What are your best TBF memories?

[Pass Port]

Thanks for sharing Todd. Look forward to having you and your wife in camp this year! 

[TellurideTom]

Great story Todd.

When I pass, I plan to have my ashes scattered in Town Park so I'll be there forever.

Looking forward to tipping a few glasses with you in June.

[Pirate Looks at --]

Just remember Mayor, there are no open fires allowed in Town Park!

[landshark]

Last year we had caught every set on the main stage on Thursday and Friday with our little tarp squeezing into the front despite having high tarp line numbers. Saturday we decided to sleep in, and ride our mountain bikes into town from Mary E. There's a great trail (the galloping goose) that connects the Illium area to Lawson Hill area (and the Telluride Brewery). Part of my personal goal at TBF was to do as much riding and hiking as I possibly could. First some back story:

In 1989 when I was 16 my Dad and I rode our bikes from Silverton to Lake City, then Lake City to Ouray, and Ouray to Telluride, and finally Telluride to Silverton. We had spent many times in southwestern Colorado, but it was our first time to ever be in Telluride. We had no idea what to expect, and had only planned on Telluride being a pit stop along the 225 mile ride crossing 4 above 12,000 peaks. Telluride blew us away and we ended up staying two nights and swore we were going to come back together some day.

In 2011 my Dad passed away after a quick battle with cancer. My wife and I had always dreamed of attending TBF for years. Seems I was always a day late and a dollar short on getting tickets. So in 2015 I told my wife whose birthday is on Summer Solstice that for her 40th Birthday we were going to TBF! I diligently followed Planet Bluegrasses posts and was on the phone the second tickets went on sale and finally scored two passes and camping at Illium.

So on Saturday after lunch in camp we rolled out of Illium with the goal of stopping at TBC for a few pints on the way to town and the festival grounds. On the way to TBC the trail passes a bridge over the river that is covered in Tibetan prayer flags, we'd been on this trail earlier in the week, so I was prepared. I'd brought with me a few of my Dads personal items, A beartooth necklace that he wore for nearly 30 years of his life, which I was wearing, and two of his monogrammed cufflinks he'd had since highschool. I wanted a piece of my Dad to be at permanent rest in one of his favorite places in the world. I paused on the bridge for reflection and tossed one of the cufflinks into the river. We rode on to TBC and skulled a few pints of their incredible brews, while sharing with their brewmaster a few choice beers from some of our friends breweries from back home in Oklahoma.

After finishing up at TBC and getting our growler filled we headed on into town. The ride was amazing and only took an hour of actual riding time from Illium to Town. We arrived in time to catch YMSB, and then to have an amazing dinner in town. That night was Elephant Revivals nightgrass show, so we were trying to pace ourselves for the long evening. We locked our bikes downtown, and headed back to the festy grounds, where I tossed the other cufflink into the pond in Town Park, so a piece of my Dad would always be in Telluride. And that is my greatest TBF memory. See you all this summer!

You are killin me! Such a beautiful story! Hugs all around!

[swander99]

Our first year was 2010 and we attended with close friends and their baby. They had a family of close friends with us as well and we made friends with a another couple as the moms all chatted baby stuff. Throughout the weekend we had a wonderful time, teaching the kids (and some adults) to hula hoop, enjoying one another's company, and just blissing out on the festival.

On Saturday at sunset, my husband pulled out his camera to record us boding at just the right time. He thought he was capturing the sunset and the kids, but ended up capturing our favorite would-be tradition of the weekend... Dancing and playing with friends new and old to "Circles Around Me' during Sam's set. One of our new friends was even magically able to hula hoop for the first time after trying to "get it" for years. Ever since, that song brings me joy and my most beloved memories.

For anyone interested... https://youtu.be/4DPwhQ_K8lM

Thanks for sharing a sweet video! Loved it. 

 Listening to: Circles Around Me

[landshark]

Our first year was 2010 and we attended with close friends and their baby. They had a family of close friends with us as well and we made friends with a another couple as the moms all chatted baby stuff. Throughout the weekend we had a wonderful time, teaching the kids (and some adults) to hula hoop, enjoying one another's company, and just blissing out on the festival.

On Saturday at sunset, my husband pulled out his camera to record us boding at just the right time. He thought he was capturing the sunset and the kids, but ended up capturing our favorite would-be tradition of the weekend... Dancing and playing with friends new and old to "Circles Around Me' during Sam's set. One of our new friends was even magically able to hula hoop for the first time after trying to "get it" for years. Ever since, that song brings me joy and my most beloved memories.

For anyone interested... https://youtu.be/4DPwhQ_K8lM

Thanks for sharing a sweet video! Loved it. 

Cry like a baby, turns on a switch! Man just really hits the mark! This song that voice that view and family all around. Captures what I feel in my heart. Perfect memory! Smite??? strange one

[landshark]

My very first TBG and I had no ticket. Was scooped from work by friends and we hit the road for a Fest we all had heard about through the grape vine. No money, not enough to get us all in. Sitting by the river thinking, I belong in there, those are my people. Ferg let us in on Sunday last set i think. and the next year we all had tickets and the entire right front row was let in the poser pit including me. So fun and so gracious.

