The festival afterglow is starting to fade, and here in the GrassRoots office, we're starting to get very excited for some of our late-summer plans, as well as some of the fun stuff we've got going this winter.
TRUMANSBURG FAIR MUSIC NIGHT - August 21
Keeping up with our favorite new tradition, this year will mark the second annual incarnation of the Ithaca music extravaganza at the Trumansburg Fair. It'll involve a slew of your favorite local musicians - Jeb Puryear, Tara Nevins, Sim Redmond, Hank Roberts, Crow Greenspun, Richie Stearns, Johnny Dowd, Kevin Kinsella, Mary Lorson, J-San, Trevor MacDonald, Rising Sun and E-Rich, and too many more to be named. It's going to be AWESOME, and the best part? It's free! You have to pay admission to the fair itself (which is a very affordable $4 and includes parking), but otherwise, it's a gift to the community from GrassRoots and these exceptional musicians. We'll see you there!
STATE THEATRE SERIES - Beginning Sept. 11
Kicking off this year's GrassRoots at the State Theatre will be an evening with Steve Earle and Allison Moorer. Those names speak for themselves, I think, and we're beside ourselves with excitement.
Also in the series will be Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings on November 1, and The Flatlanders on April 1 of next year. This series was ludicrously fun for us last year, and we can't wait for them to start this year. Well, we actually can wait, because once it's State time, that means that summer is over. But at least these shows will be a great balm for the end of my favorite season.
And now, for some happy memories...
My personal favorite memory of the festival is as follows:
It's about 7:00 am on Sunday morning. I'm still awake, having zydeco danced until dawn. A group of musicians and festival staffers and friends find ourselves some pizza and perch ourselves on a pair of golf carts, gossiping and teasing each other about our various states of late-festival disarray. Suddenly, I hear what sounds like a gang war happening on the infield. It was very loud yelling, coming from two groups that were obviously opposing each other in some way. I kicked the masses off of my golf cart, and headed over to check out the scene and make sure things were okay. What did I discover? A large-scale kickball game! KICKBALL! If I hadn't been wearing flip-flops, I would've SO joined in. I love kickball. And what a wholesome, non-destructive way to burn off excessive alcohol before bedtime (actually, I had a feeling that about 50% of the players were still up, and the other 50% were the early-to-bed, early-to-rise types who had just woken up). Next year, I'm definitely campaigning for more kickball at GrassRoots. It's just awesome.
... and for those of you who need a slightly more visual experience to kick-start your memory, check out some of these videos:
GRASSROOTS COMPOSTING EFFORTS:
A NICE VIDEO FROM OLIVIER CONRARDY, A BELGIAN FILMMAKER:
Online Videos by Veoh.com
... and there are many more. And now it's your turn! What is your favorite memory of GrassRoots 2008? Leave a comment and let us know!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Last-Minute FAQs - Please Read!
We've shut down the GrassRoots main office and we're all headed out to the Fairgrounds to finish our last-minute preparations. Therefore, phone calls will not be answered, starting now and lasting until sometime on Monday. We can't wait to see you all out there!
We do know that 95% of the phone calls we get at this time are folks asking the following questions, though, so here are the answers:
I ordered my tickets on July 1, and they still haven't arrived! What do I do?
All tickets ordered after July 1st are being held at the gate at Will Call. Unless you've received an email or phone call indicating that there is something wrong with your order, they'll be there. Please bring some photo ID to pick them up.
I ordered Thursday day passes and they still haven't arrived! What do I do?
No day passes were mailed out in advance, they are ALL being held at Will Call. Again, bring some photo ID and you can pick them up when you get here.
Help! I have an emergency and I need to reach my friend/child/sister/etc. at the festival! What do I do?
Call the Trumansburg Police Department non-emergency number (607-387-6505). We are in constant contact with the local law enforcement agencies and they'll pass on the information to us, and we will do our best to find that person.
I lost my tent camping ticket! What do I do?
No you didn't, silly goose. We didn't mail them out this year; they're all being held at Will Call. You can pick 'em up when you get here.
Are you SURE you don't have any Onsite Camping sites left over that you could sell me?
Yes.
Pllllllleeeeeease?
No.
Well, what am I supposed to do if I don't have Onsite Camping?
