Sorry I guess you just have to live here (however I have heard that some of the same problems in the UK especially in regard to growing popularity of fusion)

Yes here festival bands play and leave. They always claim they have another gig except that I find that they simply hang out at the hotel pool.

Handmade items yes some but most are hand made in china if that counts.

Of course there are exceptions glad you have found them. We only have one free folk festival Washington Folk Music Society however I generally give them a $20. donation because I got started going for free when at University. Even there one of my favorite bands composed of several good friends played and vanished strange because I was there with my artcar and horn hats as a favor for them.....

High gate prices especially for families limits the numbers of people who can afford to attend A simple math problem. Once people pay for admission and food there is nothing left for cds or anything else. All the vendor prices are higher than the same thing elsewhere.
Conrad