TANSTAAFL (There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch) Any festival, no matter the size, costs money. That money can come from (a) government, (b) private benefactors, (c) commercial sponsors, (d) fees, or (e) some combination of sources. Most festival goers have little or no comprehension (or, sometimes, appreciation of or for) the behind-the-scenes intricacies that make it all possible. I've been involved in different capacities with a variety of responsibilities in several different kinds of events, with draws of a few hundred to several thousands. It's a lot of damned hard work. Be thankful for the people who work so hard to make it happen, especially the volunteers. Better yet, volunteer yourself.