You know what would be great now and then in Calgary? A freakin drink special on a weekend! C'mon pubs, we have been paying 8.00 a beer long enough (and then tipping on top of that) Give us something back!!
These festivals are just a cash cow for pubs, lame.
Overall though, I love that we have a lilac festival, and now can talk about the crowds and how to deal with them. Im pretty sure I went a decade ago and the crowds were smaller and the festival didnt go on for as many blocks as it does now.
Pretty successful if you ask me. Now lets just keep it going and re-invent it a little bit.