Every Fest for many years I would get home, exhausted, tan, dirty feet and feel so good. Cathardic, retreatish, excited about music and feeling very much connected to nature and the goodness of other folks, I would write the planet a thank you letter. Very well organized, smooth for a Fest and roomy, not packed in, and the audio was just insanely good. All things considered each fest an original experience.....goosebump city batman.

Guys in tutus gotta love that one and The Boom Chicks. Fun spirit! Good times.

[Cindy Lou]

Beautiful moments Todd G! What part of OK do you hail from? I'm a Henryetta girl, but moved to CO in 1976 and haven't left yet. Probably never will. 

[ToddG]

Beautiful moments Todd G! What part of OK do you hail from? I'm a Henryetta girl, but moved to CO in 1976 and haven't left yet. Probably never will. 

Originally I'm from Tahlequah. Spent a few years in Ned/Boulder area. In Tulsa now.

[TRL]

Heck of a story Todd here's to that same ol river and the comfort it's ripples bring

[landshark]

 I never take pictures but 1 Fest I did bring my camera. I started taking pics of the people dancing around me, the crowd..

I tapped the shoulder of this big guy and showed him a pic I took of him and he said "I didn't realize I was smiling".

[Mountainmeezer]

So many wonderful memories its hard to know which one is the best!  The magical moment the first year we went to festival and we rounded the curve in the road and the  snow capped mountains came into view- only to be further overwhelmed as we drove into town!

Last year, we had a lot of stress and struggles in life. While at festival, I was so totally immersed in the music and the moment that I completely let go of everything else. 4 glorious days of calm and peace!!

Glorious sunsets during Sam's set!!

This year, we didn't think we would be able to go. Hubbies work schedule was not going to allow it. Then in February, we looked at his calendar and he had a  space of time he could be away from work- June 20th-25th!

So we proceeded to get plane tickets, lodging, etc. but still lacked festival tickets. When it came time for ticket resale, I thought it would be easy, but there were no 4 day tickets there. A wonderful festivarian heard my angst in my forum post and reached out with tickets for us  
So excited to be making this short, but oh so sweet trex to Telluride in a few days 

Got to get packing!

[landshark]

It is still resonating in my brain. But I keep singing Grandmas Hands by Tim as soon as my feet hit the floor each morning. I saw Del standing on his balcony early in the day and we exchanged good mornings and I thought to myself, good gracious he wakes up with his hair perfect! LOL!

The kindness of others still rings out and prevails at this fest. Unlike any other.

[landshark]

Hot, sweaty, dusty dirty, exhausted, look up and The Bearnaked Ladies were standing in front of me smiling in a row. I had to rub my eyes a few times. I smiled so big and nodded my head to show them I knew who they were. Afraid they would get mobbed so  I made a cool pass by. LOL! So funny. I will never ever forget that.

 Listening to: Jazz

[ToddG]

Didn't think it would be possible to top our first TBF. But, last year in TP hanging with Duk Tape and all the fine folks of TP really topped it. There's no doubt that being in Town Park is the best option for camping, in my opinion no matter what type of festy goer you are.

Our first year we brought my oldest son and his girlfriend. They were 20/19 at the time. Last year we brought my younger son who was 13. He's been to many festivals, and concerts and camped out for extended periods in all forms of weather so we knew he'd be alright. However he is not that into acoustic music, unless its friends he knows playing. He used to play fiddle (Bridget Law of Elephant Revival was his first fiddle teacher), but now he really plays keyboard and symphasized music. He won't admit it, because he's a snotty teenager but he does like a lot of bluegrass, especially instrumentals. Anyway I knew he'd have a blast regardless.

So we never do anything half ass, like most of you other festivarians. We come for the full amount of time possible to camp. Our son, Addison was mostly excited about this, and the fact that he knew there'd be other kids. On the first day there he tried his first Crawfish Thanks Paul , and already met almost a dozen kids around his age. By the time festival started we only saw him in the mornings, lunch, and sometimes dinner then as he crawled in the tent for bed usually around 11. He went on his first mountain bike ride, went on a few great hikes, and went out to eat dinner without any adults just kids. It changed his life. He probably only caught no more than 3-4 hours of music being inside the festival grounds, because he was having too much fun in camp, and he said he could hear it just fine.

As a parent, its rare to find a place, especially a place with so much adult acitivity, where you can feel comfortable letting your guard down a bit, and letting your child enjoy some real freedoms. It makes the experience so much more relaxing for all.

On Monday morning as were packing up, he kept crying. And as we loaded the car and said our final see you laters, he cried some more. When we got home he made me promise that we would go back. He even said he'd get a job and pay for his ticket. He talks/texts/messages with his friends from camp almost everyday. Folks are always talking about how Telluride changed their life, it's not just an adult thing. Hoping this years memories include a Ferrata trip! Is it June yet?