Unlike a traditional festival managed directly by local residents, urban festivals are often initiated by local governments and, since they have few religious characteristics or traditional restrictions, tend to be flamboyant with lots of events in order to attract crowds.
地域住民を主体とする伝統的祭礼と異なり行政主導である事が多く、宗教的側面が薄く伝統的制約が少ないため集客を目的としたさまざまな趣向が凝らされて華やかなイベントとなる傾向にある。