Tomball's marketing program, which was started in 2011, earned 13 awards including five top awards at this year's Texas Festivals & Events Association Education Extravaganza held in San Marcos.

Among these were Best New Event for The Oiltown USA Jamboree, Best Mascot for Rusty Rails, Best Radio Promotion, Best Promotional Poster and Best Event Hat. The city was also awarded several second and third place awards for city events and promotions such as second place for Best Social Media Site, Best Event T-Shirt and Best Single Newspaper Ad.

Mike Baxter, the city's marketing coordinator of two years, was also recognized by TFEA as Professional of the Year.

"We're competing in a category with cities with festival budgets of $75,0000, and ours is about $15,000, and we're doing well," Baxter said. "It's really neat that a town the size of Tomball is doing so well."

The city added several new events to its calendar last year including the Tomball Honky Tonk Music Festival; Art Walk, Tomball!; Rails & Tails Mudbug Festival; and the Memorial Day Weekend Chili Challenge, all aimed at marketing the city as more of a tourist destination. In addition, Tomball unveiled its new website in January to not only make it easier for users to navigate, but to help add more visual appeal to the city.

In addition to awarding events and promotions, the conference included several seminars on event marketing and planning, emergency management and media relations.

Meetings

Tomball City Council

Meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month. Its next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 3.

401 Market St., Tomball

www.tomballtx.gov