The “Most Eventful Cities Ranking” Highlights Best Cities for Local Events and Entertainment

“Small, but Eventful Cities” Category Proves Size Doesn’t Matter

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eventful, the leading digital media company connecting people with local events and entertainment, released “The Most Eventful Cities Ranking” index. Eventful’s city ranking reveals which cities offer the most events for locals and tourists alike depending on their entertainment interests.

“With over four million events to choose from, it’s our goal to help people discover local entertainment and make their lives more eventful.”

Eventful examined its 2012 events across 27 categories that occurred in local markets throughout the U.S. Cities were ranked by events per capita to learn more about each city’s character, residents’ interests and most frequented activities by category. The results: Some cities held onto their well-known reputations while others took a surprising twist.

Smaller populated cities made a surprising appearance in the rankings due to the large number of events for their size: San Francisco, Calif. ranked fourth with its culturally diverse offerings, Austin, Texas was fifth and Seattle, Wash. ranked sixth. The nation’s most populated cities, as expected, ranked in the top 10.

With its wide variety of event offerings, Bellevue, Wash. won the “Small, but Eventful” category that includes cities with populations under 150,000. The city bested Kansas City, Kan. (number two) and Pasadena, Calif. (number four) that are well known for their sporting and concert events.

“Whether your interest is nature, the arts, taking a class, volunteering or shopping, Bellevue has it covered with an event,” said Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee. “Residents love it here and we invite visitors to come find out why.”

Cambridge, Mass. took first place in the “Concert Goers” category, ahead of vibrant music cities, Nashville, Tenn. and Austin, Texas, which took third and fourth place. The City of Cambridge showed a wealth of event diversity this year, as the city ranked in the top five in the “Small, but Eventful” and “On Campus” categories.

“We’re proud to be a city of many entertaining delights. People from all over the world come to our concerts, lectures and performances,” said the Mayor of Cambridge, Henrietta Davis. “Those lucky enough to live here always have something fun and stimulating to do, and at affordable prices too.”

Although Florida captured election headlines this November as the “most electorally challenged swing state,” West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa ranked as the top three cities that held the most “Political” events; Pittsburgh, Pa. ranks fourth. Voters in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Pittsburgh must stay well-connected as these cities also host the most “Networking” events. In the “Scene” category highlighting the best nightlife, Burbank, Calif. and Las Vegas, Nev. ranked number one and two.

“Analyzing event data provides an interesting window into the personality of a city and its residents. You can see how people spend their time, discretionary income and interact within their community,” said Jordan Glazier, CEO of Eventful. “With over four million events to choose from, it’s our goal to help people discover local entertainment and make their lives more eventful.”

Twenty million members in the Eventful community can explore 27 event categories, post events online, advertise and share events via social networks. From “Kids & Family” to “Galleries” and “Festivals”- Eventful answers the question, “What do you want to do?”

Methodology for the “Most Eventful Cities Ranking” is based on the total number of events listed on Eventful’s website for each city in the U.S. To determine city ranking by category, Eventful ranked the cities by the highest number of events per capita.

Top 25 “Most Eventful Cities”

1. New York, N.Y.

2. Los Angeles, Calif.

3. Chicago, Ill.

4. San Francisco, Calif.

5. Austin, Texas

6. Seattle, Wash.

7. Houston, Texas

8. San Diego, Calif.

9. Atlanta, Ga.

10. Philadelphia, Pa.

11. Nashville, Tenn.

12. Denver, Colo.

13. Portland, Ore.

14. Boston, Mass.

15. Las Vegas, Nev.

16. Orlando, Fla.

17. Minneapolis, Minn.

18. St. Louis, Mo.

19. Columbus, Ohio

20. Dallas, Texas

21. Madison, Wis.

22. Tucson, Ariz.

23. Cleveland, Ohio

24. Kansas City, Mo.

25. Kansas City, Kan.

“Small, but Eventful” cities with populations under 150,000

1. Bellevue, Wash.

2. Kansas City, Kan.

3. Cambridge, Mass.

4. Pasadena, Calif.

5. Alexandria, Va.

“Pet Lovers”

1. Long Beach, Calif.

2. Bellevue, Wash.

3. San Francisco, Calif.

4. Seattle, Wash.

5. Eugene, Ore.

“Wheelers and Dealers”- most conferences

1. Berkeley, Calif.

2. Atlanta, Ga.

3. San Francisco, Calif.

4. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

5. Santa Clara, Calif.

“Kids & Family” events

1. San Francisco, Calif.

2. Boston, Mass.

3. Cincinnati, Ohio

4. Minneapolis, Minn.

5. Madison, Wis.

“Concert Goers”- most concert events

1. Cambridge, Mass.

2. Madison, Wis.

3. Nashville, Tenn.

4. Atlanta, Ga.

5. Austin, Texas

“Arts & Culture”- most galleries and museums

1. Saint Petersburg, Fla.

2. Washington, D.C.,

3. Boston, Mass.

4. Provo, Utah

5. Springfield, Mass.

“Bookworms”- most literary events

1. New Haven, Conn.

2. Alexandria, Va.

3. Columbus, Ohio

4. Seattle, Wash.

5. Fargo, N.D.

“Well Connected”- most networking events

1. Pittsburgh, Pa.

2. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

3. Manchester, N.H.

4. Santa Clara, Calif.

5. Tampa, Fla.

“Most Political”

1. West Palm Beach, Fla.

2. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

3. Tampa, Fla.

4. Pittsburgh, Pa.

5. Henderson, Nev.

“On Campus”

1. Columbia, Mo.

2. Cambridge, Mass.

3. Cleveland, Ohio

4. Pasadena, Calif.

5. Providence, R.I.

“The Scene”- most nightlife events

1. Burbank, Calif.

2. Las Vegas, Nev.

3. Cambridge, Mass.

4. San Francisco, Calif.

5. Atlanta, Ga.

About Eventful, Inc.

Eventful, Inc. is the leading digital media company connecting consumers with live entertainment, movies and local events. Over 20 million people use Eventful to find out what’s happening and decide what to do. Eventful provides the most comprehensive selection of local event information with over four million events across 27 categories.

Leading brands and entertainment properties rely on Eventful to reach consumers and drive commerce through a unique and targeted blend of digital, social media and direct marketing. Eventful’s unique social media service “Demand it!^®” empowers consumers to influence the location and content of entertainment and live events. Learn more, visit Eventful.