Mary E / Lawson Hill camping questions from a first timer

[sunrise]

Hello!

Apologies if these questions get asked every year ad nauseam, but I've not been able to find the answers by searching. 

- We'll be staying for the duration of the festival, but we have friends who can only come for Friday and Saturday.  As I understand you need to have a 4-day pass or single day tickets for all 4 days to camp at Mary E.  Lawson Hill, on the other hand, would allow them to camp with us even if they only have 2 single day tickets.  Is that correct?

- If my friends buy 4-day tickets + camping passes + vehicle pass, could they join us in Mary E on Thursday night & park their vehicle near our campsite and then leave Sunday morning?  Or is access to the campground restricted? 

- The camping handbook states that fires aren't allowed in any of the campgrounds, but I've read that Mary E allows them.  Which is correct?

- At Lawson Hill, how far from your car do you end up camping?  How much space can you take?  Are the spaces designated somehow?  Or do you just come and stake off your area?  What about Mary E?

- What's up with the Line Policy?  Is it necessary to get in super early to get a decent spot?  Where do you end up if you get in later?


 Listening to: Yonder Mountain

[skyrunner]

  Hello,  I can answer some of the questions anyway. 
  Yes, as far as I know only those with 4-day passes will be allowed to camp at Mary E. HOWEVER you might be able to work something out with Planet Bluegrass if you contact them. 
BUT, your friends would be welcome to visit out at Mary E. anytime they want. Just stop by the welcome tent and talk to one of the people there. That will be no big deal. We are pretty accommodating out there.
Any vehicle with a proper 4-day vehicle pass is welcome to park by your campsite all weekend long. Only at Mary E. I do not know anything about Lawson Hill.
 As far as the space issue goes. Don't know how it is at Lawson hill again. But out at Mary E. we can spread out. The official stance is, if it's level ground, it's open ground. There are NO set sites. You will have neighbors, they could become life long friends. We are all out there for the same reason.
 
   Depending on the year, and fire conditions!!

  There are NO open fire allowed at any campground at all anymore.  The neighbors complained about the smoke, so all wood fires are gone. Yes, you can have propane fires for cooking and heating with. Last year we could have charcoal BBQ's and hibachis. But that one depends on what the U.S. Forrest service and Planet Bluegrass tells us each year.

  The line policy depends on how bad you want to be clear up front all the time. The whole area is set on a ball diamond, so there is not allot of bad spots. If your there a little the opening on Thursday, you can end up getting a pretty good spot. Or join another tarp, if they have the room.  Or you could always join in on the sport of "Tarp Hopping". That is where you spend the good part of the day hopping from one tarp to another. Meeting everyone along the way. That can be lots and lots of fun.   

 Listening to: Old TV shows

[natemcw]

Hi! I can answer some of your Lawson Hill questions:

The 4-day pass policy in regards to camping is the same as Mary E so Skyrunner has you covered there

No open fires allowed at Lawson, but you can have propane grills.

When you camp at Lawson you'll unload your vehicle next to the baseball field (campground) and then you'll park your vehicle up on the hill which is right above the campground. So your vehicle will always be close by. One of the shuttle stops is next to the parking lot so if you need to grab/drop from your vehicle you can always do it to/from the bus.

There is no real limit to how much space you can take up (there are no designated spaces) however it's more of a "don't be a jerk about it" policy. Some folks have groups of 10+ and take up lots of room. But they have lots of people. I wouldn't recommend a super large setup for a couple people. But you can do whatever you please. It gets pretty packed on Friday and Saturday, so you'll get to know your neighbors.

And as far as a "line" goes Skyrunner covered the tarp run. I personally have a "home base" which is further back, conveniently located near the vendors, snacks, beer. Then we tarp hop during acts that we want to be close to. You'll find your way. It's rather relaxed and non-intimidating.

 Listening to: Greensky Bluegrass

[natemcw]

I just checked on this and you DO NOT need a 4-Day Pass to camp at Lawson. If you are only there for 1 day you can camp at Lawson. Sorry for the misinformation. You'd think I would remember this after working that site for 5 years now.

[TellurideTom]

I just checked on this and you DO NOT need a 4-Day Pass to camp at Lawson. If you are only there for 1 day you can camp at Lawson. Sorry for the misinformation. You'd think I would remember this after working that site for 5 years now.

Mary E. Ilium on the other hand, does require all four days.

"Mary E. Ilium Campground
Requires 4-day Festival PASS or or single-day tix to each Festival day"

[Suwannee John]

To piggy back off of this, as another first timer to TBF, a couple of questions for anyone who may know:

-What is the general proximity of the free parking to the camping area at Mary E. Ilium?

-My little group won't be able to arrive until Thursday morning. It sounds like there is a fair amount of space, but any reason for concern about finding a spot then (for both camping and car in the free parking area)?

Thank you!

 Listening to: Donna the Buffalo

[marcomusic]

To piggy back off of this, as another first timer to TBF, a couple of questions for anyone who may know:

-What is the general proximity of the free parking to the camping area at Mary E. Ilium?

-My little group won't be able to arrive until Thursday morning. It sounds like there is a fair amount of space, but any reason for concern about finding a spot then (for both camping and car in the free parking area)?

Thank you!

The free parking is along the road.  Vehicles are parallel parked facing upstream on the right side of the road.  The later you arrive the further you will be away from the campground.  The line stretches out for what seems like a mile by Thursday but you can catch the shuttle going out because after they drop off at the campground they go out to end and turn around before picking up passengers heading back to Telluride.

 Listening to: Lucinda Williams

[skyrunner]

Hello, Yea parking along the road will still be no big deal. Wave down a bus, they are real good about stopping. As far as the camping goes, there should still be ample space. There usually is anyway. Any space that is flat is open space to camp. If the flat spot is by another tent, you have neighbors.  Trust me, It all works out. 

 Listening to: Old TV shows

[armmon]

 anyone know when the last shuttle bus runs back to Mary E ?
 
 someone asked whether they'd have time to catch a NightGrass show then shuttle back to Mary E ...
 
.

[kmiddl2]

Shuttle buses from Mary E and Lawson Hill win run from 7:30am - 3am on Wednesday thru Sunday, and from 7:30am - 2pm on Monday (closing day).