7. Conclusion
To sum up, historically festivals were seen as short-term gatherings to escape daily routine. As today festivals are very complex, dynamic and multidimensional events that complete political, economic, cultural and social functions. Festivals can be seen as ‘’emancipatory structures’’. Concepts of liminality and carnivalesque allows to explain how space is being utilized. Place is crucial aspect for festivals. Place image has become a commodity for tourist consumption. Festivals and the city have synergic relationship in which they both gain socio-economic benefit. However, this might be detrimental to locals and not be sustainable in a long run. Festivals organized in cities add symbolic meaning to it and contribute to subjective experience. Glastonbury festival is an interesting case study of a hallmark event that has been festivalised. They have managed to preserve the romantic, countercultural cool that sets them apart from other festivals. Finally, Edinburgh Festivals are one of the most spectacular examples or festivalised city showcasing liminality and carnivalesque elements. Festivals can bring variety of social, cultural, economic impacts to the places. These include more employment opportunities for locals, enhanced quality of life, strengthened community’s pride, better city reputation and many others. Although, responsible authorities should be aware of the extent when festivalisation processes start to become unsustainable and destructive to locals.
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