Yeah, I know what you mean. I just have to wonder, what’s happened since I left Calgary? I moved from there in 1996, and at that time it was still common practise to hear about those sorts of things on the radio and in the papers.
Now that I think about it, you’re right about the festivals flying under the radar, tooth. I know that we have a Lilac Festival in spring on 4th St. SW, a Salsa Festival in Kensington in summer, a Carifest, an Afrika Dey, a Winter Festival, and some kind of New Year’s Eve thing downtown, but I don’t really hear about them at all.
And sign me up as another person who can live without the 10 day piss-up that is The Stampede. Course, I can’t stand country music and I don’t drink, so there’s not much in it for me. 
Spoken like a true Calgarian, 'lou. I usually left town for the weekends during the Stampede as well. Of course, NOW I miss it. I’m thinking of throwing a Stampede Breakfast this year for other Canadian ex-pats in the area.
I’m not sure that Lilac Fest could get any bigger for the space they’re cordoning off. I had a booth there last year, and for the whole day, 4th St was completely jam packed with people, from the river up to about 12th Ave. You almost couldn’t move at times. (Now ask me if they bought anything. Not that I’m bitter)
I’ve noticed that with any festival I’ve gone to, too - they’re usually very well-attended in spite of the lack of advertising. Maybe that’s why they don’t advertise - they don’t want any more people to show up!
Are you having a booth again this year, Raygun? Can we come by and say hello?