Tucson has raised the bar on what a city should offer in terms of festivals and events. The city was just named one of only nine World Festival and Event Cities by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), per Inside Tucson Business.

 The city submitted a 132-page document detailing Tucson’s notable events and a three-minute video for the application process. The video highlighted 10 major festivals and 11 minor festivals occurring annually. Tucson proved worthy of the inclusion because the events “reflect the diversity of our community,” noted Dan Gibson, director of communications for Visit Tucson.

 Some of the events and festivals included were Tucson Meet Yourself, drawing between 120,000 to 130,000 people annually to several locations like El Presidio Park; El Tour de Tucson, which draws about 9,000 bicyclists for an up to 100-mile course through Tucson, Oro Valley, and Marana; and The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in various locations including Downtown, which has the biggest economical impact on the city and brings in $120 million annually.

 Donovan Durban, president of The Festivals and Events Association of Tucson and Southern Arizona, told ITB that the city sought to “add some cachet to Tucson’s reputation.” Now recognized internationally among places such as Philadelphia, South Korea, and Sydney, Durban says the award will now help the festivals feel as though they are part of a “world-class city.”