Longitudinal studies have the capacity to provide more nuanced explanations of tourism and event phenomena, taking account of complexity, change and context. This paper is a self‐reflexive, methodological study of research practice. It investigates my experience of engaging with cultural event producers in an emerging destination over a seven‐year period. Focussing on my research journey, it considers the social and relational dynamics associated with longitudinal research. Reciprocal relations and co‐production of cultural events reveal nuanced information and expose fluid relationships and networks. Long‐term engagement uncovers evolving practices and develops understanding of event processes embedded within their wider context. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.