Totally agree Don.
It's inevitable that any gathering of people will produce some rubbish. Not because they are bad. It's just a fact.
A lot of the organisers of the Hop Fest can be seen toting bin liners on the Sunday evening. Even if they've been performing earlier in the day. Why?
Because we want to leave the town as we found it. And we'd like to show the council that it is a good event, and can we come back next year?
It's a principle that has worked for many years. It's called simple courtesy.
I can guarantee that by 9 o'clock tonight. The stages will have been dismantled, PA systems packed away, the town put back to normal, as if nothing had happened.
There will also be some very happy traders counting their takings, and looking forward a year hence to the next one.
As for the visitors to the town?
The regulars will have seen it before.
The newcomers will have experienced a joyful experience that they don't get at home.
The winners? Well just about everyone! Businesses, musicians, street theatre artists, The brewery! The Morris sides who turn up for nothing.
Who loses? nobody really.
But, It needs to be organised, and it is..with everyone doing their bit.
Free? Yes, of course it is.
Expensive? In terms of hard work by the volunteers, Yes.
I say again Conrad. Why not try it yourself.