In this study the researcher has chosen to focus upon the multiple roles by which Event tourismrnhas been playing for the tourism development of Addis Ababa city. Pure qualitative researchrnapproaches with an interactive thematic analysis to analyze classifications and to present themesrn(patterns) that relate to the data, were used to undertake the research. To undertake this study,rnboth primary and secondary data was employed, Through the help of semi-structured interview,rnattempt had made to collect the necessary data from participant and visitor of Meskel Festivityrnevent which was held on Sept. 26th and Addis Ababa city Culture and Tourism officials, Tour andrnTravel operators, Event Associate Managers and Event Advisers,. To analyze the alreadyrncollected data, qualitative data was first grouped into the category they belong and thusrnnarrated according to the meaning it bears. In addition to investigating the role of event tourismrnin the tourism development, the aim of this research is also to explore the practice of eventrntourism and to identify positive and environmental, economic, socio-cultural and political rolesrnof event tourism in the tourism development by taking Addis Ababa city as a case study. Thernfindings of this study gave rise to the fact that although event tourism can be used by eventrnorganizer and government as a tool for economic gain, destination development and branding, itrncan also bring negative impacts to the community if not properly planned and organized. Arngeneral conclusion is that events affect host communities mainly by constructing a destinationrnimage and by building community cooperation to event tourism which could intensify the tourismrndevelopment of the city. In precise, the study revealed out that indeed event tourism has bothrnpositive and negative Economic, Environmental, Socio-cultural and Political role andrncontribution in the tourism development of Addis Ababa city.