First Time

[anorris46]

Hello

Well I am looking to going to this festival, and it will be my first time. I would love some info about it. Such as where is the best place to camp, how can I go about getting reasonably priced tickets, and any info you deem important! I really don't know what info I need, but I really want to come! But I want to be well informed I don't know anyone who has ever been, and figured I might as well ask the people who know! Thanks in advance for any help. I appreciate it!

 Listening to: Decemberists

[Mr.T]

Welcome to the Forum and Congratulations on choosing in my opinion at least the best music going experience in the world. My first suggestion would be to spend some time on the forum and read old posts. Although I personally don't have children I find the TBF 101 for Families has a ton of good general information to get you started. As far as tickets go I will tell you not to pay over face value. Don't worry as it starts to warm up and people discover they cannot attend you can find people selling them on the ticket exchange forum. I have stayed in a condo in the past but am looking forward to camping this year. Like any camping trip be sure you have planned for all weather when at the festival. Telluride has a way of going from scorching hot in the day to pretty cold at night so be sure you dress accordingly. Finally as you have more specific questions just ask! The reason I love this forum so much is because people who don't even know you will go out of the way to make sure you enjoy the experience that is TBF. So go ahead and start dreaming of summer (I know I am) and all the great friends you are going to make and the awesome music you will get to hear!

 Listening to: Claire Lynch

[anorris46]

Thanks so much well I am single, would probably be coming with a few friends, just not sure how the camping thing works... each person has to pay to camp, even if they are in the same campsite? Is it easier to take a tent or RV?

[Hot Sugar]

Camping is sold per person, not per sight. It's much easier to take an tent because it is quite hard to find a RV pass. As far as where to camp, Town Park and Warner field are the closest to the festival. Camping passes for either of those locations come with a four day festival pass. They're both sold out, but if you're really wanting to get in there, it's very doable. Just keep your eye on the returned tickets and the ticket exchange. The High School camp ground is in town within walking distance of the festival. No booze allowed, though. Lawson Hill is several miles out of town, but they run shuttles to pick you up. Not much shade there, so bring your own. Mary E Illium is the farthest away, but has plenty of shade and is the only camp ground where you can have a fire (in designated fire pits). Once again, the planet runs shuttles to pick festivarians up and bring them into town for the festival.

[dgott2000]

Each person has to pay for a camping wristband if they plan on camping in addition to their festival ticket/wristband.  Festival ticket prices tend to stay fixed as it's part of the festivarian spirit not to scalp tickets.  RV camping requires an additional vehicle camping pass- I'd suggest just tent camping but that's just personal preference (and I don't own an RV)

The past several years I've camped at the Mary E Illium campground.  Here are some pros and cons:

Pros:
The only campground that allows firepits  
Has trees and thus lots of shade (so you don't wake up baking in your tent in the AM)
Has an awesome but frigid river (for bathing if you can stand the cold and have biodegradable soap)

Cons:
Its the farthest away from the Festival (9 miles I think)
You have to stand in line with all your stuff and wait for the buses (depends on what time of day you want to go to the fest, but I've waited for a very long time)
Because its the farthest away from the festival, you pretty much have to take everything you need for the entire day (and evening) because you don't want to make several trips

That being said, it seems that Town Park and Warner Field are probably the best campgrounds, because they are right at the Festival, but tickets can be hard to come by.  This year I got lucky and got picked for tickets for TP :-)

Of the other two campgrounds, they are both in open so you will wake up roasting in your tent in the morning (fair warning about that one).  One is family camping which is good if you have kids- quiet hours at night, less partying, etc. and it's close to the high school so you can take hot showers.

The other (lawson) is a baseball field with lots of tents in the open.

Illium is your best bet (IMHO) and just be prepared to wait for the buses in the morning and you'll have a great time!

Others please feel free to provide additional feedback or corrections :-)

 Listening to: mumford and sons