Currently, there are NO reasons why any event couldn't go ahead - even on (uninfected) farmland. A spokesman for Glastonbury Festival told us yesterday that the foot and mouth crisis and the associated restrictions, as it stands currently, would not have meant Glastonbury being cancelled if it were taking place this year.
The latest advice offered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food states "Persons who have contact with Foot & Mouth Disease susceptible species are advised there is a risk that the disease may be passed on through contact at organised events." It does go on to qualify this however, stating "... the risk of this indirect transmission is low...". It recommends that persons with such contact should carry out dis-infection procedures when leaving/re-entering their premises.
Currently, regulations allow for farmers to hold livestock markets, although sensible precautions are recommended. Many events to be held on land used by susceptible animals are still taking place, including agricultural shows. In "Infected Areas", it is possible for notices to be served to prohibit activities. It is possible that new restrictions could be introduced at any time.
Disinfecting procedures for land, people and vehicles (to stop any potential spread) can be carried out fairly easily with spraying and foot/tyre baths, and can be done with relatively cheap disinfectants - some of which can be found in household cupboards. It is possible that land used by festivals could have animal restrictions placed on it after the event, but again, the costs involved in covering this restriction would be low, and festival organisers are likely to pay this cost rather than have the event cancelled.
Essentially, at the same point that festivals would be cancelled, events such as all football matches would also be cancelled, and towns and roads would have disinfecting points to reduce the chance of infection spreading.
Although it is possible that new restrictions could be imposed, MAFF are currently suggesting that they expect the number of new outbreaks to subside over the next few weeks; if this proves to be true, then it's likely that the crisis will be ebbing before the first major festivals at the end of May.
Foot and Mouth Disease is highly contagious, but is not normally fatal to the animals it does effect (the main exceptions being young or weak animals). In fact, the animals recover after a short time (generally 8-15 days), and continue to live a normal life; the main after-effect on the animals is a reduced ability to gain weight, thus reducing the value of an animal when sold.