This introductory chapter begins by describing what garden festivals are and how they raise awareness of urban land issues and design. It then outlines the four stages of the festival process. First, there is site acquisition and reclamation, including infrastructure development and the establishment of landscape design and site masterplan. The second stage centres on scheduling, marketing, publicity, and promotion. The third stage is the festival period itself, while the final stage involves festival closure and the dismantling of the site, the dissolution of the festival company and the sale of targeted assets. The discussions then turn to festival economics; sanctioning of festivals; the connection between garden festivals and local planning policies, festivals as exhibitions, and the impact of festivals on urban life.