Camp at our beautiful offsite camping area at Agard Road in Trumansburg. If you're headed South on 96, you're going to pass the festival on your right and keep going about 3/4 mile (through a big dippy hill, and then just a bit further). Follow the signs and turn left onto Agard Road. You'll hit offsite camping in about 1/2 mile. If you're coming North on 96, you're going to make a right-hand turn on Agard Road shortly after Stover Lumber and the Mini-Golf Course. It's $50, which you can pay for when you get there (cash or check), and that gets you a car and two tents on your site. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Where do I park?
We only recommend two specific parking areas. One is our offsite parking area at Agard Road (follow the directions above) - it's free and constantly serviced by an air-conditioned shuttle bus. The other is sort of kitty-corner from the festival, between the Shur-Save Grocery store and Maguire Auto. That one is run by the 8th Grade Class as a fundraiser. It's $10 for the day or $40 for the weekend, and the money all goes to help pay for their field trip to Washington, D.C., where they visit the Smithsonian and Holocaust Museum and other important places. I was a kid in Trumansburg once upon a time - it's a lovely town, but it's really cool to see big, historical places once in awhile. It's a good cause, for sure, so support them!
Other parking lots are available, but we will not vouch for (nor talk poorly about) any of them - we just don't know. Street-side parking exists, but I can't recommend it... it's very easy to get towed in these here parts, and it's an expensive proposition.
Which gate do I go to?
If you're a ticketbuyer who isn't camping, a tent camping pass-holder, press, or a volunteer, you'll be entering into the front gate (Route 96). That's where the shuttle bus drops you off. If you're a musician, band guest, or vehicle camper, you'll be entering through the back gate (Rabbit Run Road). Once your wristband and camping situation is all set, you can enter or exit through either gate.
Do you have an ATM onsite?
Why, yes! It has run out before, though, so make sure you at least have enough cash on you for a meal or two.
Do you take credit cards at the gate?
We take credit cards at the front gate only. Otherwise, cash or check.
Will the festival sell out?
It is extremely unlikely. It has never happened before (we've never even approached the number where it would happen), so we have no inclination whatsoever that it would happen this year.
I can't come to the festival after all. Can I get a refund?
Nope, sorry.
Are you still accepting volunteers?
We do accept some walk-up volunteers each year, but there's no guarantee that you'll get one of those spots. You also need to be prepared to make a deposit, so have either a check or money order (for $110) or a credit card ready.
I have this really complicated ticket problem, where one of my tickets didn't come and another one came late but wasn't the right one and.... (etc.) What do I do?
It's soooooo much better to call us well in advance of the festival if you've got ticket problems. However. The best thing to do at this juncture is to arrive at the gate, go to the Will Call window and we'll do our best to clear it up.
We do know that 95% of the phone calls we get at this time are folks asking the following questions, though, so here are the answers:
I ordered my tickets on July 1, and they still haven't arrived! What do I do?
All tickets ordered after July 1st are being held at the gate at Will Call. Unless you've received an email or phone call indicating that there is something wrong with your order, they'll be there. Please bring some photo ID to pick them up.
I ordered Thursday day passes and they still haven't arrived! What do I do?
No day passes were mailed out in advance, they are ALL being held at Will Call. Again, bring some photo ID and you can pick them up when you get here.
Help! I have an emergency and I need to reach my friend/child/sister/etc. at the festival! What do I do?
Call the Trumansburg Police Department non-emergency number (607-387-6505). We are in constant contact with the local law enforcement agencies and they'll pass on the information to us, and we will do our best to find that person.
I lost my tent camping ticket! What do I do?
No you didn't, silly goose. We didn't mail them out this year; they're all being held at Will Call. You can pick 'em up when you get here.
Are you SURE you don't have any Onsite Camping sites left over that you could sell me?
Yes.
Pllllllleeeeeease?
No.
Well, what am I supposed to do if I don't have Onsite Camping?
Camp at our beautiful offsite camping area at Agard Road in Trumansburg. If you're headed South on 96, you're going to pass the festival on your right and keep going about 3/4 mile (through a big dippy hill, and then just a bit further). Follow the signs and turn left onto Agard Road. You'll hit offsite camping in about 1/2 mile. If you're coming North on 96, you're going to make a right-hand turn on Agard Road shortly after Stover Lumber and the Mini-Golf Course. It's $50, which you can pay for when you get there (cash or check), and that gets you a car and two tents on your site. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Where do I park?
