First timer tips?

[NewbieApril]

I have never been to this festival, though I have been to others. I know every festival has it's own quirks, traditions, etc. I have been working on my packing list because I am big into lists, but I have a few questions for folks that go often. How much cash should I plan to bring to the festival, or are credit cards common currency at the festival? If I have a camping pass for one area, is it ok to wander about the other areas after the stages close to check out the night life? What is the one thing you wished you would have known the first time you arrived?

[ToddG]

Bring both summer, and cold weather clothing. Hot during the day, and near freezing at night, actually starts getting quite cool once the sun drops. Credit cards are generally accepted, but you may want some cash on hand, how much really depends on what all you might purchase. There are excellent food vendors, beer, and mixed drinks (at about 7 bucks a pop). Lots of great clothing vendors too. Then there is festy and band merch. If you eat out in town thats other expenses as well. Think we spent near 1000 in the 10 days we were there last year, not including the food and beverages we brought to camp.
Going from camp to camp really only happens between Warner and Town Park campgrounds, though if you are there in the days prior to festival starting you can visit any of the campgrounds from Saturday till Wednesday. If at all possible I suggest getting there as early as you can afford to, lots of fun going on in the Town Park campground, and soooo much to do and see in and around Telluride, especially if you are a hiker, climber, cyclist etc...

Last year was my first year, and I felt we were very well prepared, from advice of folks from this forum. Meet people and be neighborly would be my advice.

 Listening to: The Cars

[TellurideTom]

I have never been to this festival, though I have been to others. I know every festival has it's own quirks, traditions, etc. I have been working on my packing list because I am big into lists, but I have a few questions for folks that go often. How much cash should I plan to bring to the festival, or are credit cards common currency at the festival? If I have a camping pass for one area, is it ok to wander about the other areas after the stages close to check out the night life? What is the one thing you wished you would have known the first time you arrived?

Once the festival starts you must have the proper wrist band to enter any campground. There are no "visitation rights" to any campground.

Although most of the vendors take credit cards, there are numerous food and beverage vendors that take only cash.

There is normally an ATM on the festival grounds but it may charge you a fee if it isn't from your bank, so it's best to have some cash available if you're concerned about extra fees.

 

[Hot Sugar]

Hold onto the beer cup they give you. Your first beer is $7, cup included, but refills are only $5. Saves you some money and less garbage produced!

[Australian fan]

Bring a decent water bottle. You will need to drink a lot.

And believe the advice regarding tarps - everyone shares. If you want to head down the front to see a favourite you will be welcome to join a tarp, just be polite. I have never seen such kindness.

And don’t miss Firstgrass. It is an intimate occasion under the sunshine and you get to see and hear some fabulous performers. Bring a blanket, some snacks and enjoy a beautiful way to start the festival.

Oh wow, I can’t wait to return

[completejohn]

ATM - there's also one on the main street that's really close (Wells Fargo).

What I wished I had known: 

1.  if you're camping in a place with bus service or using the Ganja-la, expect lines at rush hours (late morning inbound, during / after the last act outbound).

2.  Some t-shirts and souvenirs go fast.  Be sure to visit the swag tent the first day.

3.  Bring a spray bottle.  Misting helps when you're praying for clouds to come over, plus it doubles as your water bottle.

4.  Crunchy Frogs are not for the faint of heart.  Nor for faints of other body parts, too.

5.  Yes, it can snow.

6.  The outhouses with the fastest moving lines are #####REDACTED#####.

[landshark]

the view and sound are better farther back. Huge discovery.

Pace yourself if you are a flatlander. Slow and easy for activity and consumption of alcohol day 1. 4 days and nights to go and a high altitude headache really sucks.

Be kind and gracious, introduce yourself if you take an empty tarp for a song or 2 and share your space for a tune. That is called the festivarian way.

Bring a squirt gun for some water fun on a hot afternoon but never squirt a person uninvited. Wait for the devil smile and bam em.

No stakes in tarps hurts bare feet and the sprinkler system.

The Flank Steak is to die for

[Pass Port]

Bring a decent water bottle. You will need to drink a lot.

And believe the advice regarding tarps - everyone shares. If you want to head down the front to see a favourite you will be welcome to join a tarp, just be polite. I have never seen such kindness.

And don’t miss Firstgrass. It is an intimate occasion under the sunshine and you get to see and hear some fabulous performers. Bring a blanket, some snacks and enjoy a beautiful way to start the festival.

Oh wow, I can’t wait to return

So happy this is working out! Couldn't imagine another summer that you got shut down!! 

