“The Great Retweet” is using hashtags, links and give-aways to involve members in a viral campaign to promote its first “Demo Day & Tech Expo” in Roanoke, VA, September 18.

Up until the day of the event, anybody who promotes the region through a tweet and includes the hashtag reference #NCTCDemoDay is eligible to win a weekly prize drawing that includes:

· Two tickets to a collge football game
· A free weekend stay at a local hotel
· A free tradeshow booth
· $100 cash

The contest has some other rules, including provisions against turning this into a spam fest, but I think it is a wonderful and innovative use of Twitter to promote an event, generate engagement among a target audience, and provide some good fun!