We only recommend two specific parking areas. One is our offsite parking area at Agard Road (follow the directions above) - it's free and constantly serviced by an air-conditioned shuttle bus. The other is sort of kitty-corner from the festival, between the Shur-Save Grocery store and Maguire Auto. That one is run by the 8th Grade Class as a fundraiser. It's $10 for the day or $40 for the weekend, and the money all goes to help pay for their field trip to Washington, D.C., where they visit the Smithsonian and Holocaust Museum and other important places. I was a kid in Trumansburg once upon a time - it's a lovely town, but it's really cool to see big, historical places once in awhile. It's a good cause, for sure, so support them!
Other parking lots are available, but we will not vouch for (nor talk poorly about) any of them - we just don't know. Street-side parking exists, but I can't recommend it... it's very easy to get towed in these here parts, and it's an expensive proposition.
Which gate do I go to?
If you're a ticketbuyer who isn't camping, a tent camping pass-holder, press, or a volunteer, you'll be entering into the front gate (Route 96). That's where the shuttle bus drops you off. If you're a musician, band guest, or vehicle camper, you'll be entering through the back gate (Rabbit Run Road). Once your wristband and camping situation is all set, you can enter or exit through either gate.
Do you have an ATM onsite?
Why, yes! It has run out before, though, so make sure you at least have enough cash on you for a meal or two.
Do you take credit cards at the gate?
We take credit cards at the front gate only. Otherwise, cash or check.
Will the festival sell out?
It is extremely unlikely. It has never happened before (we've never even approached the number where it would happen), so we have no inclination whatsoever that it would happen this year.
I can't come to the festival after all. Can I get a refund?
Nope, sorry.
Are you still accepting volunteers?
We do accept some walk-up volunteers each year, but there's no guarantee that you'll get one of those spots. You also need to be prepared to make a deposit, so have either a check or money order (for $110) or a credit card ready.
I have this really complicated ticket problem, where one of my tickets didn't come and another one came late but wasn't the right one and.... (etc.) What do I do?
It's soooooo much better to call us well in advance of the festival if you've got ticket problems. However. The best thing to do at this juncture is to arrive at the gate, go to the Will Call window and we'll do our best to clear it up.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
CONFIRMED: Tuesday at 3:00
Okay, so yesterday the Ithaca Journal ran an article that claimed that Rabbit Run Road would be opened at 3:30 pm on Wednesday. This is INCORRECT. The road WILL be opened on Tuesday at 3:00. Thanks for sitting tight; we just want to make sure everyone has the most complete information possible!
Friday, July 11, 2008
SCHEDULE CHANGE: Please Welcome the Lee Boys!
The Lee Boys are coming to GrassRoots! This should be big news for anyone who's seen them at any of their amazing performances. This powerhouse sacred steel gospel band will fit right in here, and raise the roof off the Grandstand at 5:00 pm on Friday, and the Dance Tent at 4:00 on Saturday. These spots were going to be the Allen Boys, but they have canceled their appearance.
So here's a little something to get you excited, y'all! Here's a video of the Lee Boys playing at the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival last summer:
So here's a little something to get you excited, y'all! Here's a video of the Lee Boys playing at the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival last summer:
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Field Trip to the Fairgrounds
So a couple of us headed on down to the T-burg Fairgrounds yesterday for our last pre-setup field trip. We were there on dull business (getting phone lines set up and turned on so the ATM and credit card machines will work), but I took my Flip video camera (highly recommended, by the way), and did a little video tour of the site as it was yesterday. Some fun moments include the infield stage trailer (yes, the infield stage is actually essentially a super-fancy engineered pop-up camper) and the giant blank field where the dance tent lives. Have a look:
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Volunteers Still Needed!
Update: 7/13/2008 - We're stopping volunteer signups for this year, so we have a few days to process everyone who has signed up. If you still want to volunteer, it may be possible to do so as a "walk-up" during the festival itself; feel free to check out that option by visiting the Volunteer tent after 5:00 pm on Thursday.
