I grew up going to the Festival of Friends in Hamilton. I always liked that and it was a shock to me when I went to another festival and had to pay to get in. About twenty years ago I went to an outdoor performance of some group with my uncle in England, my memory is of lots of people in anoraks huddling in the beer tent watching the rain piss down outside. The best rainy day event at a festival I've seen was years ago with a Steel drum band at the Festival of Friends. They played all afternoon in a tent and people danced either dry or wet. Without the overwhelming crowds members of the audience felt freer to ask if they could try the drums out and a few were allowed to. People had a great time.

One thing that I've noticed can make or break a festival for me is the quality of the sound. Celtic festival in Goderich last year was wonderful, Hillside in Guelph the year before had what appeared to be a deaf sound man at the main stage, the best mix of sound could be heard in the parking lot. The side tents were better.