I just saw on the website that High School Camping isn’t available for this year’s festival. Is this a permanent thing or just something they’re doing this year? Hoping it’s temporary so I can get the kiddos to the festival sooner rather than later.
If it’s a permanent thing, do any of you have any suggestions for kid friendly campsites nearby? I’ve mostly camped at Lawson and don’t consider that an option. Thanks everyone! :wave :wave :wave :cheers
This has been the case the past several years, I believe, but I’m unsure if it’s permanent. At one point it was related to construction at the high school, I think? Surely someone else knows more than me, but this isn’t brand new.
What eliminates Lawson? I mean just in town in general you’ll see booze, and weed. I’ve camped at Mary E and Town Park, with my kid. The far end of the primitive area of TP is fairly chill. Mary E has lots of room so you aren’t always so close to neighbors. If its noise levels, all places can be loud, and all can be fairly chill depending who is your neighbor.
I’ve camped at Lawson 3 different years and each time it’s been a party until the early hours of the morning which I enjoyed and partook in. Just don’t think it’s something I want to deal with at 3 am with a 2 year old and a 4 year old.
Trust me, I’m the furthest thing from a prude, but when it comes to the little ones sleep is important. High School always seemed like a great spot for those that didn’t want to booze it up all night.
Earplugs help. I’d suggest going the Mary Illium route. If you come a few days early you should have time to scout a nice site, and meet some of the folks who are already set up. You can ask around and get a feel for who is going to be up late. I found Mary Illium to be fairly quiet post midnight. Condo might be the best option if kiddos can’t sleep through noise. Fortunately my son can sleep through anything, so thats never been a problem for us.
Thanks for the advice, Todd. I’m probably just going to wait a few years until the kids are a little older or until the High School camping is back. I don’t think my 2 year old will jive with the earplugs. 
I’m not certain if the HS camping will ever be back. Been gone for 4 years now. I think you’d find Town Park acceptable for kiddos. In many ways its the best place. You can walk to your camp to and from the main stage. You have access to real bathrooms, a playground, and the city pool. There are a ton of kids from newborns to teenagers camped in TP and Warner. As long as you aren’t camped right next to a big camp thats set up to entertain, its pretty chill and quiet at night after the main stage shuts down. If you camp closer to the river all sounds are drowned out by the flow.
Thanks for the advice, Todd. That’s super helpful. I’m not sure why, but I had never really considered Town Park as an option. I always just assumed the closer to the festival the rowdier it would get at night. I’ll definitely keep that in mind going forward.
Sad to hear that the High School hasn’t been an option for 4 years. I just moved back to Colorado after living elsewhere for 7 years so I’m a bit out of touch.
Thanks again!
The HS field is all astroturf now. No chance it’s back anytime soon after all the work they put into it!
If you are in Town Park, back in the big meadow by the primitive area, especially if you can get right next the river (assuming kids are old enough to be close to the river), is your best bet. It’s fairly quiet unless you just end up next to a loud group, but most of the late night picking and partying is more towards the main areas. Anywhere you are in Town Park it is pretty tight and will be right up against someone else so there is always a chance you end up right next to some late nighters that are up, but that can happen in any area. Mine was 9 though when she started going and she sleeps pretty sound, but we didn’t really have any issues when we were out there. Just distant music and activity and the occasional group walking through.
I got an email from Planet Bluegrass confirming that there are currently no plans to ever have the High School camping as an option again due to the turf that was installed. No biggie! That probably just means I’ll have to take a few years off until the kids are a little bit older or camp a little bit outside of town and drive in each day.
TBF is my favorite festival on Earth so I can’t wait to get back and rejoin the fun!