Town Park virgin? Get your answers here!

[LoveHandles63]

A thank you before I start.  By some dumb luck my wife and I drew out on the TP passes on our first ever bluegrass festival and a first to Telluride. I have read through all 60+ pages but still have a couple of questions and verifications. 

I'm understanding there are port-a-johns spread through out TP, is that correct? Don't know how far I want I want walk in the middle of the night.  I sure sucks getting older.

I have read some postings about bicycles. We are planning on arriving on Monday, the week of the festival. Any recommendations on bringing a bike or not.

I have not seen any posting about ice.  Is ice available for coolers in the area?  Close or Far?

Thanks again,

[TellurideTom]

Tom- are low-to-the ground chairs allowed in Town Park for the Festival?  Any place to rent them?

Thanks!
Dale

There's a section down in the front that's only for low chairs, and taller chairs are allowed farther back.
I don't know of any place that rents them though.

[TellurideTom]

A thank you before I start.  By some dumb luck my wife and I drew out on the TP passes on our first ever bluegrass festival and a first to Telluride. I have read through all 60+ pages but still have a couple of questions and verifications. 

I'm understanding there are port-a-johns spread through out TP, is that correct? Don't know how far I want I want walk in the middle of the night.  I sure sucks getting older.

I have read some postings about bicycles. We are planning on arriving on Monday, the week of the festival. Any recommendations on bringing a bike or not.

I have not seen any posting about ice.  Is ice available for coolers in the area?  Close or Far?

Thanks again,

Wherever you end up in Town Park you probably won't be more than 20 yards from a port-a-john or the bathhouse.
I know all too well about getting older. 

By all means, bring your bike. It makes it easier to make a run into town for groceries, liquor, or a bite to eat.
Be sure to bring a bike lock with you though as bikes quite a commodity.

Ice is available in Town Park from the camp host or in the local liquor and grocery stores.
Getting it from the camp host is obviously the closer option.

[Maple Al]

Even better than getting ice from the camp host is to pay some enterprising young folks to get it for you. Welcome to town park.

[LoveHandles63]

     Thank you for the info.  We are excited to attend our first bluegrass festival. Lookng forward to meeting every one this summer.

[Pirate Looks at --]

They are allowed. I am not sure about rentals but I know a lot of people buy them when they get into town.

[BoiseFirstTimer]

Hello All!  After years of being brought up on bluegrass and going to various shows with my father-this Christmas I went all out to get him two tickets to this year's Telluride festival...luckily he was willing to take me with him, and I couldn't be more excited. 

I wanted to see if you had any generic advice for first time travelers.  We'll be road tripping it from Boise, Idaho and I believe we have a room at one of the hotels in town.  Is it possible to walk to the venue from Telluride or is it more than a couple miles?

Also, in regard to food/drink, I know the official website says food and drinks (non alcohol) are welcome to be brought in for 'appropriate containers'  Does that mean we could bring in a cooler (assuming it's not a large one)?

Also, what is the viewing situation like?  We would have no problem getting their early for seats close up to the stage, but if people tend to stand up and block views of the stage up front, we may want to sit further back so we can sit down in our low-back chairs.

Thoughts?

Again, thanks so much, this will be an incredible event that I can't wait to take part in.

[Hot Sugar]

Hello All!  After years of being brought up on bluegrass and going to various shows with my father-this Christmas I went all out to get him two tickets to this year's Telluride festival...luckily he was willing to take me with him, and I couldn't be more excited. 

I wanted to see if you had any generic advice for first time travelers.  We'll be road tripping it from Boise, Idaho and I believe we have a room at one of the hotels in town.  Is it possible to walk to the venue from Telluride or is it more than a couple miles?

Also, in regard to food/drink, I know the official website says food and drinks (non alcohol) are welcome to be brought in for 'appropriate containers'  Does that mean we could bring in a cooler (assuming it's not a large one)?

Also, what is the viewing situation like?  We would have no problem getting their early for seats close up to the stage, but if people tend to stand up and block views of the stage up front, we may want to sit further back so we can sit down in our low-back chairs.

Thoughts?

Again, thanks so much, this will be an incredible event that I can't wait to take part in.

