Theory, we conducted a thematic and comparative analysis where the main objective was to explore how event organisers experienced uncertainty, which allowed us to identify causes, feelings, management, and consequences of uncertainty experienced by interviewees. We identified four pathways that describe the ways event organisers experienced uncertainty. The knowledge gained may provide insight into uncertainty in various recreation and tourism management contexts.