Festival Attendees Research Articles

From curiosity to commitment: exploring the longevity of science festival impacts one year post-event

ABSTRACT Science festivals are known to boost aspects of science capital in the short term, but little work has been done to determine their longer-term impacts. We surveyed festival participants one year after attendance, and found that a large proportion retained knowledge acquired during the experience. Many had also been prompted to take further science-related actions. Moreover, some respondents reported sustained impacts from other visits three or more years previously. As both ‘what you know’ and ‘what you do’ are key aspects of science capital, we conclude that festival attendance builds such capital over medium to long time frames of a year or more. We propose two mechanisms by which such a transient event can have long-term impacts; the role of curiosity in facilitating knowledge acquisition, and the experiential nature of festivals which allows them to form a stage of Kolb’s cycle of learning. While the finding that science festivals have the capacity to boost aspects of science capital for a year or more after attendance is arresting, it highlights the importance of ensuring that such events are accessible to all, rather than just those with an existing interest, in order to widen participation in science.

Use of reagent test kits and fentanyl test strips among electronic music festival attendees in Colorado: prevalence, barriers, and behavior in response to drug checking

BackgroundPolysubstance use is common at electronic dance music (EDM) events and hazards associated with polysubstance use may be exacerbated when people who use drugs are unaware of the contents of their drug sample. Reagent test kits (RTK) and fentanyl test strips (FTS) are two efficacious drug checking tools that people who use drugs might use to protect themselves from risks associated with contamination, adulteration, and misrepresentation of unregulated substances. In the current study, we aimed to (1) characterize the use of RTK and FTS among attendees of a 4-day music festival in Colorado and (2) qualitatively capture perceived barriers to using RTK and FTS within festival settings.MethodsWe surveyed 227 music festival attendees on their use of drug checking tools (i.e., RTK and FTS) and behavior in response to drug checking. We also collected qualitative data on perceived barriers of using RTK and FTS within a festival setting using survey-based open-ended text response questions.ResultsThe percentage of participants having ever used RTK and FTS was 75.3% and 66.5% respectively. When asked how often participants ensure their drugs are tested prior to consumption, participants responding “always” or “most of the time” was 54.4% for use of RTK and 59.4% for use of FTS. Additionally, 60.8% of participants reported that they had never consumed a drug that reagent tested differently than expected and 87.9% of participants reported that they had never consumed a drug that tested positive for fentanyl. Perceived barriers to using RTK and FTS within a festival setting encompassed the following themes: (1) accessing testing materials (2) environmental or ecological barriers (3) legal concerns (4) social dynamics (5) lack of education/training and (6) limits of individual drug checking tools.ConclusionsRTK and FTS appear to empower festival attendees in the U.S. to make informed decisions related to their substance use. However, there is a critical need to reduce barriers associated with drug checking for this at-risk population.

Evaluation of the social impact of small-scale dance festivals: the case of Samos

Cultural events, such as festivals, foster intercultural dialogue, promote social cohesion, and increase knowledge about the culture of the region where they take place This study aimed to examine how educational level, place of residence, and income influence the perceived social impact of the Samos dance festival on the local community. The sample consisted of 211 Samos dance festival participants, and the research was carried out in the framework of the Triple Bottom Line (T.B.L) approach, first introduced by Elkington (1997) which analyses sustainability through three pillars, one of which is social. Data collection was carried out using the Dallas questionnaire (2018), focusing on questions related to social impact and demographic characteristics of festival attendees. The results showed that the social impact of the festival is highly valued across the entire sample. Permanent residents rated all aspects of social impact more positively than visitors. This assessment can be explained by the deeper connection of permanent residents with the local community. Regarding the level of education, contradictory results were observed, with both postgraduate or doctoral degree holders and secondary school graduates rating the social impact higher than other participants. Additionally, income level appeared to partially alter their perception of the festival’s social effects, especially among participants from lower economic backgrounds. In conclusion, the Samos dance festival has a significant positive social impact on the local community.

Impact of group dancing during Japanese festivals on people's sense of community.

