"I have the feeling of community again": the socio-economic impacts of small-scale events on community recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic had severe consequences for communities across the globe and especially in Melbourne, Australia, where residents experienced strict control measures and extended lockdowns. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study explores an initiative to facilitate community recovery by analysing the socio-economic impacts of small-scale events held by local government in Melbourne’s West shortly after the final lockdown lifted. Survey data were collected from 843 event attendees and 43 business operators, followed by semi-structured interviews. Results show that these events generated multiple social benefits by enhancing a sense of community, (re)connecting people, improving mental health, and promoting diversity and inclusion. Economic benefits were generated directly by boosting local and visitor spending and indirectly through increasing business-community connectedness. The study contributes to the limited empirical research on the value and role of small-scale events for community recovery and has managerial implications for sustainable destination development, recovery and regeneration strategies.