Frankly, I am allergic to the idea that local events are always the cornerstone of trip planning.
Strip the hype: for most people, especially with a student budget, it is financial constraints and availability that dictate choices, not a festival.
Knowing there is an event does not change the actual cash flow; it may just mean the destination is too expensive, like when train ticket prices double during school holidays.
A local event can make a destination inaccessible, not validate it as an option, especially when every euro counts for rent or food.