1) Festivals have various purposes such as bringing economic and tourism benefits to a community, celebrating local culture and history, and developing arts and music opportunities for youth. 2) Drivers for festivals include people, knowledge, and market forces that initiate and support the activities the festival was designed for, such as community cohesion, education, and tourism. 3) Understanding the purpose and drivers is key to defining a festival's vision and mission, and identifying stakeholders, partners, and intended audiences.