The Power of Showing Up: What The Big Festoon Teaches the World About Connection

Washington, D.C. thrives on global conversations, but sometimes the most transformative movements emerge far from political corridors. This October, the Big Festoon Spooktacular in Manchester, England, will gather thousands in a buzzing celebration of belonging, empowerment, and connection. What began as a grassroots tent movement in the UK has grown into one of Europe’s most dynamic platforms for life and business development—raising questions that resonate just as strongly in the community halls and leadership spaces of D.C. as they do across the Atlantic.

The first time I encountered The Big Festoon was at a fringe event during IdeasFest 2024. By that point, I had already read Dani Wallace’s book I Am the Queen Bee: How I Overcame Self-Sabotage to #FLYANYWAY & How You Can Too, and her story had struck a chord with me. Her raw honesty, northern grit, and unapologetic message of self-liberation had stayed with me long after I closed the final page. But reading about someone and experiencing what they create in real life are two very different things. What I didn’t realise until that day was that Dani wasn’t just sharing her story: she was building a movement. And the invitation wasn’t exclusive; it was wide open for anyone willing to step inside.

I remember approaching the tent with a mixture of curiosity and caution. From the outside, there was already a sense of electricity in the air. You could hear the laughter and the music before you saw anything, and there was a physical buzz about the place. It wasn’t just because people were dressed as bees, though the black-and-yellow outfits, shimmering wings, and playful headbands certainly added to the effect. The energy felt alive, as though it was reaching out and pulling you closer, urging you not to walk past. It was hypnotic, magnetic, irresistible.

Stepping inside was like crossing into another world. The tent was alive with color and movement, a kaleidoscope of connection. People danced, clapped, and shouted encouragement to complete strangers as though they had known them for years. Every gesture, every cheer carried the same message: you belong here. The welcome was immediate and wholehearted, not dependent on who you were or what you had achieved, but simply because you had chosen to show up.

It was impossible not to be swept up in it. The atmosphere dissolved barriers almost instantly. Conversations sparked effortlessly, smiles came easily, and differences weren’t just tolerated—they were embraced. In that space, individuality wasn’t something to hide or tone down; it was something celebrated. Being seen wasn’t a privilege handed out sparingly; it was a guarantee, woven into the fabric of the experience.

I realised, standing there among the wings, glitter, and unfiltered joy, that I had stumbled onto something rare: a place where connection wasn’t a side effect but the very point. A place where showing up as yourself was not only enough but celebrated as extraordinary. In that moment, I knew I had found my people.

From Preston to the World: The Heart of the Hive

Dani Wallace, founder of IATQB Ltd and the force behind The Big Festoon, grew up in Preston facing domestic challenges, financial hardship, and few role models. Rather than being defined by those circumstances, she rebuilt her life and career, turning survival into transformation.

Her path took her from singing and entertaining to a successful corporate career in training and leadership development, before drawing on her own experience of abuse and homelessness to inspire others. On stage, she blends performer, trainer, and survivor—igniting belief that every voice matters and pain can become purpose.

From sold-out UK shows to standing ovations in Hollywood, her mission remains clear: turn pain into power. Dani’s ability to cut through noise with honesty and presence makes her a master of moments. Each event is more than strategy or inspiration: it’s a soul-level disruption that lifts her audience to rise with her, every time.

October 2025: The Big Festoon Spooktacular

This autumn, the hive returns bigger, bolder, and with even more boo-gie. From 29–31 October 2025, the Big Festoon Spooktacular will take over Bolton Stadium near Manchester, transforming it into a Halloween-themed extravaganza. The venue, already known for hosting major sporting and entertainment events, will be reimagined with the trademark Festoon energy: a mix of performance, connection, and powerful storytelling.

For those who have attended before, the atmosphere will feel familiar yet fresh; costumes, music, and unapologetic celebration infused with the same core message of empowerment and belonging. For newcomers, it will be an introduction not only to an event but to a community that has been steadily growing into one of the UK’s fastest-rising platforms for life and business development.

What makes this year especially significant is the decision to extend the experience beyond adults. For the first time ever, The Big Festoon will spread its wings to include younger audiences, ensuring that the same principles of confidence, resilience, and creativity are passed on to the next generation. It’s a bold expansion of the movement’s vision: to create spaces where everyone, regardless of age, can feel celebrated and supported.

