Couldn't get into eggfest - what are they like?

I'm new to the Egg, have only cooked 3 times so far (brisket, jerk chicken, burgers), definitely have a lot to learn but have loved everything so far!

Shortly after the first time I used it I learned that the place my wife bought the Egg was having their first Eggfest (Carolina Eggfest), but was really disappointed when I was told in the next breath that it was by advance registration only and no more people would be allowed in. I assume there was a good reason for that, maybe having to do with crowd control, or the ratio of cookers to non-cookers or something. But I really would have enjoyed just watching how experienced people build the fire, arrange the meat, control the heat and the smoke, etc., and I was really frustrated that I couldn't get in. I had supposed it would have been a great learning experience for a guy just getting started.

I know this is a vague question, but for another year, can anyone give me a better idea than I have now about what these are like, what tends to be happening, whether cookers tend to be excitedly competitive (and therefore secretive) or open with newbies about how to do what they're doing, etc.? I'm wowed by how helpful this forum is, and maybe by next year I won't even be interested in the Eggfest, I don't know. But I'd still like to have a better sense of what it was, and whether I might want to try to go another year.

Many thanks!

Theophan