My dd is at a Steiner school and prior to that, spent a couple of years at a Montessori nursery. Although both "alternatives" to the mainstream, the underpinning philosophies are very different and my experience is that Steiner is less pressured than Montessori.
Pre children: personally educated in the mainstream state system, and remember the intrusion of homework into family life and the stress of tests as a child (much more of it about now!). Vaguely aware of the local Steiner School and heard positive reports from mainstream teachers about the self motivation, creative thinking and contribution to the class from Steiner pupils at A'level.
Post children: went to an open day at one of the Steiner schools but also applied to 6 local state schools. Liked the Steiner school (and dd kept talking about it) but, tbh due to some of the extreme and negative views posted on the internet, felt a bit of trepidation about taking a leap into a different way of doing things after nursery age.
Birth rates really high in our area and due to more local children than school places : ( dd did not get offered a place in ANY state school and was on waiting lists in 3 boroughs. Personally think social aspects of school are important and as home schooling was not a viable option for us, contacted the Steiner school again and they invited us to come in for a meeting. On the way out DH - very much an electronic loving carnivorous skeptic - said, "I like it here even more now than the first time we came!"
When I came in to drop off the application form at pick up time, I got chatting to some parents with children of different ages. The sentiment was "finding out about this place is the best thing that could have happened".
Since starting at the school: dd loves it, when I commented she was lucky to be doing a particular outing she said "I am lucky to go to school every day Mummy!". Despite the fact that Montessori seemed more pressured in one way, her teachers there felt she was advanced and they were finding it difficult to stretch her before she was eligible for school. At Steiner her imagination and interest is captivated and she is fully engaged in learning.
Conversely, some children there have come to Steiner education because they struggled with the academic focus of their mainstream school (state or public/private). The basic Steiner philosophy is "Head, Heart, Hand" as in intellect, emotion, practical. There is an emphasis on a more rounded education, including learning life skills from an early age and so the children (start to) thrive and (re)engage in education rather than switching off.
The children are from diverse backgrounds, multi faith, multi cultural, from parents who receive income support to the very wealthy. Each child is valued as an individual. A disproportionate number of families have bilingual European backgrounds, Italian, French, German, Scandinavian where the Steiner system is more similar to their mainstream than our mainstream system.
Interestingly a very "traditional" primary school teacher and close friend encouraged us in the final decision to go for Steiner education and even more tellingly, a disproportionate number of parents at the school are themselves mainstream teachers who don't want to send their own children through the current system.
Anthroposophy: dd's particular school is open about its historic and philosophical underpinning and provide opportunities for parents who are interested to find out more. I have done quite a bit of reading because I've wanted to find out for myself; my broad conclusion is the concepts are (mis)presented on the internet in a very simplistic and misleading way.
If you are freaked out by the "religious, cultish" (or indeed "health and safety") connotations of someone lighting a candle on a dinner table or you don't believe in telling children stories about Santa or the Tooth fairy, you won't like it. Equally if you want your child to be immersed in technology from a young age and you are looking for academic "hothousing" it isn't for you.
Lastly, parents ARE encouraged to take part in events and support the school but there is no pressure to take part if it isn't for you. In terms of crafts, personally I can't roll a ball of wool let alone knit anything; it's not an issue.
Sorry for such a long post, but I wanted to respond to the OP with another perspective. I felt there was a dearth of real, down to earth experience when I was trying to find out about Steiner education. It took a big push for dd to get to go, she very nearly missed out because of erroneous fears. A week after she started at Steiner, a state place FINALLY came up. Already happily settled and let down by the current state of affairs before she had even started, it really was a case of "thanks, but no thanks".
If after all the negative stuff you have read on the internet you remain open minded, I think it is good to go along to have a look and see how you feel, if you are happy to, take you child with you and finally, go with your instinct.