Everything in Telluride is within walking distance, so if you have a hotel room booked in town, you won't have a problem walking to the fest. But if you don't want to walk, there is also a free bus service in town.

As far as viewing goes, if it's just the two of you, I'd say don't worry about getting there early to find seats, just tarp hop.

[Skubes]

To add to Sugar's reply, you can bring in as a big a cooler as you like, though hauling a big one may be a pain.

During the morning and afternoon sets, the crowd is more spread out and sitting will still provide a good view of the stage from many parts of the field.  After sunset, the tarps come up and the crowd moves in toward the stage to dance.

Enjoy your road trip!

[birdcat]

Hi everyone. I've only been to one bluegrass festival in my life--Grey Fox, in upstate New York. I'm so excited to attend Telluride this June.

The answer to my question may be somewhere in this thread already but I really don't want to read through all 64 pages trying to find it...and then maybe not find it at all...I think someone can probably answer it pretty simply

Reading through some of these posts, I'm not sure I understand the whole tarp/line sitter situation that I'm seeing discussed. Are people talking about waiting in a line to set up tarps with a view of the stage? So people get in line really early so they can get a good tarp spot? I'm going to the festival alone, so I'm not planning on setting up a tarp...I'm guessing I can just walk around and find spots to stand/sit/dance pretty easily as one person. So I don't have to worry about this whole tarp line situation, right? I should be able to just walk from my camping spot to whatever music I want to...once I'm in Town Park, there won't be any waiting in lines to get into the festival, because I'm already inside the festival? That's my understanding...let me know if that's correct!

[TellurideTom]

Hi everyone. I've only been to one bluegrass festival in my life--Grey Fox, in upstate New York. I'm so excited to attend Telluride this June.

The answer to my question may be somewhere in this thread already but I really don't want to read through all 64 pages trying to find it...and then maybe not find it at all...I think someone can probably answer it pretty simply

Reading through some of these posts, I'm not sure I understand the whole tarp/line sitter situation that I'm seeing discussed. Are people talking about waiting in a line to set up tarps with a view of the stage? So people get in line really early so they can get a good tarp spot? I'm going to the festival alone, so I'm not planning on setting up a tarp...I'm guessing I can just walk around and find spots to stand/sit/dance pretty easily as one person. So I don't have to worry about this whole tarp line situation, right? I should be able to just walk from my camping spot to whatever music I want to...once I'm in Town Park, there won't be any waiting in lines to get into the festival, because I'm already inside the festival? That's my understanding...let me know if that's correct!

That's correct.
There may be a small line of people ahead of you getting backpacks and coolers checked for alcohol and such, but if you don't have one you can just proceed through the gate.
You only need to be in line early if you want to lay a tarp down closer to the stage.
Of course, if you happen to have a tarp when you come in, you will be asked to go to the back of the line.
 

[birdcat]

Great. Thank you so much, Tom! See ya in June!

[Pirate Looks at --]

Well not entirely correct.  You are not on the festival grounds if you are camping in town park. There will be an entry site for town park campers but you will have to stop for a bag check, and to show your wrist band. 

[Norah]

Hi there!  We are long time Folks Festivarians, and attended TBF 5 years ago, camping at Mary Ilium.  Our family of 4 was a lucky winner of a vehicle pass for our pop up in Town Park, and we are super-psyched!  We are looking for info about:  if/when/where campers line up to get in; are there certain areas that pop-ups and the like are directed to; and if it's a free-for-all, where would be the quietest areas to aim for (away from the Tiki bars, etc.  Thanks so much, we can't wait!  Best Father's Day ever!

 Listening to: my kids goofing off

[Auntie Hope]

Parking for a pop-up is away from the Main Drag that the Tiki Bar and others have made famous. However, no matter where you camp there will likely be music 24/7 in Town Park. That's just the nature of the beast and one of many reasons we return year after year!

Saturday a.m., June 11th, is the time that Planet Bluegrass officially takes over the Town Park campground. Make sure everyone (13 and up) in your party has a Town Park camping Pass.

Welcome Back to....
FESTIVVVAALLL!!!

Auntie Hope