Do You Go to Festivals?
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,293
Do You Go to Festivals?
This is the time of year when festivals seem to show up everywhere - music festivals, food festivals, art festivals, appealing to just about every taste imaginable in some of the most interesting places around. I am always tempted by a least a few, given the descriptions, but then I remember the few I did go to. They always seems to feature several things in common - large, annoying crowds, lots of traffic, exhorbitant prices, and lack of basic creature comforts, especially for those of us beyond the days of sleeping on the ground.
I'm wondering if people have found any of these festivals really enjoyable - ones that minimize the negatives and maximize the positives. I haven't and would love to know of some.
I'm wondering if people have found any of these festivals really enjoyable - ones that minimize the negatives and maximize the positives. I haven't and would love to know of some.
#2




Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MT, USA
Programs: Ex-5C club, Skymiles Gold
Posts: 454
Do You Go to Festivals?
There are all sorts of festivals ranging from Squid Fest to Garlic Fest and Fog Fest to Pumpkin fest that are all considered just a day trip (all of these happen to be in the bay area). I have found these to be fun in the past but obviously usually crowded.
I am not one to go to a three day music festival and sleep on the ground (even though my folks were apparently at Woodstock!)
I am not one to go to a three day music festival and sleep on the ground (even though my folks were apparently at Woodstock!)
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2006
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There are all sorts of festivals ranging from Squid Fest to Garlic Fest and Fog Fest to Pumpkin fest that are all considered just a day trip (all of these happen to be in the bay area). I have found these to be fun in the past but obviously usually crowded.
I am not one to go to a three day music festival and sleep on the ground (even though my folks were apparently at Woodstock!)
I am not one to go to a three day music festival and sleep on the ground (even though my folks were apparently at Woodstock!)
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
they do vary - classical music/opera festivals in europe for example
aspen food & wine (~5000 tickets?) is expensive single ticket, interesting thats not more common
naples wine festival (580 tickets) is super expensive single ticket, includes a dinner in private home
many festivals offer various levels of VIP packages to reduce level of discomfort
aspen food & wine (~5000 tickets?) is expensive single ticket, interesting thats not more common
naples wine festival (580 tickets) is super expensive single ticket, includes a dinner in private home
many festivals offer various levels of VIP packages to reduce level of discomfort
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; May 11, 2015 at 8:04 pm
#5


Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
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Posts: 5,083
theyre usually held in oppressive heat of summer and full of obnoxious younger people.
the best festival ive been to is sasquatch festival in the gorge washington state... in beautiful locale, good weather of may, out in a beautiful secluded natural setting, and the year i was there the lineup was killer (pavement, national, lcd soundsystem, mgmt, mountain goats, etc)....
im over most festivals now. when i want, ill see a specific act
the best festival ive been to is sasquatch festival in the gorge washington state... in beautiful locale, good weather of may, out in a beautiful secluded natural setting, and the year i was there the lineup was killer (pavement, national, lcd soundsystem, mgmt, mountain goats, etc)....
im over most festivals now. when i want, ill see a specific act
#6


Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
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I arranged a trip in Germany so I could attend a festival in Trier with fireworks. It was really interesting, not only because I love fireworks, but also because it gave us a chance to see Germans all taking part in a group activity.
While we were in Venice on the same trip we also stumbled into the biggest festival/fireworks display of the year. I'm not sure what it was for, but we enjoyed it.
While we were in Venice on the same trip we also stumbled into the biggest festival/fireworks display of the year. I'm not sure what it was for, but we enjoyed it.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
Rebelyell, sounds like >
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festa_del_Redentore
http://www.veneziaunica.it/en/conten...ore-feast-2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festa_del_Redentore
http://www.veneziaunica.it/en/conten...ore-feast-2014
#8




Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MT, USA
Programs: Ex-5C club, Skymiles Gold
Posts: 454
Do You Go to Festivals?
Oh, and I completely forgot the one festival I refuse to miss every year: the fete de Geneve (festival in Geneva Switzerland) which happens to have one of the best fireworks displays in the world. It is one hour long on the Lac Leman synchronized with music. Really breathtaking.
#10
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks




Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
I went to the first and only New York Tokyo Music Festival (in 2002). It was somewhere in Midtown on the Hudson, and had a rather empty couple of tents showcasing singers from the US and Japan.
If this was held again, I reckon it would attract significantly more attendees.
If this was held again, I reckon it would attract significantly more attendees.
#12


Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
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I go to village-based festivals and book my accommodation and travel up to a year before hand.
Then I relax and enjoy being at the centre of things.
Otherwise, forget it.
Then I relax and enjoy being at the centre of things.
Otherwise, forget it.
#14




Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
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Posts: 3,452
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.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
I inadvertantly went to a sea shanty festival a couple of years ago (turned up in town not knowing it was on). It was brilliant and i'd really like to go again. But in general i'm not a festival person - I don't like crowds or price gouging.

