Do You Go to Festivals?
May 12, 2015, 3:29 pm
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
Still occasionally go to a homebrew gathering, but those don't quite rise to the level of a "festival" and the quality of beer tends to be all over the board.
Probably the closest we get is a medium-sized art fair.
I've never done the big music festivals where everybody takes psychedelic drugs and sleeps in mud for 3 days. I suppose I'd do a classical music festival if I was in the right place at the right time for it. But I'd want, you know, a hotel room...
May 13, 2015, 3:34 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
At some point, I would like to go back to Edinburgh for the festival in August. (instead of October when it was cold and rained every day.) Probably not going to happen anytime soon but nice to think about.
That is really the only major festival that I find of interest.
That is really the only major festival that I find of interest.
However, I do enjoy the festival buzz.
May 13, 2015, 2:12 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TPA, FL
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Diamond,Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
I find that the festivals in Europe are much more organized and the people are less idiotic. I think people here in the States leave their brains at home when they have to go into public events or situations (festivals, airports, theme parks, cruises, buffets)
May 14, 2015, 3:02 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
All the good festivals start small then grow in popularity. At some point it becomes too much. The trick is to catch them on the way up. Just starting to get a buzz but not yet oversubscribed. Usually by the time you've heard about it, it's too late, unless you have some local knowledge.
Or some start to decline and they can be OK on the way back down too.
Or some start to decline and they can be OK on the way back down too.
May 14, 2015, 5:21 pm
#23
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Oh, and I like stumbling upon various food festivals in China. Last year's visit to Nanjing was particularly serendipitous because there was a Xinjiang-focused event going on, replete with dancing and qiegao.
Japan has some good random ones too, such as those held by the West Shinjuku station exit or in the upper floors of various department stores.
Japan has some good random ones too, such as those held by the West Shinjuku station exit or in the upper floors of various department stores.
May 15, 2015, 4:53 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BLI or CLT
Programs: The usual suspects
Posts: 1,902
I go every year to MerleFest in late April - a four day "Americana" music festival in western North Carolina. There are crowds, but $230 for a reserved seat at 4 days of music avoids the worst of the crowding.
The National Storytelling Festival every October in Tennessee is modestly crowded but still very enjoyable.
I've given up on New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival - always a great line up but very crowded and intolerably hot.
Mud and camping out? No, I do not go anywhere that does not have a real bed and flush toilets!
The National Storytelling Festival every October in Tennessee is modestly crowded but still very enjoyable.
I've given up on New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival - always a great line up but very crowded and intolerably hot.
Mud and camping out? No, I do not go anywhere that does not have a real bed and flush toilets!
May 16, 2015, 9:26 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
I quite fancy a cruise festival like Cayamo.
I guess it would cost 10x or 20x Merlefest though.
I like the way the promotional video shows lots of crusty old folk in the music audience but when they get to beach volleyball, it's all fit young bodies. That's probably the crew!
I go up to Orkney Folk Festival pretty much every year but a group of us have a house in Stromness booked up to a year in advance. It's almost impossible to find accommodation otherwise.
I guess it would cost 10x or 20x Merlefest though.
I like the way the promotional video shows lots of crusty old folk in the music audience but when they get to beach volleyball, it's all fit young bodies. That's probably the crew!
I go up to Orkney Folk Festival pretty much every year but a group of us have a house in Stromness booked up to a year in advance. It's almost impossible to find accommodation otherwise.
May 16, 2015, 3:58 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Europe
Programs: Yeah, well, don’t really care anymore
Posts: 845
Been to Goodwood (festival of speed) two times. Don't fancy Glastonbury, way too crowded, but I've done Rock am Ring (Germany) and Roskilde (Denmark). Also been to a couple of smaller festivals, and for the last few years we've stuck to 'Langeland', a small festival on a Danish island selling around 25K tickets. We're not there for the music any more; it's a chance for old friends to hang out for a week and get drunk, smelly and a bit silly. We took the boat there last year, and might do the same again this year - it's quite handy having a floating gin palace available.
May 17, 2015, 11:29 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Well, festivals are really about bringing bunch of people with similar interests together, so an uncrowded fair would kind of be a failure, wouldn't it?
I regularly got to MakerFaire. I am in California right now as a matter of fact - they have big ones in May in San Mateo and Sept in New York. Kind of imagine a more family friendly version of Burning Man crossed with a robotics and 3d printing.
I regularly got to MakerFaire. I am in California right now as a matter of fact - they have big ones in May in San Mateo and Sept in New York. Kind of imagine a more family friendly version of Burning Man crossed with a robotics and 3d printing.