Moving together or attending festivals has been reported to foster social bonding. However, whether festivals with and without dancing affect individuals' social bonds and sense of community remains unclear. The existing research does not demonstrate whether lasting effects exist over time, even when community festivals are held only a limited number of times a year. To address this issue, this study examines the impact of dancing at local festivals on individuals' sense of community. This study hypothesized that if dancing with others enhances social bonding, individuals' participation in festivals may enhance sense of community since dancing is a part of many festivals. Accordingly, an online survey was conducted a few months after a community festival, and participants responded to three scales: the Brief Sense of Community Scale, Community Consciousness Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. The results found (1) that the participants who attended and danced at a festival with dancing showed a higher sense of community and lower loneliness level than those who did not dance or those who attended a festival without dancing. (2) Previous festival attendance habits did not influence these tendencies. (3) Furthermore, these tendencies were not related to the individual's willingness to attend festivals. Therefore, dancing at festivals may promote a greater sense of community than attending festivals without dance.

Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals

BackgroundA welfare-first approach to harm reduction at UK festivals is emerging as a critical strategy for enhancing festival safety. In particular, the implementation of anonymous, non-punitive drug-checking services is posited as essential for reducing drug-related harm by enabling informed decision-making. This empirical study examines the limitations of punitive drug policies and the associated risks to public health and explores the potential benefits of decriminalisation in fostering safer festival environments.MethodsThe study employed qualitative methodologies, including semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with festival attendees at three major UK festivals. This empirical data was supplemented by a review of recent studies (Ivers et al. in Ir J Med Sci 191(4):1701–1710, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02765-2; Palmer Maynard in Harm Reduc J 19(1):81, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00662-0; Cooney and Measham. in Drug Sci Policy Law 9, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503245231211444) and relevant policy documents, in order to evaluate current harm reduction practices and identify key barriers, such as stigma, social control, and criminalisation.ResultsAnalysis revealed that integrated harm reduction measures, comprising drug-checking services, welfare support, and early intervention initiatives, significantly enhance safety by empowering individuals with timely, accurate substance information. A majority of participants expressed a clear preference for drug-checking services, underscoring their willingness to engage when these services are provided in a supportive, non-punitive environment. However, persistent challenges related to punitive drug policies and gaps in public education about harm reduction continue to impede optimal service delivery. Evidence further suggests that a shift towards decriminalisation and welfare-based approaches could mitigate these risks and foster more trusting engagement with harm reduction initiatives.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that prioritising welfare-first harm reduction strategies, particularly the implementation of anonymous drug-checking services, can create safer festival environments and inform broader public health policies. The study underscores the need for policy reforms that move away from punitive approaches, suggesting that festival-based interventions can serve as scalable models for reducing drug-related harm across diverse community settings.

Sustainable Food Festival Tourism: Integrating the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Model for Cultural and Environmental Resilience in Thailand

The Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) model presents a transformative framework for advancing sustainability in food festival tourism, particularly in Thailand. Food festivals serve as dynamic platforms for celebrating local culinary heritage while fostering environmental responsibility and economic resilience. This study examined the integration of the BCG model with critical success factors and community identity to assess its impact on sustainable food festival management. Employing a quantitative research approach and structural equation modeling, data were collected from 503 festival attendees to analyze key relationships among event management, community identity, and sustainability practices. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the BCG model in enhancing resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and promoting local sourcing, thus strengthening the sustainability and attractiveness of food festivals. Notably, while the role of community identity was found to be less significant than anticipated, this suggests evolving tourist preferences favoring sustainability and quality over traditional cultural attributes. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers, event organizers, and stakeholders in designing eco-conscious, culturally enriching festivals that align with the global sustainability goals. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse on sustainable tourism and provides practical strategies to foster environmentally responsible and economically viable food festivals.

Investigating an e-cigarette brand's use of music festivals for social media campaigns and experiential marketing.

Geek Bar is an e-cigarette brand that has seen a substantial rise in sales in the past year. During this time, the brand has utilized an extensive experiential marketing campaign targeting music and arts festivals, especially electronic dance music (EDM) events. This campaign utilizes both festival attendance and social media to create associations between the brand and EDM culture. To analyze this campaign, we downloaded and coded 18 months of Instagram posts by Geek Bar for the festivals mentioned and relevant themes. During the last six months of data collection, 39% of all Instagram posts by Geek Bar were about festivals. The account regularly drew connections between the brand and EDM culture, showing artists/DJs performing alongside young, attractive e-cigarette users. Such attempts to create ties between the brand and EDM culture are concerning given the younger age of EDM fans. These techniques will likely continue due to the lack of regulations and enforcement on e-cigarettes and experiential marketing.

