I have been involved in organizing several small festivals and festival-like event. However, my experience is in the USA, where alcohol is not such an integral part of the folk culture. Nevertheless, some of these ideas may prove helpful.

• Consider holding your festival in a school, and then allow members of the school community (faculty, staff, students, parents) attend at a reduced cost or even for free. I have found schools that charge little or nothing for use of their facilities in return for such concessions.

• Schedule at least one free concert for families with children, and book performers who know how to work with young audiences. Consider making the entire festival free for children.

• Program a variety of events, including concerts, presentations, teaching workshops, sing-arounds, and jams. If appropriate space is available, include some dance events.

• Book some young performers, particularly if they are from the school or neighborhood.

• Be open and welcoming to local ethnic immigrant communities, and book performers from those communities who are able to share their traditional music.

• Establish some rituals. For example, have an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, and somewhere in the middle take time to present an award (certificate or plaque) to someone you would like to honor.

• Invite folk radio program hosts to attend for free. Even better, ask one or more to serve as a MC. And be sure to let them have some free tickets they can give away to their listeners. In return they will give your festival plenty of free publicity.

Best of luck.

--- Steve