When I first went there it was as a day tripper with two young children and did not find the whole thing child friendly enough to make me go back there for 10 years.
When I did return it was as a steward and the start and finish times of my shifts were really awkward so I didn't get to see much at all. I didn't feel that I got enough out of it to warant working there again.
Since then I have gone and done the fringe and paid to see what interested me. Paying £5 to go in to the festival market is outrageous so I go after 5pm when it's free. The traders can't be happy about the situation, I certainly wouldn't be. Last year I overheard one saying "It must be 5-o-clock we've got customers.
The whole ethos of Sidmouth comes across as being about taking money and greed on the part of the organisers. This may be wrong but that's how it appears.
I hope the festival survives but I do not find the season ticket value for money and will not be sobbing into a sodden tissue if it fails.