A Drive Thru event to present the finalists of Gouden Giraffe Event Awards

The Drive Thru was the moment for all cases that entered this year’s edition of the Gouden Giraffe Event Awards. The 69 event cases participating this year were all invited to come to DeFrabrique, a well-known industrial venue in Utrecht (that also has a karting area) in their car with maximum 2 people: the agency and the client. ¡The karting area was used as a playground for the Drive Thru! All cars drove from station to station and each station had an entertaining or surprising act, that ended with the reveil of the finalists per category. ¡A crazy idea becomes amazing!

“All guests got a time slot in which they could enter the Drive Thru. At the start of the Drive Thru they got their personal number. And then the drive thru starts: all cars drove from station to station. Each station had an entertaining or surprising act, that ended with the reveal of the finalists per category” explain Sjoerd Weikamp, chief editor from EventBranche.nl, who describes the different experiences. EventBranche.nl is the organiser of the Gouden Giraffe Event Awards and partnered up with the agency XSAGA from Amsterdam and venue DeFabrique.

6 stations with different experiences
The first station was a COVID-19 testing area. But this time no PCR-test, but a funny test, with the famous Dutch bitterball on a stick and a test tube with a small drink. After that the nominees in the category Brand Events were revealed on a screen.

The second station was a carwash. A crew of people washed the cars while dancing on the music of 'At the carwash', after 1,5 minutes of washing the car, the crew slowly pointed at a screen on which revealed the nominees in the category Exhibitions.

The third station was a mix of sign jugglers, street dance and tricks. At the end the finalists in the category Internal Events & Teambuilding were revealed.

The fourth station welcomed the cars with two 'piccolo’s' who placed the car in the right position so famous Dutch magician Hans Kazan did a small act that again ended up in the reveal of the nominees in the category Relationship Event & Community Events.

At the station number five it was Brazilian Carnival, with dancers that surrounded the cars and at the end stepped aside so the people in the car could see the finalists in the category Conventions and Knowledge events.

At the last station everybody shared the love for event industry. There was a “All you need is love” caravan with chief editor Sjoerd Weikamp from EventBranche.nl in it, who gave an ode to every case/event, sitting on his knees next to the car. All guests received a rose and the ode and then passed the finish line...

In between they also got a hamburger at a catering station.

We need events!
Sjoerd Weikamp tell us that “even people crying at the end when they received their ode.... The number of positive posts, mails and messages were overwhelming!!!” We need events and we need to celebrate: the winners will announce in May.