Recommended reading

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
The ultimate novel to put you in the mood for serious festival going, even if it’s just to San Fermin. This book recounts the experiences at the bull running festival.
The Music Festival Guide: For Music Lovers and Musicians by Jon Pruett and Mike McGuirk
These freelance music writers have done musicians and aficionados a service in this wide-ranging guide to music festivals. They apportion space to lots of genres including rock, hip-hop, country, classical and jazz and highlight all the big festivals and lesser-known ones. There is a brief intro on each including specs on hotel and travel.
Cannes: A Festival Virgin’s Guide--Attending the Cannes Film Festival for Filmmakers and Film Industry Professionals by Benjamin Craig
This is the largest film market and industry get-together on the planet and this handbook is ideal for filmmakers and film industry professionals looking to attend the Cannes Film Festival for the first time. The guide provides practical advice on how to visit including getting there, getting around, places to stay, places to eat, and more.
Great Festivals of the World by Ian Jackson
Fifteen writers in this book take you to a different celebration around the world from the Kumbh Mela bathing pilgrims, to the exuberance of the Sydney Mardi Gras and beer drinking at Oktoberfest. Each story has a fact file so you can start planning a trip of your own.
Sundance: A Festival Virgin’s Guide by Benjamin Craig
An essential handbook for filmmakers, film industry professionals and film-fans looking to attend the festival in Utah. Provides practical advice for attending including how to get there and around, where to eat and places to stay. It also details the history of the event, structure and how to attend the screenings. Plus there’s an overview of the business side of the festival and interviews with Sundance veterans.
World Party: The Rough Guide to the World’s Best Festivals by Rough Guides
A detailed guide to the world’s best events and festivals. Has full color throughout with detailed accounts of major festivals and insider tips on how best to enjoy each one.
Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide by Chris Gore
This guide was written to help the aspiring film festival-goer. Chock full of practical advice with everything from submitting to and attending film festivals.

Useful Websites

Festivals.com (http://www.festivals.com)
The largest resource for children’s festivals and events worldwide including 925 family-oriented festivals.
Festivals and Events (http://www.festivalsandevents.com)
Lists festivals and events across the USA.
Total Travel Guide (http://www.totaltravel.com.au)
Australian online travel guide with all the events and festivities happening nation wide.
Festivals.com (http://www.festivals.com)
More than 40000 festivals and events are entered here to search by keyword, geography or date.
2camels (http://www.2camels.com)
This useful site provides travel writing and photography on far flung festivals and events from Oktoberfest to La Tomatina. Hundreds of articles, snippets, photo galleries, videos and festival links from 175 countries.
Film Festival World (http://www.filmfestivalworld.com)
Users can select and compare the film festivals of the world through profiles, maps, charts, calendars and genre pages.
World Party Rough Guides (http://worldparty.roughguides.com)
Presents first-hand accounts from the festival frontlines and features introductions to every festival found in the published book of the same title. There is key info about when and where each takes place. You can browse hundreds of festivals and vote on your favorite.