"My experiences with festivals suggest that "programmed breaks" aren't what people want, what they want is stuff happening."

As a festival programmer, one of the gentle suggestions I've received from attenders in the past is that, without an obvious break programmed at teatime, it was hard for people to find time to have a proper meal. Go figure.

"Having said that, the people running sessions etc also have to eat."

indeed they do. John had been running the CD stall all day, and went straight into the evening session. He and Katie, who had done both a talk and the afternoon concert, needed a break before the evening. As did stewards and other staff.