Telluride Bluegrass Festival or Bust

[bfoster59]

Hello All, I will be traveling from Chicago to Telluride for the festival this year. Finally got tickets after a couple years of trying "Yeah"!! I'm curious if there are any others traveling for the Chicago land area? Now that I have tickets I'm struggling with travel and lodging. Travel will be easier to resolve than lodging. What/where are some reasonably priced accommodations for this festival. I'm cool with traveling 25miles daily but obviously it would be better to be close by. Camping is also an option but the wife is a little worried about getting gobbled up by a bear Anyway, any feedback would be great and most definitely appreciated.

Thank you,

Bob

[Auntie Hope]

Bob,
Please tell your wife that in 8 years I have never seen a bear in Telluride. Beer, yes, I have seen plenty of beer..... but not a single bear. Elk, on the Valley Floor, which is a scenic area just before you arrive in Telluride proper.. but no bear. Magpies, ground squirles, chipmunks, a 1970's Tennis Team, a Gorilla and a naked lady doing the Tarp Run several mornings in a row.. but alas, not one stinkin' BEAR!!!

Auntie Hope 

[bfoster59]

Thanks Auntie Hope, I'll share that with her. What are the temperatures in the area during June, especially in the evenings? Also, do you have any insight into camping in the area?
Thanks again,
Bob

[TellurideTom]

I've been coming to the festival for 34 years and haven't seen a single bear.
Condo's are going to be expensive. It's not going to be like staying at the Motel 6. It will be more like staying in the presidential suite at the Hilton, money wise.

Check out the 2015 Festival Camping on the Planet Bluegrass site.
Read a bit of the forum for insight into what camping area you may want to grab, but do it soon before they sell out.
Welcome to the family.

[bfoster59]

Thanks Tom, Camping would be the preference for me for sure. It should make for a wonderful experience, assuming it does not get below 30 in the evening I'll snoop around the forum's to see what I come up with, meanwhile if anyone has suggestions please feel free to drop me a note.

Thanks again Tom and happy to be part of the family,

Bob 

[swander99]

Thanks Tom, Camping would be the preference for me for sure. It should make for a wonderful experience, assuming it does not get below 30 in the evening I'll snoop around the forum's to see what I come up with, meanwhile if anyone has suggestions please feel free to drop me a note.
Thanks again Tom and happy to be part of the family,
Bob 

Hi Bob, welcome to Festivaaaal! My crew rolls to TBF from Mpls. We camp in Town Park and love it. The temps can range from 80's in the sunlight, to upper 30's in the shadows. (tall peaks cast long shadows... new song title?) A good sleeping bag and a quality pad, or cot works wonderfully. If you're considering camping at all, I would suggest grabbing a THS http://shop.bluegrass.com/telluride/camping/telluride-bluegrass-camping-high-school-requires-4-day-pass right now and continue to consider your options. I loved camping there when I first started. You're in town and can walk everywhere. You don't need to cook if you don't want to. (Grocery with prepared foods very near) 
CU there!


 Listening to: Radio Heartland

[bfoster59]

Thanks swander99, I just checked and apparently they do not allow alcohol on the property. That's a bummer for camping, I kind of like to sit around the fire with a cold one and enjoy the moment. Is that the only camping in town? Your right though, it may be my only option if I don't find something soon. All the hotels are in the 300 to 400 range per night. It would be nice to be able to walk everywhere rather than drive 30 to 40 minutes.  I checked Town Park and didn't see any restrictions there but first come first serve is a concern. How do you manage to land a spot coming from Mpls?

Bob

[swander99]

We arrive early, and stay late. (TP land rush...it's the hap,hap,happiest time of the year!) The 4 1/2 days of festivaaaal are so full, you really just need a place to rest, IMHO. The last several years the DNR has banned fire in the canyon(propane fire pits are OK). A few years back the smoke & ash from a wildfire 50 miles away billowed thru fest  ) The music is going from morn to midnight, and you can always find more @ NightGrass or in the bars if fest is not enough (THS' Palm Theater has 3 NG shows). There's no wide open "party" scene, but everybody is so happy there, you won't miss much. And nobody comes through checking thermos for contents... btw, I try to have two thermos with me, one for water.  Did I mention to drink lots of water?  Great free water station @ Festivaaaal!



 Listening to: Radio Heartland

[TellurideTom]

It would be nice to be able to walk everywhere rather than drive 30 to 40 minutes. 

Just to clarify, you will not be able to drive into town from any camping area.
Only local residents with a barricade pass will be allowed to drive in and out of town during the festival.
You will be allowed to drive in to drop your camping gear off with proof of camping pass, and then park your vehicle.
If you are coming into town from a distance every day, you will be told where to park when you get close to town.
All transportation to the festival from outlying camping will be done by shuttle.

Town Park and Warner Field camping (right next to the festival grounds) is sold via lottery every year and happens in November.

[Hot Sugar]

If drinking beer around a fire while being serenaded by a group of musicians is your thing, then Mary E Illium is the campground you want. It has some drawbacks (the shuttle ride to get into town being the big one), but it is the only campground that allows fires. The area itself is incredible. You're camping in a scenic forested area with a river running through camp.

[bfoster59]

Thanks for all your input, I'll keep you posted on my final destination. Thank you all.

[landshark]

  Hi Bob! I am originally from the North side born and raised in Chicago, Great town! I live in Golden CO now and have attended this Fest many times.

There are bears in the woods but there are so many people in town for fest it is very unlikely you will see a bear. I hike solo early morning and have never seen a bear. However don't put a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your tent just to be on the side of caution. LOL!

Try to camp as close as you can and as soon as you can. It can get cold and does at least one night but Colorado cold is dry so it is much more bearable and is not a problem for camping.
 I condo cause I sleep better but camping is so much more fun. Lots of music day and night and if you play bring it along.

OK homie now make your move, lets do this thing!

[Hot Sugar]

One of the great things about black bears is that they don't like strange noises. Grizzlies, too, but they don't have any of those in Colorado. Where a Polar Bear is attracted to strange noises out of curiosity, a black bear will avoid them. And I'm sure we don't need to tell you about all the strange noises that we make in the campground during festival.

[bfoster59]

Excellent, I'm starting o get really stoked now. I have been trying to get to this festival for a few years now and it's finally happening. Can't wait.. Thanks again.

[bfoster59]

Got my campsite at Mary E Ilium and was just doing some further research. Apparently there are no washrooms or showers available there. Does anyone know how this is handled at this campground? Can't go 4 days without a shower and definitely do not want to drive 7 miles to use the restroom.