There are 3 camping options available through GrassRoots itself (this doesn't count local campgrounds or festival neighbors selling space in their backyards). There is onsite vehicle camping, onsite tent camping, and offsite camping.
Onsite Vehicle Camping - This is sold out for 2007. It sold out in March this year because, due to new health department regulations, we had fewer spots to sell. A vehicle camping ticket gets the ticketholder either one car and one tent OR one RV/bus/large van. Only four people are allowed per site. Vehicle campers enter through the back gate (Rabbit Run Road) and the sites are located in the infield and behind the track. New: Extra tent tickets can be purchased to go along with the vehicle camping sites. They are specifically assigned to your site; you must have a vehicle camping pass in order to buy them. Price: $95, plus $40 for an additional tent
Onsite Tent Camping - These are still available for 2007. A tent camping ticket gets the ticketholder one tent sticker. Four people maximum are allowed per tent. Tent camping is in the wooded area behind the Cabaret Hall and the craft vendors. Tent camping ticket holders enter through the front gate. They can either pull their car into the small load-in area next to the front gate and unload their stuff, leaving someone with it while the other person goes and parks the car OR they can park their car at the off-site parking lot and just haul everything over to the site in one fell swoop. Price: $40
Offsite Camping - This is the best option for people who really want to spread out, or who want quiet camping. This campsite is located on Agard Road (about a mile from the festival site) and is serviced nonstop by a shuttle bus that runs back and forth from the festival. An offsite camping ticket gets you a car and two tents, with a reasonable amount of space, your choice between wooded land or flat land, etc. Price: $40, only for sale on the day of the event at the offsite area.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
- All of our campsites are primitive. No plug-ins, no electricity, etc. We generally do not allow people to run generators, either, as they are quite noisy... if your neighbors complain, we will ask you to turn it off. There are showers available on-site; we recommend camp showers (the Coleman
ones are decent - just make sure you use earth-friendly soap and shampoo) if you are camping offsite.
- Onsite camping is noisy. The stages run well into the wee hours, if you can't sleep through music, onsite camping is not for you. If you like to be right in the thick of it, though, it's definitely the place to be.
- There is potable water available both onsite and offsite, so if you'd like to bring some containers, you can fill them up. You also might consider buying some jugs of water to bring with you, or even just fill up your container at home... this will save you the time of waiting in line.
- No fires! On wet years, we'll sometimes make some designated fire pits at offsite, far away from tents, but generally, no fires. None. You can have a well-controlled hibachi grill or a Coleman camp stove, but be smart and have some sort of fire-put-out-er substance available (an extinguisher for gas, water for flame) if you decide to cook your own food. If we catch you lighting a bonfire, we will not only extinguish the flames, but we will confiscate all of your marshmallows and graham crackers and proceed to eat them in front of you while making obnoxious noises of delight. This will make you very sad, you really don't want it to happen.
Currently Listening: The Best of Memphis Minnie
