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Researchers have used the concept of place attachment to better understand people's attachment to recreational settings as well as geographic areas. They also have examined the phenomenon of “crowding” within these same settings and have adopted the notion that crowding is a negative evaluation of population density and has a negative impact on visitors' experiences. What we do not know is whether there is a relationship between individuals' attachment to a place and their perceptions of crowding, especially within the context of a community-focused festival. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between place attachment and visitors' perceptions of crowding at a First Night® event. Data were analyzed using a series of correlations between a place attachment index and six crowding questions. Results indicated that place attachment is positively related to an individual's perception of crowding. As individuals' attachment to their community increases so too do their positive feelings about crowds. These results challenge traditional notions about crowding and provide insight to festival managers interested in enhancing their relationship with the host community.
Wickham et al. (Wed,) studied this question.