Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by myheartgoing on Feb 24, 2010 22:06:50 GMT -5
Sooo....Sorry if this has been said before, buuuut...
I've seen posts about 'what time is best' to get to Bonnaroo (seems to be around 8 am Thursday?), and people saying that tent-only fills up faster every year, but when do the gates for Bonnaroo and tent-only officially open? Is there an official time?
Last year was my first Roo and i volunteered for Oxfam America so I arrived Wednesday and stayed in Vendor Camping; We got free showers and a free shuttle to Centeroo! It was pretty great, but I'm also looking forward to camping this year...We're probably gonna do our best to arrive in Manchester about 8am (it's a 4 hr drive from Louisville, I'm hoping traffic doesn't set that time back too much?). And if we get a crappy spot, we'll just haul our stuff to tent-only.
You can get in starting about or 7 on Wednesday, but you will be in the very back of the fest. I am pretty sure the gates are open all night after that.
Post by myheartgoing on Feb 24, 2010 22:41:43 GMT -5
Hmmmm....Does that goes for Tent-Only too? Does it open when the festival gates do? I'm a hiker, so hauling my gear from BFE to Tent-Only on Wednesday night wouldn't bother me a bit if I was able to get a kickass spot! Tent-Only seems to be where the action is anyway. Dude, this worst-case scenario keeps looping through my head, though: We aim to get to Manchester at 8 am Thursday, don't get to our camping spot until like noon, end up getting a terrible spot and by the time we get to Tent-Only it's all full. lol. I'm a worrier, what can I say?
If you still have your map, they typically send the Wednesday night arrivals to James Bond camping. It's actually pretty nice and I think it's across from where they put you as volunteers. Surrounded by trees, a bit sheltered from the elements. A short walk to the VIP shortcut. (Though a fairly long walk back after they close the shortcut late night.)
Dude, this worst-case scenario keeps looping through my head, though: We aim to get to Manchester at 8 am Thursday, don't get to our camping spot until like noon, end up getting a terrible spot and by the time we get to Tent-Only it's all full. lol. I'm a worrier, what can I say?
This timeline is almost exactly what we did last year. We would have gotten parked sooner if we hadn't arrived with the mid-morning storm and they closed the tollbooths for about 30 minutes.
But we got to tent-only and it wasn't nearly full. There were people there, but not crazy full. We found a spot pretty easily. Tent-only didn't fill up until early evening... and even then, you could have probably squeezed in if you asked some people nicely.
Post by Mista Don't Play on Mar 1, 2010 18:45:31 GMT -5
The guys at the gate said they started letting people in around 7pm Wednesday.
Last year we got in around 1am Thursday and they were still sending people down to the James Bond area, but it seemed to fill up fairly quickly after us. I don't know where they start sending people after that, or if they use the same method year to year.
I don't think they open tent only until 8am Thursday, or at least until they are done sending traffic around that way.
Post by 811942891995 on Mar 1, 2010 19:35:05 GMT -5
every body has a method or a strategy or a plan or a story about what they did last year or something...but ive been to roo every yaer and in my opinion there is no real depenable way to ever planout your entry and placement....sure you can try this or listen that guy or cobble you're own theory but it really just comes down todumb luck intha end!
I grew up worshipping Rock and Roll like a religion. I know its shortcomings and strengths but have loved it unconditionally all the same since I was eight-years old. I ran away and joined the circus and honestly, I'm still as obsessed as I was as a boy. I'm not a kid anymore but I still remember how it felt and it doesn't really feel all that different to me now.
Post by funkblastin on Mar 2, 2010 11:02:02 GMT -5
My plan is show up at 7:00am and wait in line. Sure, we sit in line usally 3-4 hours, however we usally get an ok spot. Never more than 15 min walk to Centeroo.
Post by romerorepeat on Mar 11, 2010 12:02:47 GMT -5
I showed up at 9 AM last year on Thursday and got a pretty bad spot way out in camp Dr. No. What's the ideal time to come in? Do they fill from the back?
As stated above, there's no sure way of getting a good spot. You are guaranteed a spot far away by getting there Wed night.
I've arrived about 6-7am Thurs every year (parked about 8-9am) and have gotten great spots most times (less than 5 min to Ferris wheel) except in '03 (20 min walk) and '09. (10+ minute walk)
A Thieve's Parade 2/24 Conspirator 2/26 Kevin Smith 3/11 Keller 3/17 Papadosio 3/18 JJ Grey 3/25 Bela Fleck/Edgar Meyer 3/26 Toubab Krewe 3/27 O'Death 4/11 Budos Band 4/22 EOTO 4/28 Summer Camp 5/6-29 All Good
Does anyone know a good time to arrive in an RV? I have read all of the above and I know you all say its random, but I was wondering if RV's are different because they fill up different areas... or should I try to get there 7 am Thursday like everyone else?
