I've been going in September every year for the last 5 years. It's hot, I mean it's really hot and I'm from Georgia so when I say it's hot I mean it. It rains, alot. I don't think I've ever been in Sept. when there wasn't some sort of rain every day. Sometimes it is a quick shower, sometimes it's a hour long gully washer, sometimes it lasts a few hours. I go for F&W, I love the little deminars at the festival center, I love the special food and wine pairing meals they have, I love the booths. I can't say if it's more crowded or less crowded since I go at least twice a year and have become sort of immune to crowds and am not ride centric so they don't matter to me.