... but time is running short (it takes a couple of days to process each worker and get them scheduled), so sign up now! We still need lots and lots of people for lots and lots of different jobs. What's your story? I bet we can find a great volunteer gig to match it!
One new volunteer scenario we have going this year is the "Lunch Angel" position. For an explanation, we'll turn to our beautiful redheaded hospitality coordinator and maternal advice-giver extraordinaire, Katy:
Be an angel.
Help us keep the GrassRoots Festival set-up and building crew happy and full. Make a nutritious and filling lunch or dinner for 30 people and get two 4-day festival passes in return. We provide the paper, plastic, and clean up. You deliver and set-up. Contact us for dates and times needed (all take place on the days BEFORE the festival starts). DO NOT just show up with food.
Katy
Hospitality Coordinator
This is a great way to earn your tickets, especially if you're a local and a good cook. If you're interested, email me at promo@grassrootsfest.org (give me your phone number, too), and I'll put you in touch with her.
And if you're interested in doing your part during the festival, in exchange for a ticket, holler at us here.
See you all soooooooon!
... but time is running short (it takes a couple of days to process each worker and get them scheduled), so sign up now! We still need lots and lots of people for lots and lots of different jobs. What's your story? I bet we can find a great volunteer gig to match it!
One new volunteer scenario we have going this year is the "Lunch Angel" position. For an explanation, we'll turn to our beautiful redheaded hospitality coordinator and maternal advice-giver extraordinaire, Katy:
Be an angel.
Help us keep the GrassRoots Festival set-up and building crew happy and full. Make a nutritious and filling lunch or dinner for 30 people and get two 4-day festival passes in return. We provide the paper, plastic, and clean up. You deliver and set-up. Contact us for dates and times needed (all take place on the days BEFORE the festival starts). DO NOT just show up with food.
Katy
Hospitality Coordinator
This is a great way to earn your tickets, especially if you're a local and a good cook. If you're interested, email me at promo@grassrootsfest.org (give me your phone number, too), and I'll put you in touch with her.
And if you're interested in doing your part during the festival, in exchange for a ticket, holler at us here.
See you all soooooooon!
Monday, June 30, 2008
NEW RULES - Vehicle Campers, Please Read!
Hi, vehicle campers! Thank you for behaving yourselves and reading this post, like I just told you to.
So, you may have received a postcard from us in the mail (if you haven't, you'll either receive it within a day or two, or you threw it out with the junk mail already). That postcard delineates a very important new rule regarding vehicle camping:
YOU CANNOT PARK ON RABBIT RUN ROAD BEFORE TUESDAY (July 15) AT 3:00 PM.
That means that the happy-party-fun-time that used to happen on Rabbit Run Road starting on Sunday night before the festival (or Saturday afternoon, as was the case last year) CANNOT HAPPEN this year. So let's rock the rest of this FAQ-style:
WHEN CAN I LINE UP?
You can start lining up on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.
WHERE CAN I GO BEFORE THEN?
You will need to find legal parking or camping accommodations elsewhere. We recommend checking out some of our beautiful local state parks (check them out at our camping page under "Additional Camping Options"), or spend a couple of days exploring the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Region. Fun!
CAN I CAMP AT THE OFFSITE PARKING LOT UNTIL TUESDAY?
Sorry, but no. Our permit regulations and insurance don't allow us to let anyone camp or park at our Agard Road lot until the morning of Thursday, July 17.
WHY IS THIS THE NEW RULE?
It's not our rule, so we're honestly not 100% clear on the reasons. The Town of Ulysses (which is the official name of the township in which the Village of Trumansburg resides) has decided that it's in the best interest of everyone to disallow camping and parking on that road during the week leading up to the festival. I guess it has to do with neighbor complaints, as well as concerns about safety - both perfectly reasonable.
BUT... WHY!!?!?! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!
Stop asking me stuff! I don't know! I just write the blog, I don't even work here! Okay, I do work here, but I try very hard not to make any important decisions, because I hate responsibility!
WILL I BE ABLE TO PARK THERE DURING THE FESTIVAL?
We kind of think so, but we're still waiting on the results of a final Town Board meeting that will take place this week. If not, parking at Agard Road will still be available, and still be free.
I FEEL THE NEED TO REBEL, AND I'M CONSIDERING LINING UP ON RABBIT RUN ROAD EARLY NO MATTER WHAT. WHAT BAD THINGS MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME?
