Hello - Susan of DT here

We have been to many US festivals and a couple of UK festivals.

The US festivals are mostly in contained areas - a school, fairground, fenced off space. What fringe there is is in the
parking lot/campground (not all festivals have camping). There are no pubs in existance, not to say in use as fringe. Festivals are usually outside. If it rains, you sit in the rain and listen. A few have alternate indoor venues, but not many. There are usually large night concerts, such that everyone goes to the one concert at night. During the day, there are smaller groups that might be miniconcerts or workshops on instruments, singing styles, a topic, or whatever. Sometimes there is also dancing. There is usually no beer. People commute, stay in motels, or camp (if it is available). Vocal and instrumental are integrated. Dance may or may nor be present, usually separate if present.

Whitby is the UK Festival we know best and the other two we went to so far Towersley barn only and Scottish National are different, so it may be Whitby that is different. Whitby has a vast number of performers. The festival site is the entire town. Events occur in avery large room in town. Events are aal indoors, except for some Morris displays. People rent "cottages" for the week or else camp. The fringe is almost every pub in town. Lots of beer. Whitby is all traditional singers (we go to the vocal portions, there are also instrumental and dance portions). Vocal, instrumental and dance are widely separated - as if three different festivals.