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Post by famousblueraincoat on Mar 20, 2010 11:37:44 GMT -5
Here's a question. I skipped Roo last year (for my wedding), and the year before that we were in VIP. IT used to be that they filled up BFE camping before they started filling up the nearby campgrounds. Is this still the case? 3 or 4 years ago there was a thought process that if you showed up around 10 or 11 a.m. you had a better show of rolling up into a sweet location. Has this changed?
Here's a question. I skipped Roo last year (for my wedding), and the year before that we were in VIP. IT used to be that they filled up BFE camping before they started filling up the nearby campgrounds. Is this still the case? 3 or 4 years ago there was a thought process that if you showed up around 10 or 11 a.m. you had a better show of rolling up into a sweet location. Has this changed?
BFE gets filled first. I don't have my Roo map ATM but I'm pretty sure it's the campgrounds in the bottom right and they open the east gate first on Weds night. From my perspective each year, that's what it seems like they do.
I can tell you that after the first few hours, nothing is certain. The way we park everyone is almost completely random each year.
The exact opening time is anywhere from 6-8 PM on Weds night, it all depends how fast they get the 6PM shift out there. The staff meal tents open at 5 PM for dinner, so the shift change is at 6 PM everyday. So if they can get the parking crews and volunteers (or at least the bulk of them) out by 6:30, that's when they'll let people in.
If it's pouring and it takes an extra hour or so, then they'll start then. I bet no one noticed last year, but we closed the gates at around 10 PM on Thursday night. We closed them later too due to the rain. Like I said, it's completely random each year
They fill multiple locations at once. We got a killer spot last year because they shuffled us into a different entrance than the people that were like 3 cars ahead of us. I'm sure they got stuck in BFE
BFE gets filled first. I don't have my Roo map ATM but I'm pretty sure it's the campgrounds in the bottom right and they open the east gate first on Weds night. From my perspective each year, that's what it seems like they do.
Since you have such knowledge, I have a question.
I hope to park in the family camping. If I want to get there for this 6-8pm Wed night opening, can I still specify this? And if I do, will the tent only be available for me to walk my stuff to. I think I've seen where you can't get to it until Thursday, but I'm not sure how they would keep you out of it once you're parked on the land?
If not you can't park there. You have to have kids in your car in order to enter the family camp. There is a staff member there to check your car as you enter.
If you do have kids when you get to the toll booths you have to tell them to put an F on your car. Then when your on the grounds make sure you point out the F to every staff member directing traffic. Also before you go then make sure you know where the Family camp is on the map. Alot of the staff are just volunteers and may not know where to direct you.
As far as going to tent only. If you do have kids with you I would advise against it. Kids belong in the family camp.
We were there last year with our two kids. It was great. There was alot of room and alot of kids for them to play with.
If not you can't park there. You have to have kids in your car in order to enter the family camp. There is a staff member there to check your car as you enter.
If you do have kids when you get to the toll booths you have to tell them to put an F on your car. Then when your on the grounds make sure you point out the F to every staff member directing traffic. Also before you go then make sure you know where the Family camp is on the map. Alot of the staff are just volunteers and may not know where to direct you. We are taking our child w/ us to family camping. Will they let us in the family camping area around 1-2a.m. thurs. morning?
As far as going to tent only. If you do have kids with you I would advise against it. Kids belong in the family camp.
We were there last year with our two kids. It was great. There was alot of room and alot of kids for them to play with.
If not you can't park there. You have to have kids in your car in order to enter the family camp. There is a staff member there to check your car as you enter.
If you do have kids when you get to the toll booths you have to tell them to put an F on your car. Then when your on the grounds make sure you point out the F to every staff member directing traffic. Also before you go then make sure you know where the Family camp is on the map. Alot of the staff are just volunteers and may not know where to direct you.
As far as going to tent only. If you do have kids with you I would advise against it. Kids belong in the family camp.
We were there last year with our two kids. It was great. There was alot of room and alot of kids for them to play with.
I will re-check the guidelines, but I believe Family is for kids under 16. If I were coming with my small child, I certainly wouldn't think of doing tent only. But my son is 14. He is young enough to qualify us for Family, but old enough to begin to be exposed to Tent only where all our friends will be. So I think we'll be okay.
So can I get into family only and then tent only on Wednesday night?