Something for Every Age Group

For children aged 5–11, award-winning educator and entrepreneur Helen Wilson, founder of Helen’s Hub and Gootopia, will lead a programme of immersive autumn and Halloween activities. With more than two decades of experience, Helen has built a reputation for creating safe, engaging spaces where imagination takes centre stage. Her workshops will weave together play, creativity, and seasonal fun, giving children the chance to explore, learn, and connect while their parents immerse themselves in the main event.

For young people aged 11–17, The Big Festoon has partnered with Loud Speaker, a dynamic organisation recognised for its high-energy, transformational workshops. Their sessions focus on building confidence, sharpening communication skills, and cultivating resilience: essential tools for tomorrow’s leaders. Rather than being sidelined, teens will step into spaces where their voices matter. Through discussions on mindset, storytelling, and self-expression, they’ll learn practical ways to stand tall in their individuality and carry those lessons into their future studies, careers, and relationships.

Meanwhile, the adults will gather in the main hall, experiencing The Festoon in its fullest form. Here, laughter and tears sit side by side as speakers take the stage with stories that spark both reflection and action. The music, the movement, and the shared moments create an atmosphere that’s as much celebration as it is transformation. It’s not just a conference—it’s a collective rise, one room, one community, growing together.

Meet Some of the Magic Makers

The Festoon stage will be lit with 15 inspiring voices, each bringing their own message of transformation.

Returning Favourites Include:

• Danny and Katie Bloomfield, co-founders of Bloomfields, are known for their heart-led approach to entrepreneurship.
• Megan Stachini, founder of Intrinsic, is a coach whose raw honesty and deep presence captivate audiences.

Making Their Festoon Debut:

• Ben Franklin, founder of Bold Intuition Co. and producer of Audacious Live, a spiritually led business conference launching in January 2026. As a Business Alignment Mentor, he helps entrepreneurs realign their inner world with their outer impact.

Also Joining the Lineup:

• Jane Pangbourne (Menopausal Not Mad), redefining midlife empowerment.
• Jeannie McGillivray (Remote.Online), helping businesses thrive in a digital-first world.
• Pamela Aculey (Just Like Me Books & MIXD Reality), championing inclusion and diversity through immersive storytelling.
• Sam Teale, viral storyteller and founder of Sam Teale Productions.

Not Just a Conference: A Call to Belonging

Even with all its star power, The Big Festoon isn’t about hierarchy or ego. It’s not a place where titles or achievements define your worth. Instead, it’s about community. From the moment you step inside, the message is unmistakable: you matter. Whether you arrive as a seasoned CEO, a start-up founder, a parent taking a leap into entrepreneurship, or simply someone curious to explore, you’ll be cheered, seen, and celebrated, sometimes while wearing wings and glitter.

What makes it different is the way Dani Wallace curates the experience. She doesn’t just tell people to believe in themselves; she creates an environment where belief becomes almost unavoidable. Through music, storytelling, and raw honesty, the walls we normally carry with us seem to melt away. You look around and realise that vulnerability isn’t weakness here—it’s the glue that holds the community together.

Between the laughter and the tears, the dancing and the unfiltered conversations, something rare happens: people permit themselves to be their full, brilliant, untamed selves. It’s not about fitting into a mold or performing a polished version of success. It’s about showing up as you are and discovering that who you are is already enough.

Dani describes it as “a business event like no other,” and the truth is, it feels more like a movement than a meeting. It’s professional development with soul, networking with heart, and empowerment wrapped in joy. And for anyone who has ever doubted their place in the room, The Big Festoon offers a resounding answer: you belong here.

Join the Hive

The Big Festoon has grown into more than an event; it has become a recurring marker in the UK’s life and business development calendar. It offers a space for professionals, entrepreneurs, and communities to come together, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections. With its combination of personal development, creative expression, and inclusive programming, the gathering continues to attract a wide range of participants each year.

The 2025 Big Festoon Spooktacular aims to extend this experience further by welcoming younger audiences alongside established delegates, ensuring that the values of confidence, resilience, and collaboration reach the next generation. The Big Festoon is also recognised as the UK’s fastest-growing life and business development event for changemakers who want to make more money, create greater impact, and build lasting influence.

As communities across the U.S. continue to seek connection and purpose in an increasingly disconnected world, The Big Festoon offers a reminder that belonging can be built anywhere — from a buzzing tent in Manchester to a boardroom in Washington. Its message transcends borders: when people show up as their full, authentic selves, they create spaces where transformation isn’t just possible — it’s contagious.

Learn more at thebigfestoon.co.uk