@oldladyplays I think I would like for such a thing to be on both ends, and then stick around throughout; get used to the environment and get to know some people quietly, then the exciting and high-energy events, and then some quiet again to wind down, chat a bit more with folks, exchange contact details etc.
The closest reference I have would be hacker events (Chaos Communication Congress etc.) which remain open 24 hours a day; hanging out with people in the (quiet) dead of night is often one of the nicest parts