I've attended several festivals (usually Mardi Gras/carnival type) on the continent, and one folk festival. The difference is amazing. The Continental festivals of all sorts are much more geared towards variety and children. The huge festival in Dranouter is fantastic for those with toddlers, as it has a children's play area that is free to site ticket holders (i.e., everyone allowed on the site, not just weekend/season tickets), it has a traditional end and a more rock/folk end, a chill zone for the teenagers/young at heart to crash and chill in, quieter spots for us older ones (yeah, like I'm heading towards 40 and it's getting closer!) and the artist reception is a fully stocked bar, with more than you can get at the public bar. The food is not overpriced, the language was no barrier and the craft stalls were not the same old tie dyed Tshirts that everyone was selling here last year. Children are catered for, not tolerated, there was a special dance for the under 14's and the whole festival was sponsered by the main radio station for Belgium, oddly called Radio 1, a big shock to us Brits, whose experience of Radio 1 recently has been incomprehensible row and garage/house/rave stuff, that has no tune, lyrics or merit as far as I can see...

Anyway, go for the continental (European that is) festivals, you will have a great time!

LTS