'festival-goer' originates from Modern English, formed as a compound of 'festival' (ultimately from Latin 'festivus' via Old French 'festival') and 'goer' (from the verb 'go', from Old English root 'gān', plus the agentive suffix '-er').

'festival' developed from Latin 'festivus' to Old French 'festival' and then into Middle/Modern English as 'festival'; 'goer' arose from the Old English root for 'go' (gān/go) with the productive agent suffix '-er'. The compound 'festival-goer' is a Modern English formation combining these elements.

Initially the elements referred to 'a festival' and 'a person who goes'; combined, the meaning has remained straightforward: 'a person who goes to a festival.'