April   
All good advice is found here. You didn't mention where you are camping and when you plan to arrive. AF and I were newbies 4 years ago. She asked a lot of good questions. I trolled through all sorts of topics that are saved right on this forum. We both learned a lot before we ever stepped foot in Telluride. As Todd mentioned regarding money, it depends what and where you eat, and spend your $$ on. A wealth of information is on this site.. Also a great way to catch the vibe of this community! You will see it get more active from this point forward. Keep logged in, read, ask, and prepare yourself for the best week of the summer!! 

[Australian fan]

Bring a decent water bottle. You will need to drink a lot.

And believe the advice regarding tarps - everyone shares. If you want to head down the front to see a favourite you will be welcome to join a tarp, just be polite. I have never seen such kindness.

And don’t miss Firstgrass. It is an intimate occasion under the sunshine and you get to see and hear some fabulous performers. Bring a blanket, some snacks and enjoy a beautiful way to start the festival.

Oh wow, I can’t wait to return

So happy this is working out! Couldn't imagine another summer that you got shut down!! 

April   
All good advice is found here. You didn't mention where you are camping and when you plan to arrive. AF and I were newbies 4 years ago. She asked a lot of good questions. I trolled through all sorts of topics that are saved right on this forum. We both learned a lot before we ever stepped foot in Telluride. As Todd mentioned regarding money, it depends what and where you eat, and spend your $$ on. A wealth of information is on this site.. Also a great way to catch the vibe of this community! You will see it get more active from this point forward. Keep logged in, read, ask, and prepare yourself for the best week of the summer!! 

And Passport has gone on to be a hero of camp.

We are going to have so much fun, am RAPT to get home again to your fabulous, crazy, country where we have a little touch of peace, harmony and togetherness in the mountains.

And man, Billy Strings with Greensky!

I cannot wait for June 🌞🌞🌞

[NewbieApril]

I am staying at Lawson Hill... It was one of the few places left when I bit the bullet and decided to come. I am coming to the festival by myself also this year, but feel that it is a good place to make friends easily

I am used to festival camping (I have been regularly attending the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas for almost 20 years now) and I love the companionship that develops at these festivals.

The whole line up this year- every band is one that I want to see, or in some cases see again.

I am actually going to two separate concerts in Aspen and then Denver, respectively, on the 19th and 20th (one of my favorite bands is on tour that hasn't been for years, so I have to go check them out), so I will not be able to arrive at Telluride until either late morning or early afternoon on the 21st. Do you think I will have issues finding a spot for my tent at Lawson Hill at that time?

I am very much looking forward to this experience! An I appreciate all of the great feedback here.

[aaronacp15]

You shouldn't have any problems finding a space for your tent at Lawson, especially since you'll only have a 1-2 person tent. Worst case scenario you end up on the dirt portion of the baseball field, but each year I've gone everyone has had plenty of space to move around in the grass. You'll never meet more inviting people than at TBF. Enjoy.

Also, TBF is the best festival out there, but don't forget to explore the town and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it while you're there. You won't regret it. If you wake up early enough you can sneak in a hike to the top of Bridal Veil and still make it back to the festival in time for the first bands. 

 Listening to: Jack White- Over and Over and Over

[ToddG]

April Winfield is awesome, I used to go haven't been since 1997. All my friends go every year, landrush and all. Stage 5 is where our group calls home. Tahlequah, Stillwater, Ponca camp. Telluride is nothing like Winfield, except I'd say Town Park camping area is similar to the pecan grove. And however much certain aspects of all festivals are the same, there's something beyond words that seperates Telluride. You'll know it once you get there, all these other folks on this forum know it, its magic, I wish I could explain it. 2 months and 1 week and we'll be there!

 Listening to: wife, kid, and dogs sleeping

[meanderingjeeper]

in the things I had wish I'd known (or knew and tried to disbelieve)

-you need to be in your change of clothes before the sun goes down...
-if you have a particular size, get in line for the merch on thurs the instant after you set your tarp down
-drink water....no, drink more....drink more still...
-the corner house grill has a great patio in the shade
-the atm in the festival has the loooooooooooooongest lines.....get $ before
-if staying for all 4 days (and how many of you have been here all 4 days???) there are often great deals in the clothing tents Sun afternoon/night
-drink more water
-free water inside is better than bottled
-the corn dogs are that good, as Allison Krause can attest
-the farmers market on Friday is worth while
-you're still not drinking enough water

[BuckeyeDog]

Bring a decent pair of hiking boots (waterproof). Find a few hours, preferably early in the AM if you don't want to miss any main stage sets, and take the hike to Bear Creek Falls. It's about 5 miles round trip. Plan for about 3 hours, since you will definitely want to linger there for a while. The scenery is spectacular, and a much easier hike than Bridal Veil.
And there is always the Telluride Bottleworks trail that you can do wearing flip-flops.

[NewbieApril]

I plan to bring my bike. I have heard that can come in handy. Is that true? And, is there adequate space to park my bike after I ride from Lawson Hill to the main stage area?