newbie with questions

[fsharpminor7]

Howdy, folks! I'm Maggie... this is going to be my second year at RockyGrass and my first year at TBF! I am beyond excited but a little nervous at the same time! I'm driving from Virginia as part of a massive summer road trip and I have a few questions. I've done my best to read up on everything but please forgive me if I've forgotten something.

*I'm driving to the festival... I can park outside of town, correct? How close is the parking to the High School campground? Which leads to my next question...
*How is the High School campground? I'm camping by myself and I want to make sure I find some cool, safe neighbors.
*What's the deal with the gondola? Can you ride it just for fun? I've always heard about it and seen pictures, it looks super cool and a little scary!
*When does NightGrass go on sale? Are each of those events a separate ticket with a separate lottery?
*Does anyone have any other advice for a first-timer?

Thank ya'll so much! Look for the girl who starts crying as soon as she walks through the gates because she's been dreaming about TBF for so long... that'll be me!

See ya'll in June,
Maggie

[completejohn]

I'll give these a shot.

1.  You park where they tell ya to park, but after you dump off your equipment at the HS.  Where depends upon your arrival date.  You might be directed just down the block from the HS in Carhenge (along the river).  Or if you arrive late, you'll be sent to Mountain Village.  You'll take a gondola (or as we say, ganga-la) back to town.
2.  HS is under construction so I don't know what the land will be like.  It USED to be on a grassy field with no trees.  It's the "family" zone, meaning no big parties, no alcohol (be discreet).
3.  Gondola is free, fun and very scenic.  A highly recommended trip.  It gets quite busy at times but as a single you'll be fine (there's a special line for single riders).  You'll be taking that over the Mountain Village for Wednesday night's "FirstGrass" concert (THAT is one of the busiest times!).
4.  Nightgrass tickets will be sold in a lottery system about a week after they announce the line-up.  Watch the forum, or better yet, sign up for emails from Planet Bluegrass.  Tickets run from $25 to $35 or so.
5.  EVERYONE here will have advice for first timers.  Here are a few thoughts from me.  Introduce yourself to EVERYONE.  Take a hike up to Bridal Falls.  Share everything.  Get ready to be really hot, really cold and sometimes really wet.  Bring a large jug to fill up with ice cold FREE water.  Buy someone a beer when they least expect it.  Be wary of drinks that come in Paint Cans, or at least drink responsibly!  If someone hands you a mustache, wear it.  Spray bottles keep you and your neighbors cool in the heat of the day.  When you head to the bathrooms, take some garbage, even from other people's tarps.  And don't worry about tarps - this is the friendliest festival in the world and every tarp is another opportunity to meet (and dance and party with) your next best friend!

[fsharpminor7]

Hi there! Thank you Okay, I guess that's another question: how soon should I arrive? I was planning on Wednesday? Is there a certain time of day?

And as far as the tarps go, is there any point in doing the tarp thing as a single? I didn't when I was at RockyGrass, I just floated around and made friends as you said.

Thanks so much for the advice! I am so excited.

[Pirate Looks at --]

Well people start arriving the Saturday before the festival! If you want to park at Carhenge (which is a stores thow away from the High School I would suggest that you arrive on Sunday or Monday! Having never camped at the High School I am not too sure when that campground opens. You will always find safe and cool neighbors anywhere in Telluride, and as John said the high school is the quite zone, so if that suits you then you have found a great place to enjoy the fest. They are pretty strict about the no alcohol and drugs rule as it is a High School so take heed on that. Otherwise you are heading for a real blast! Enjoy!

[fsharpminor7]

I don't think I can get there before Wednesday, and the High School campground opens at Wednesday at 3... does that mean I will have to park a long way from my tent, though? And if so, is there another campground that would be a better option for me? Thank y'all!

[TellurideTom]

You won't need your car once you get there and get set up, so don't worry about parking your car at Mountain Village.
The High School is the closest camping area to the festival other than Town Park and Warner Field.
Any of the other campgrounds would mean you would have to take the shuttle to the festival.
Everything in Telluride is within walking distance.
Just be sure your tent is waterproof and you can keep your clothes in a waterproof container just in case. That goes for any campsite.
Welcome, and say hi when you see me. 

[fsharpminor7]

The reason I'm concerned about having my car somewhat nearby is in case I need to lock up my guitar and mandolin... is that a concern? And thank you, Telluride Tom! I will certainly say hello!

[TellurideTom]

There is an instrument check at the entrance to the festival if you wish to keep it secured.
Telluride is a pretty honest place, so if it's in your tent and out of plain view from the outside I wouldn't worry about it.
There are festival volunteers that stand by at the campsites to keep things safe as well.
 

[fsharpminor7]

That makes me feel so much better! Thank you!

[completejohn]

The reason I'm concerned about having my car somewhat nearby is in case I need to lock up my guitar and mandolin... is that a concern? And thank you, Telluride Tom! I will certainly say hello!

I've never used the instrument check, but you probably won't either.  Once you get set up, you're gonna be surrounded by other campsites that will never be totally empty, especially at the HS because of all the families.  Get to know your neighbors and let them know you're there solo.  They'll watch out for ya, just like you'll watch out for them.

The ONLY crime I've ever heard of was a lot of alcohol being stolen from Town Park one year.  Turns out it was a woman with a drinking problem.  But I'd bet about a third, amybe more, of the tents have musical instruments and/or electronics, but I've never heard of any theft problems.

That's no guarantee, but once you get chummy wiht your neighbors, I think you'll learn how wonderful this fest is.

[carty]

Got a crew from Damascus, VA making the road trip for our third bluegrass!

[Auntie Hope]

Got a crew from Damascus, VA making the road trip for our third bluegrass!

Hey Carry! Where y'all camping?

Auntie Hope

[carty]

Got a crew from Damascus, VA making the road trip for our third bluegrass!

Hey Carry! Where y'all camping?

Auntie Hope

We are at Lawson Hill. What part of Virginia are you coming from?

[Linds]

There is an instrument check at the entrance to the festival if you wish to keep it secured.
Telluride is a pretty honest place, so if it's in your tent and out of plain view from the outside I wouldn't worry about it.
There are festival volunteers that stand by at the campsites to keep things safe as well.
 

I would just add that if you don't have a tree or something to put your tent under, I would put up a tarp or an easy-up over your tent to keep it cool during the day, if you're going to store your instruments inside.  The sun at that altitude is pretty intense, and it can make that tent hot enough to bake your instruments pretty good. 

I leave my mandolin and octave mandolin in my tent all the time, but I make sure it has shade and ventilation.  As far as safety goes, you should be okay.

[pwdrhall]

hi, newbie, I'm also first timer this year although volunteered at rockygrass last year as a solo. this year, though, at tbf, we have a group of 5 and we may not want to be at the festival 5am-3am every day, soooo here's my newbie question- if we don't have tarp (we may get one of us to do tarp line a couple of days), is there best way for 5 of us to enjoy the music for a good chunk of the day/night?