I was a first time visitor to Holmfirth this year (as part of The Jake Thackray Experience). I had a great time and would hesitate to suggest ways of "improving" things. But my twopence worth:
*I agree that it is a festival of folk being held in Holmfirth and should keep that name.
*I agree that The Picturedrome was a good focus for events and enjoyed the twenty minute slot we had there on the Sunday afternoon - however it wasn't the right venue fo us because it is very much a performing venue with "stage" and "audience" and a big gap in between. What I liked about this year was that the balance was slanted towards participation rather than 'performers' and certainly we prefer venues where we can see the whites of the audience's eyes and vice-versa.
*Most of the social aspect of the festival was in or about the various pubs; much as I like a pint or two, a central point where festival goers could have mingled, held sessions etc. over a tea or a coffee and perhaps food would have been nice, Man can not live on Taylor's ale alone, however hard he might try. This would have been more important if the weather hadn't been lovely on the Saturday.
*Smoking: I live in Edinburgh where we are mightily blessed by a smoking ban in indoor public places. England isn't and I know that it's a bone of contention - but in performing areas indoors I think smoking should not be permitted.
*I would have liked a Holmfirth Festival of Folk sticker for my guitar case!

Incidentally I am fairly sure that this year's organisers didn't step into the breech - more likely they stepped into the breach, although it was pretty clear that Cath wore the trousers.

TTFN

Ian