Rockygrass Riverbend Camping 2019

[cristofski]

Hi All,

Post flood I have spent all of my camping for Rockygrass in Riverbend and it has greatly enhanced my RG experience. It has been brought to my attention from a group of friends that there was a weird altercation late night at Riverbend last year which was set to change things this year. From what I was told, there is a belief amoungst some festivarians that Riverbend is a "family" campsite and there are quiet hours for no picking. One specific father was apparently extremely confrontational with pickers throughout the weekend. I have only heard one side of this story, but I've heard from multiple people on that side (the pickers) that claim this person was extremely confrontational to the point he was ready to start a fight and call the cops.

Anyhow, according to the pickers, the way that Planet Bluegrass staff was able to calm this guy down was by stating that going forward Riverbend will be a family campsite with no picking allowed. Can anyone on the PG side of the house confirm or post any new policies around this?

I really hope this is false news as this is the prime spot in the most prime of all picking festivals. I understand that the goal is to be more inclusive and inviting to all levels of music fans, but this is Rockygrass. If you don't want to listen to pickers, camp in Bohn.

Cheers,
Cristofski

[skyrunner]

I really hope this is not true. It's hard to imagine a "No Picking" attitude can even exist at RockyGrass.  Let alone a "No Picking" campground.

[johnspierce]

Hoping someone from Planet Bluegrass will chime in here.

This is a pretty important question *right now* since lottery is open and people will be purchasing camping based on whether or not late night picking is allowed.

In 2018, it was pretty contentious.  Planet Bluegrass sided with the families complaining about the noise and I know a lot of people are wondering if this is still a "picking festival".

I know the camping page for Rockygrass has been updated to say "family camping" is at Laverne, but there has never been anything posted in the FAQ about "quiet hours" at Riverbend yet here we are.

[bigdaddy]

Hey all.  I would also like to hear the official word on this.  I had 4 folks picking in my camp at River Bend only a little after 10pm and was asked by security to stop playing music and that we were in quiet hours.  We were pretty shocked.

I was happy to see on the website that it looks like the family area has been moved to LaVerne (which is a great spot for kids to play with the park etc) and that is where the quiet area is now but before I get my camping tickets I want to make sure I can pick at River Bend after the festival lets out in the evening, well late into the night.    I think the website would be clearer if it said "River Bend will no longer have a designated family camping area --> or designated quiet hours." <-- if that is the case.

Family Camping at Lavern Johnson (Meadow) Park. This campground will include an area designated as "family camping" which observes specified "quiet hours". (River Bend will no longer have a designated family camping area.)

[BluegrassBrian]

As you've right pointed out, we are moving the designated family camping area to LaVern Johnson (Meadow) Park this year.  With all the kids amenities (playgrounds) that seems like a better place for families.

So there will be no restrictions on late-night jamming at River Bend in 2019.

Sorry for the snafu with the "family camping" checkbox on the ticket site this morning.  We'll only be designating a portion of LMJ Park as family camping - so other portions of that campground will still allow late-night picking.  If you plan on late-night picking, be sure to check with the camp hosts before you get setup at LMJ Park this summer.