Gender minorities and persons with disabilities defining their perpetrators at music festivals

There are recent studies on sexual harassment at music festivals, particularly toward female attendees. However, studies on perpetrators of minority members are scarce. We wanted to discover the prevalence of inappropriate behavior toward gender minorities and persons with disabilities and give voice to their experiences, aiming to identify ways to improve inclusivity at music festivals. The research data comprised survey responses (n = 16,681) and nine in-depth interviews of minority members and their Personal Assistants. Statistical methods and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were employed for the research. Both gender minorities and persons with disabilities faced more inappropriate behavior than other festival attendees, and these experiences increased if the person belonged to both minorities. The perpetrators were divided into four groups: those with positive attitudes but incorrect actions; those who were ignorant or did not care; those who had negative, prejudiced behavior, and those who were aggressive and expressed hate. Organizers should take various actions to increase inclusivity in their festivals: defining safer space policies; training, programming and recruitment; hiring a harassment contact team; improving the control of alcohol consumption, and introducing a sensory-friendly space.

Festival attractiveness and loyalty: mediating effects of festival attachment

ABSTRACT Festival loyalty is a crucial device for measuring the success of any festival. This study integrated destination attractiveness and place attachment theories to discover the dynamic relationship between festival attractiveness, attachment, and loyalty. Through mixed research, including analysis of 38 research studies, focus groups, interviews, and data from 346 festival attendees, the study utilized the partial least squares structural equation modeling PLS-SEM via SmartPLS-4. Results highlighted the significant impact of cultural attractions, recreation facilities, and novelty seeking on festival attachment and loyalty, except for novelty seeking's relation to festival loyalty. This research enhances the understanding of festival dynamics and loyalty.

The Experience of a Festival During the (COVID)-19 Pandemic: Safety Within the Festivalscape

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the perception of safety became a real issue in the minds of the festival consumer. Because of this, festival producers had to manage the expectation that proper precautionary measures are in place to protect festival attendees. Thus, the experience of the festivalscape has changed where festival attendees are more aware of safety in their festival environment. Limited prior studies have included safety in the festivalscape though there are calls to include safety as an additional factor. Thus, the purpose of this research is to determine whether safety indeed plays a significant role in the festivalscape when predicting festival success (revisit intention). To achieve this objective, researchers surveyed craft beer festival attendees in Boone, North Carolina, USA on their festivalscape experiences including safety, facility, beverage quality, convenience, and staff quality. Outcomes of festival experiences included the success factors affective response and revisit intention.

Gender minorities at music festivals

PurposeThe purpose was to examine the prevalence and type of inappropriate behaviour gender minorities face and how they perceive such behaviour. The study is framed within Gidley et al.’s social inclusion model, indicating areas where actions are needed to avoid social exclusion.Design/methodology/approachThe research data comprised over 12,000 responses to a web survey, which included 184 responses from gender minority members and four in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using statistical methods and interpretative phenomenological analysis.FindingsAbout 59% of gender minority members had experienced inappropriate behaviour, compared to 34% of female festival attendees. The most common form of inappropriate behaviour towards gender minorities was harassment because of gender, followed by sexual harassment, physically threatening situations and harassment because of appearance or clothing. Interviews were analysed against the theoretical framework of social inclusion, determining how the experiences influenced access, participation and empowerment.Practical implicationsFestivals must have unisex toilets. Safer space policies should be better communicated, more visible and more practical. Instead of having one harassment contact person, there should be a whole team. Training the festival personnel, particularly the security staff, is highly important. People are reluctant to report problems to the security personnel since those personnel might be part of the problem. There should be members of gender minorities among performers, workers, security staff and volunteers.Originality/valueStudies on inappropriate behaviour at festivals have concentrated on female experiences of sexual harassment. Gender minorities have hardly been studied, even though they face more inappropriate behaviour than any other minority group. Furthermore, gender minorities are typically grouped with sexual minorities even though their experiences differ from one another. We applied Gidley et al.’s hierarchical model of social inclusion to gender minority members in the context of music festivals. In doing so, we added knowledge of attitudes and practices that reduce and endanger feelings of access, participation and empowerment.

