I think the crucial point here is having active neighbours. And that's down to you to ensure you've refreshed your list before the event (I still don't have a full list of active neighbours as ones I've added seem to have either given up part way through or completed the event with donuts and have then gone inactive - and that's cool. Nothing I hate worse than people dictating what neighbours should do).
I'm not quite as dedicated as some people (interrupting sleep patterns??!?), but finished with nearly 50,000 emblems and a good number of bonus donuts. Pretty easy if you log-in for a few moments here and there.
People complain the game doesn't keep updating us with new content so keeping events going makes no sense to me.