I have completed this game this is a simple short tips hopefully answers some of your questions. please let me know if this helps

To move on in the game you must win each festival to complete to move on to get the next star.
Follow the instructions from completing each festival this means if you are asked to talk to 3 new sims who have moved to the town go and greet them. Also talk to them a few times as they may ask you for a favour which will help you during the game.
Try to win 60+ points in each game to help unlock each town member to assist you in each of the festivals also doing favours for them also allows you to unlock each town member. Each time one is unlocked the game will look like it has frozen but do not reset as this is just the town member being unlocked to use a message will pop up saying him/her is now your best friend etc.