We’re ecstatic to be hosting an in-person gala for the 2021 American Advertising Awards.

Join us for ADDYs in Wonderland, our gala celebration for the Charlotte 2021 American Advertising Awards on February 24th at The Terrace at Cedar Hill.

We look forward to this event every year, to see the creative community come together to honor a year's worth of hard work amongst peers. We can’t wait to spend an amazing evening reconnecting with and celebrating the Charlotte advertising community.

We will have a cocktail hour from 6-7 pm and the show will begin shortly after 7. The bar will be open until 11 pm so please stay and indulge in Wonderland with us — we’ve missed you!

Pickup your American Advertising Awards Trophy and Winners Book

Winners Books and Trophies will be available to pick up on Feb 27th from 11 - 4pm at Hygge.

Enter through Not Just Coffee and you’ll see us in the right side Hygge conference room.
Address: 1026 Jay St, Charlotte, NC 28208

For any questions please contact us at charlotteaaawards@gmail.com

OUR PARTNERS

Creativity in Flux

Join us as we honor the work that was forged in the fire during 2020.

The American Advertising Awards Gala is the definitive and time-honored way of being recognized by your peers for outstanding work in the advertising field each year. Our judges will select winners for Silver, Gold and Best of Show awards in a variety of categories. We will also recognize impressive student work and present our prestigious Silver Medal Award to the Charlotte professional who has made outstanding contributions to our industry.

The 2020 Awards Gala will be held February 25th, 2021 and it will be virtual. We’ve planned a great presentation that you won’t want to miss and, on the bright side, the dress code can be “couch casual” and the line for drinks will be basically nonexistent.

Gala Night Agenda

• Show Intro

• Elements of Advertising

• Sales & Marketing

• Print Advertising

• Out of Home & Ambient Media

• Online/Interactive

• Film, Video & Sound

• Public Service

• Cross Platform

• Student Awards

• Silver Medal Award

• Partners & Judges

• Special Awards

• Best of Show

To attend the virtual gala, you’ll need to register below. Check back here for updated information as the event gets closer. It’s going to be a wonderful night to celebrate Charlotte’s advertising work.

OUR PARTNERS

2021 Trends:
Where is great advertising headed?

Due to COVID-19, we have decided to not host a Preview Party this year. It’s one of our favorite events, but we feel it is safer and smarter to not put our community in a position that would affect their health.

Instead, we have planned an exciting conversation with our acclaimed judges about the trends they’ve seen this year in Charlotte and beyond. We’ll also discuss how they predict this unusual year will affect the future of great advertising. You won’t want to miss it.

lease note we will not specifically discuss any of this year’s work or winners so that we can reveal those during the gala.

Creativity in Flux.

Honoring the best work of 2020.

» Early Bird $10 off on each entry

» Friday, Dec 18th, 2020 by 11:59pm

» Special Membership Entry Fee Discount: Single: $65 | Campaign: $80

» Non-Member Entry Fee: Single: $115 | Campaign: $135

» VIRTUAL ONLY! See below COVID-19 changes.

» Email charlotteaaawards@gmail.com if you have any questions about your entries.

To learn more about the 2020 Charlotte American Advertising Awards drop-off dates and entry rules and guidelines click here.

IMPORTANT COVID-19 Award Changes

Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the American Advertising Awards competition rules, categories and entry procedures for 2020-2021 have been modified to allow for virtual judging.

1. This year all entries WILL NOT require a physical submission as part of the entry process. All entries can be handled online in the OpenWater software. Which means, the judges will not require a physical print out or physical sample of the entry to judge.

2. In all categories where a physical print out is typically needed, entrants are allowed to upload a written description, video, photography and any digital examples of the entry to help with judging.

3. With this in mind, there WILL NOT be a physical entry drop-off location this year. If a check needs to be mailed please send it to, 1155-A Salem Dr, Charlotte, NC 29209.

4. Also, due to COVID-19 concerns, AAF Charlotte will not be hosting an in-person Gala, but instead host an online virtual Gala Awards.

5. In lieu of not having an in-person Gala, all those with an Awards membership we will receive an additional $25 discount on their entry. Become a member »

Get your ducks in a row for this year’s AAAwards. Tune into a FREE live webinar at 12pm EST Dec. 4th for a one-hour American Advertising Awards tutorial on how to submit your work, categories, tips and more.

Hosted by District AAAwards Chair, John Howard.

The webinar will cover:

1. What are the AAAwards?

2. Understanding the categories.

3. Using the online portal.

4. Dealing with the physical entries.

5. Tips for how to enter.