ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a review of literature which investigates and defines festival studies, the role of children within families, quality of life (QOL) research and individual and family QOL, in order to provide empirical and conceptual context to understanding the relationship between QOL, festivals and events. It present analysis under the frame conditions of time and space, money/wealth and rest, health and happiness, which impact upon QOL and event attendance. The chapter examines the gap between event research and praxis, and discusses the key conditions needed when families visit events such as the potential for social bonding, belonging and attachment to place. The vast majority of research has focused primarily upon an individual's QOL. The QOL research aims to investigate and analyse the impact of festival and event attendance upon family QOL by highlighting the social values created through family event attendance.
