What to expect

[Gymnastgurl03]

So, this is our first year coming out for the festival.  We have lodging taken care of and our tickets are bought.  Looking to get an idea of how much we should expect to spend on food and drinks?  Also, I have been reading about people putting tarps down to secure a location to sit.  Is it necessary to get there early and do that? Does the grass fill up quickly?

Thank You! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

[culasthewiz]

Howdy and welcome to TBF!   

Food/drink costs very much depend on how you plan on going about it - it's like asking how much a car costs...it depends on what you want!  If you plan on eating in town for each meal and are downing 4 beers each, you'll probably be dropping $40-50 each for each meal.  If you are going to pack and cook your meals, it can cost however much it normally costs you at home to prepare your meals.

As for the tarp run, it happens each morning of the fest - you get a number before the gates open, line up in order, and run out to place your tarp.  This is not necessary at all and you could easily find a decent spot if it's just 2 of you.  The grass does 'fill up' but there are plenty of spots to find throughout any part of the day.  Furthermore, in tune with the Festivarian spirit, if you see an empty tarp, you're welcome to sit there until the owners come back!  This can afford you the ability to "tarp surf", meet some great new people, and see the stage from different vantage points.

Hope that helps!

[Gymnastgurl03]

Thank you so much! That does help, especially the tarp explanation lol

[wiebs2334]

Thank you so much! That does help, especially the tarp explanation lol

This will be my 7th year making the trek down to Telluride, and I have never once setup my own tarp. It is a great way to meet new people that you wouldn't have otherwise. I wouldn't do it any other way unless I had a big group and we all wanted to stay together.

Ryan

[ToddG]

During festival days inside the festival grounds you can grab meals/snacks for about 6-10 bucks each. Beers are 5-6 and also mixed drinks. You can always bring your own non alcoholic drinks and food into the festival to cut costs. But there's plenty to spend money on from cool clothes, footwear and camp/festival gear to instruments, and of course the festival and band merchandise. Between my wife and I we spend about 100 per day inside the festival on food and drinks, over the weekend I usually spend around 200 in the merch tent, and between the two of us another 200-300 from vendors, and donating to causes. Otherwise we only eat out once or twice in town during the 10 days. We usually give the teenager about 30 bucks a day for festy food drinks and snacks ( but I think he just keeps it and eats in camp).

[GumbyAlmighty]

Does the house band perform at First Grass on Wednesdays?

[FaceOnMars]

Does the house band perform at First Grass on Wednesdays?

Such sweet kid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbaBkDlo1e4

[culasthewiz]

Does the house band perform at First Grass on Wednesdays?

Not historically.  They'll announce who is playing as the show approaches.  Here's a list of previous Firstgrass bands:
2018 - Billy Strings & The Lil Smokies
2017 - Freddy & Francine and The Cleverlys
2016 - Mandolin Orange and Balsam Range
2015 - Fruition and Rhiannon Giddens
2014 - Frank Sullivan & Dirty Kitchen and The Lone Bellow
2013 - Steep Canyon Rangers, Lake Street Dive and Rosco Bandana
2012 - Greensky Bluegrass and Della Mae (w Peter Rowan)

[Darkhorse]

Wow that is a great list thank you for that.

Ya there is pretty much no chance that the house band would play at firstgrass....that would be awesome tho, maybe for the 50th year anniversary!  Fingers Crossed!

[GumbyAlmighty]

I always like a good Seinfeld reference!