Well, first of all, your car will get towed, and that's super-annoying and really expensive and not a very fun way to start your festival. Then, you'll probably be struck by lightning. Then, some internet hacker will find their way into your checking account and rob you blind. Then, a group of hippopotamuses will stampede through your house. Then, I'll slap you around for awhile while screaming, "I told you so!" So... don't do it. Please.
WILL THE BACK GATE STILL OPEN AT THE SAME TIME?
Yeah, around noonish on Thursday morning. We'll have our band of merry men and women walking down the line to greet your car starting around 8:00 am, and get you stickered and ready to roll in all orderly-like when the gates actually open. We have been known to open the gates a bit early, if we're feeling like things are in good order and ready to go, so it's worth being prepared for that scenario as well. Meaning, be somewhere in the vicinity of your car and don't start drinking Bloody Marys until you're inside.
WHICH DO YOU LIKE BETTER, HORSEYS OR PUPPIES?
Definitely horseys.
Feel free to leave a comment and ask any other questions - I'll try my darnedest to answer them as completely as I can.
So, you may have received a postcard from us in the mail (if you haven't, you'll either receive it within a day or two, or you threw it out with the junk mail already). That postcard delineates a very important new rule regarding vehicle camping:
YOU CANNOT PARK ON RABBIT RUN ROAD BEFORE TUESDAY (July 15) AT 3:00 PM.
That means that the happy-party-fun-time that used to happen on Rabbit Run Road starting on Sunday night before the festival (or Saturday afternoon, as was the case last year) CANNOT HAPPEN this year. So let's rock the rest of this FAQ-style:
WHEN CAN I LINE UP?
You can start lining up on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.
WHERE CAN I GO BEFORE THEN?
You will need to find legal parking or camping accommodations elsewhere. We recommend checking out some of our beautiful local state parks (check them out at our camping page under "Additional Camping Options"), or spend a couple of days exploring the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Region. Fun!
CAN I CAMP AT THE OFFSITE PARKING LOT UNTIL TUESDAY?
Sorry, but no. Our permit regulations and insurance don't allow us to let anyone camp or park at our Agard Road lot until the morning of Thursday, July 17.
WHY IS THIS THE NEW RULE?
It's not our rule, so we're honestly not 100% clear on the reasons. The Town of Ulysses (which is the official name of the township in which the Village of Trumansburg resides) has decided that it's in the best interest of everyone to disallow camping and parking on that road during the week leading up to the festival. I guess it has to do with neighbor complaints, as well as concerns about safety - both perfectly reasonable.
BUT... WHY!!?!?! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!
Stop asking me stuff! I don't know! I just write the blog, I don't even work here! Okay, I do work here, but I try very hard not to make any important decisions, because I hate responsibility!
WILL I BE ABLE TO PARK THERE DURING THE FESTIVAL?
We kind of think so, but we're still waiting on the results of a final Town Board meeting that will take place this week. If not, parking at Agard Road will still be available, and still be free.
I FEEL THE NEED TO REBEL, AND I'M CONSIDERING LINING UP ON RABBIT RUN ROAD EARLY NO MATTER WHAT. WHAT BAD THINGS MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME?
Well, first of all, your car will get towed, and that's super-annoying and really expensive and not a very fun way to start your festival. Then, you'll probably be struck by lightning. Then, some internet hacker will find their way into your checking account and rob you blind. Then, a group of hippopotamuses will stampede through your house. Then, I'll slap you around for awhile while screaming, "I told you so!" So... don't do it. Please.
WILL THE BACK GATE STILL OPEN AT THE SAME TIME?
Yeah, around noonish on Thursday morning. We'll have our band of merry men and women walking down the line to greet your car starting around 8:00 am, and get you stickered and ready to roll in all orderly-like when the gates actually open. We have been known to open the gates a bit early, if we're feeling like things are in good order and ready to go, so it's worth being prepared for that scenario as well. Meaning, be somewhere in the vicinity of your car and don't start drinking Bloody Marys until you're inside.
WHICH DO YOU LIKE BETTER, HORSEYS OR PUPPIES?
Definitely horseys.
Feel free to leave a comment and ask any other questions - I'll try my darnedest to answer them as completely as I can.
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