Exploring digital and physical audience experience and engagement: attendees’ perspectives of Greek cultural festivals

This research explores and compares differentiations between digital and physical cultural festival experiences and how they impact audience engagement in the post pandemic era. Research employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Factor and cluster analyses were used to elaborate on the data and assess the audience experience. Results compare the digital and physical festival experiences shaped during the pandemic and shed light on the perceptions and preferences of festival attendees. As expected, attendees of cultural festivals prefer the physical experiences, however digital features and experiences are embraced by audiences as they offer additional opportunities for access, engagement and participation. Physical and online formats can co-exist in increasingly productive ways and as the physical-only format will continue to structure and shape most festivals, the hybrid format offers an alternative that requires further testing to assess its potential. This hybrid model not only caters to traditional attendees but also allows festivals to expand their audiences and provide more flexible participation options. Findings suggest that festival stakeholders must carefully balance the integration of digital features to enhance accessibility and reach while maintaining the unique appeal of physical experiences. Audience preferences, logistics challenges, and resource allocation need to be considered when designing hybrid events, ensuring that both formats deliver a cohesive and engaging experience. The implications of the findings can contribute to the hybrid events future research agenda.

Music Festivals and Individualised Sociality: Investigating the Experience of Solo Festival Attendees

Music Festivals and Individualised Sociality: Investigating the Experience of Solo Festival Attendees

The influence of perceived music quality, atmosphere and place on music festival visitors' behavioural intentions: satisfaction and subjective well-being’s mediating roles

PurposeThis research investigates the effect of festival attributes such as music quality, atmosphere and place on music festival visitors' behavioural intentions, particularly focusing on how visitors’ satisfaction and their subjective well-being mediate these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThis research was designed as quantitative research to reveal the relationships between music quality, place and atmosphere with visitors' behavioural intentions. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationships between the constructs using data from 256 festival attendees in Edirne.FindingsThe results reveal that perceived music quality and atmosphere significantly enhance visitors’ satisfaction, which in turn positively impacts word-of-mouth intention and subjective well-being. Moreover, subjective well-being positively and significantly affects visitors' revisit intentions. Finally, visitors’ satisfaction mediates the relationship between perceived music quality and word-of-mouth intention.Originality/valueIt is one of the first studies to investigate the mediating effects of visitor satisfaction and subjective well-being on the relationships between perceived music quality, atmosphere, place and the behavioural intentions of music festival attendees. Furthermore, the present study provides not only empirical support for the theoretical frameworks but also offers practical insights for festival organizers on enhancing visitor experiences to improve behavioural outcomes.

HOW IMPORTANT IS SUSTAINABILITY FOR VISITORS OF ROCK AND POP FESTIVALS? INSIGHTS FROM A BROAD AUDIENCE ANALYSIS IN GERMANY

The study examines the significance of sustainability among festival attendees (N = 3,503), revealing that a substantial majority of 90.4% do not consider it a primary factor in their festival experience. The analysis highlights demographic influences, indicating that factors such as age, gender, and educational background have minimal impact on the perceived importance of sustainability. The paper synthesizes these findings, concluding that sustainability is not a central aspect of the festival experience for most visitors. Why is this the case? The answer lies in a key aspect of the experience that guests seek at festivals: escapism. The study suggests that traditional approaches, such as strict regulations on non-sustainable practices, may be counterproductive. Instead, it advocates for the development of innovative nudging strategies that promote sustainable behaviors while preserving the escapist nature of festivals. By fostering a culture of engagement rather than prohibition, event organizers can enhance the integration of sustainability into the festival experience, ultimately encouraging more responsible participation among attendees.

Quantifying the socio-economic benefits of music festivals: The case study of Phalaphala FM Royal Heritage festival

Understanding the socio-economic benefits of annual community festivals is vital for stakeholders like event planners and sponsors. This study, focused on Phalaphala FM Royal Heritage Festival, assumes festivals generate income for host communities and attract tourists. Using a dual approach (demand and supply perspectives), the study empirically evaluates these benefits, highlighting their impact on local economies and tourism. The aim is to assess and quantify the socio-economic advantages of music festivals for the host community. The research followed the quantitative method for both the demand and supply sides. The demand side collected data from sampled festival attendees; this was done face-to-face, while the supply collection of data from the SMMEs was done face-to-face and telephonically. The data was mainly analysed through descriptive analysis. The main findings revealed that retaining the earnings from the festival gains can be achieved by buying raw materials locally. Both the demand and supply sides depicted in the study show that the economic contribution of the festival involves the entire process of sourcing local produce from raw materials to finished products that may need to be done locally. However, the study established that buying locally might not be easy because some of the goods required are unavailable locally in the area. The festival greatly benefits both host communities and local businesses. The study recommends that there should be collaboration among local businesses to create packages (e.g., discounts for festivalgoers on food, accommodation, and transportation) to stimulate the local economy and to produce other raw materials locally.

