The Real Pixie
A Creature in an Underground Location
Another thing to consider is celebrations weren't just tied to 'festival days'.
In a small town it wouldn't be unusual for everyone (or at least a large number of people) to be part of a wedding. You can have the party roll in and find the village green abuzz with preparations for the ceremony (bunting being hung up, kegs being hoisted into stands, etc).
That evening will also see host to stag and hen parties (which would be a small gathering of friends and probably not that boozy).
Similarly, significant birthdays might be widely attended. Something like a village elder celebrating an 80th would be quite significant. Someone well-liked and gregarious as a host may have the villagers all out on the green every year for their birthday. Or perhaps the town has a vain mayor who insists on hosting everyone for his birthday (and collecting more tax the next month to cover the expense...), bringing the whole village in one place to celebrate.
Roof-raising parties happen every time a new house is built (literally once the roof was completed or 'raised' the community would celebrate with a party).
There doesn't even have to be a particular occasion, people were always looking for an excuse to party. If a traveling troupe rolls into town the whole village will come together to see them perform, oftentimes laying out food and drink in communal spaces much like they would during a festival. The children are allowed to stay up late (which they're usually very excited by!) and once they've finally been set to bed the troupers will perform even later, switching to the bawdier adults-only material. It goes without saying that the next day work would be done a bit slower than usual...
At any rate the point is it doesn't just have to be festivals and holy days if you want to show the regular folk of your world cutting loose and partying!
In a small town it wouldn't be unusual for everyone (or at least a large number of people) to be part of a wedding. You can have the party roll in and find the village green abuzz with preparations for the ceremony (bunting being hung up, kegs being hoisted into stands, etc).
That evening will also see host to stag and hen parties (which would be a small gathering of friends and probably not that boozy).
Similarly, significant birthdays might be widely attended. Something like a village elder celebrating an 80th would be quite significant. Someone well-liked and gregarious as a host may have the villagers all out on the green every year for their birthday. Or perhaps the town has a vain mayor who insists on hosting everyone for his birthday (and collecting more tax the next month to cover the expense...), bringing the whole village in one place to celebrate.
Roof-raising parties happen every time a new house is built (literally once the roof was completed or 'raised' the community would celebrate with a party).
There doesn't even have to be a particular occasion, people were always looking for an excuse to party. If a traveling troupe rolls into town the whole village will come together to see them perform, oftentimes laying out food and drink in communal spaces much like they would during a festival. The children are allowed to stay up late (which they're usually very excited by!) and once they've finally been set to bed the troupers will perform even later, switching to the bawdier adults-only material. It goes without saying that the next day work would be done a bit slower than usual...
At any rate the point is it doesn't just have to be festivals and holy days if you want to show the regular folk of your world cutting loose and partying!
