Forest Fest is a rare example of natural expansion – moving to the new, larger location in Emo – without losing its soul or quirks. It still felt unmistakably like Forest Fest. Usually, VIP areas are separate from the rest of the festival, but Forest Fest had managed to strike just the right balance. But even then, there seemed to be no way to top it and yet Forest Fest did. Forest Fest was born through the mind of local solicitor Philip Meagher, who decided to put together a music festival for the area surrounding Emo.