Music Festival Enthusiasts Defined as Festivillians

Let’s define the word Festivillian. It has been used as a descriptive word by musicians, artists, promoters, organizers, and festival enthusiasts for many years. It refers to people who really have a passion for going to or participating in art, music and renaissance festivals in particular. Often throughout history, words have been used in a social or urban manner for a period of time before they became mainstream and defined as a dictionary term. Such is the case with Festivillian.

The first mention of a music festival comes from the Pythian Games in ancient Greece that began around 582 BC. At that point in history, the administration of the Games was handed over to the Delphic Amphiktyonia, a council of the twelve Greek tribes, to end the Holy War in the past. The games often included musical performances. This might be the oldest historical mention of a music festival.

Initially, the words Fiesta and Festival were interchangeable and were used to honor the gods. Through the ages, each term has found its own meaning in our society, however, both denote a celebration.

Music festivals tend to be annual, although many are organized as a one-off event. There are those that are for profit and purely entertainment, and those that are designed to do more than entertain. There has been a recent increase in the last few decades in the correlation between certain music festivals and environmental awareness. Many festivals today have a green theme on some level. Some of them, for example, the Shakori Hills Music Festival, build a sustainable village and offer classes and workshops for sustainable living. The 2008 Green Apple Festival, celebrated on Earth Day, was the first of its kind to coordinate many major US cities to offer music festivals and green living fairs in unison across the country and even had international participation.

Another interesting Music Festival is the educational and supportive one. Some communities offer free, or nearly free, music festivals in order to give young musicians an audience and the opportunity to play music and learn from their more experienced and established peers. An outstanding example of this is the Alaskan Folk Festival that takes place in Juneau. Spring 2008 was their 34th annual festival!

There is something special that we feel in a festival atmosphere. It feels like there’s a touch of magic in the air. There is a spirit of friendship, freedom, peace and camaraderie that runs through most of the Festivillians, setting them apart and creating the atmosphere of a summer camp. Even casual festival goers or patrons seem to take notice. Eye contact with “strangers” is easier, people smile at each other and strike up conversations instantly. Something about a festival seems to break down our barriers and raise the spirit of the community. Perhaps a Festivillian is best defined as a person who thrives in this type of environment.

Festivillian.com offers easy access to resources for tickets, camping/hiking, festival gear, souvenirs, and even simple price comparisons on RVs and motorhomes. As this website grows, like all things, it will flourish over time and offer its users much more. Please feel free to share, bookmark or link to it. Suggestions are welcome (contact form coming soon) and so are you!