Welcome! Are you camping onsite or one of the other campgrounds?
You can get in line to get in the onsite campground starting Monday, I think. Some people will get up there Tues/Wed night or Thurs afternoon. The gates to get in open at 6pm on Thursday. No matter what time you get in line, there will be spots to setup camp. Shade can be a bit of an issue depending on where you setup so might want to plan for that. The grocery store in town has most things you could want, tho it is quite a bit pricier than the Safeway/etc down the road in Longmont.
Friday usually isn't very crowded so whatever time you get there you'll still have room to put down a blanket/tarp and have some room. Sat/Sun if you want a 'prime' spot, get in line after the fest is over on Fri/Sat and then sometime a few hours later, someone from PB will come around with random numbers. The benefit of that, even with a high number, is you get in before all the people who show up for the day without one! Being solo, however, I'd bet you could surf the tarps and find nice people with extra space to share and not have to worry about that at all.
Don't miss the Big Orange Tarp in the onsite campground after the fest is over for the night. Song school people as well as the occasional main stage/wildflower artist will sit around playing songs. Nice listen for sure.
Bring some shoes/etc (or a tube!) to wade into the St Vrain if the day is hot. Awesome to listen to the music with your feet in the river. Money for some of those Sister's Dumplings (mmmmm sooo good) and other merch people. Across from the beer tent are booths that often with free samples!
Folks is definitely a great festival, you'll love it.
Oh and watch out for the falling oak tree branches!
And no climbing on the rocks on the other side of the river!
Listening to:
Billy Bang Quartet
Author