This fair is all about continuing a culture and heritage (both the good parts and the bad parts, unfortunately), whereas Burning Man is about creating a new society with radically different social mores and rules.

All the classic Southern mores are in force there. The generous hospitality, terrific food, stories on the porch, and the unsavory parts as well. Most of it (but only most) is a beautiful thing. But it isn't trying to do anything progressive in any way.

So although I see the similarities, these feel very different to me. I guess "big on community with everyone around you" is the biggest similarity, and perhaps a big difference between those two and Octoberfest--where people are friendly, but doesn't have community as front and center as the other two.