It is an event because Jonathan Frid is going to be there. This is super exciting and I am so looking forward to it. I know it is disapointing if your favorite isn't there.
As I've posted in the past, it's been my observation throughout my many years in fandom that there seems to be two major camps of DS fans: those who are attracted to DS because of Barnabas and seemingly only (or at least chiefly) because of Barnabas - and those who seem to be attracted to the whole package. When it comes to the first group, this year's gathering is nothing short of a spectacular realization of a dream come true (and the organizers should be commended for making that dream happen for them). But to the second group it may not be. Sure, most will definitely say they enjoy Barn/Frid - but a gathering organized with Barn/Frid as the primary focus is not necessarily as spectacular as it is for the diehard Barn/Frid fans. And, of course, that would probably be the case for this second group should any sort of DS gathering be centered around any one DS character/actor because they're attracted to the whole package that is DS. I can see where this second group might be upset upon learning this year has its primary focus on only one character/actor and that many of the other activities featured at most yearly DS gatherings will be missing because those other activities are what they've come to expect and are possibly what chiefly attracts them to attend each year. Would it have been better had it been made 100% clear from the outset in every announcement that this year's gathering was going to feature an abbreviated schedule of events in favor of the primary focus being on Barn/Frid instead of it being presented in many corners as a Fest which happens to feature Frid as the "special guest" but not necessarily the primary guest? Probably. After all, even though this is the 40th anniversary of Barn's/Frid's first DS appearance, such a gathering would still not be to everyone's taste. But hindsight is always 20/20 - and one assumes the organizers of this Fridcentric gathering would have handled things very differently had they possibly stepped back to think of that angle. However, one can't completely fault them for being ecstatic that Frid would be returning to the DS fold after such a long absence. Though at the same time, they probably might have also realized that not every DS fan is going to be as naturally excited as they are.
And most probably this year will go down as a major learning experience for any future DS gatherings that might not feature all the regular Fest activities and take as their primary focus one aspect or other of DS... (Such as possibly a 40th anniversary of Quentin/Selby in 2009.
Though I'm still hoping for that 40th anniversary of Amanda gathering.
)
(And, of course, there's also that third group that I mentioned: the fans who enjoy DS in spite of Barnabas. And though they tend to be in the minority, I do indeed know of several DS fans who will be attending this year's gathering despite the fact that Barn/Frid is the main attraction.
But then, they're mostly going to simply get together with friends - the focus is pretty much immaterial to them.
)