Culinary Arts: A Motivator Towards Community-Based Festival Attendance and Sustainability

This study investigates motive factors attracting people to community-based festivals characterized by culinary activities and underscore its contribution to sustaining tourism activities in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was adopted for sample selection. Kayo-Kayo Festival in the Epe area of Lagos State was purposively selected, purposive and availability sampling technique was used to select household head and one additional adult from 25 households respectively within the host community. Convenience sampling method was further used to select 100 festivals attendees, making a total of 150 respondents and a structured close-ended questionnaire was administered for data gathering. Analysis was done through the use of simple percentages, weighted mean, standard deviation and correlation analysis. Majority (79.3%) of the respondents were attracted to community-based festival because of their interest in supporting preservation of cultural heritage (M=2.63; SD=0.85). 48.6% were highly attracted by Culinary arts competition during the festival activities (M=2.41; SD=0.87). Also, most respondents opines that the festival has positive effects on the socio-cultural (M=2.45; SD=1.33) economy (M=2.43; SD= 1.49) and environment (M=3.35; SD=132) of the host community. The study found that there is a positive correlation (r= 0.356) between culinary arts and factors that motivate festival attendance. The study concludes that culinary arts motivates peoples’ attendance at festivals and therefore recommends sustaining the inclusion of culinary activities in other community-based festivals to promote attendance for the progress of the festivals and its sustainability.

An IPA Analysis of Tourist Perception and Satisfaction with Nisville Jazz Festival Service Quality

This paper applies Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to investigate potential satisfaction or dissatisfaction with service quality at the internationally recognized Nisville Jazz Festival. The research was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20, including the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, factor analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation for data analysis. The study involved 250 festival attendees, focusing on their motivation and identification of both tangible and intangible attributes of the festival, with 227 providing valid responses to the survey questionnaire. The Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) was used to identify quality factors. The results indicate that cultural content and hospitality are the most important factors significantly contributing to visitor satisfaction and positively influencing recommendations and repeat visits to the festival. Another important factor in the study is accessibility, while comfort, amenities, safety, and cleanliness require improvement to enhance the overall visitor experience. The findings provide concrete guidelines for the further development of the festival and the enhancement of the tourism offerings in Nis.

IMPACT OF PRICE, COMMUNICATION, AND EXPERIENCE ON SATISFACTION AT COLDPLAY JAKARTA CONCERT

<p><strong><em>Abstract </em></strong><strong>- </strong>Achieving audience happiness and the sustainability of a Festival requires an understanding of the cost, interactions, and experiences of participants at an event like a music Festival. This study aims to examine the degree of satisfaction among those who attended Coldplay's November 15, 2023, A Head Full of Dreams Tour concert in Jakarta. Price, communication, and customer experience were the three main constructions of music Festival quality that were the focus of the investigation. 398 participants who had witnessed the concert were given questionnaires as part of a quantitative methodology approach, and SPSS 27 was used to process the data. The findings revealed that, in general, overall attendee satisfaction was influenced by aspects of Price, Communication, and Customer Experience. These aspects should be considered to identify and develop areas that exceed the expectations of Festival attendees.</p>

The Impact of Eco-Friendly Perceptions on Festival Attendees’ Decision-Making

People are becoming increasingly concerned with environment as the society becomes more environmentally conscious and this is on a global basis. Festivalgoers are now very much concerned about the environmental impact of the events they go to, a consumer behavior shift. As a result of that, festival organizers are taking this into account when developing their strategies for future festivals. This research examines the influence of eco-friendly perceptions on the decision-making process among festival visitors. The study used an extended version of the planned behavior model which takes into account attitudes, subjective norms, anticipated positive emotions, expected negative emotions, and perceived behavioral control concerning decision-making. This correlation study focuses on attitudes towards attending eco-friendly events in terms of behavioral intention, subjective norms, positive anticipated emotion, negative anticipated emotion, and perceived behavioral control. 197 data sets were collected through convenience sampling of event management students at UiTM Puncak Alam via different online platforms were used for the analysis. The SPSS was used for the analysis of results through reliability tests, correlations, and regressions. The result indicated that there was a significant relationship between all the variables involved in participating in eco-friendly events. Four independent variables show a significant beta coefficient for subjective norm, positive anticipated emotion, negative anticipated emotions, and perceived behavioral control. Meanwhile, another independent variable, attitude does not significantly influence behavioral intentions. The limitations, recommendations, and implications of the study were suggested for future research.