2009 Layout & Other Changes Announced
Greetings from all of us at Grey Fox. Many of you have been asking what the layout will be like at Grey Fox this year. We are making many changes, big and small, that we feel are very positive. We want to thank you for your suggestions, beginning with the “Grey Fox Community Meeting” on Sunday last year and throughout the year. We have looked at all the possibilities and weighed each suggestion. Some of your suggestions we CAN do and others we simply cannot. Here are some of the changes we are incorporating in 2009. We sincerely hope they will enhance your Grey Fox experience.
1. LOCATION OF MAIN STAGE: The Main Stage will still be in the upper field, but it will be moved to the left more (as seen from the audience) and turned to face southwest. This will give fans sitting on the hill a better view and will allow more of the field to be used for seating with a clear view of the stage. We considered moving the stage to the lower field, but there is not enough room.
2. OUR WONDERFUL FOOD VENDORS have been given the choice of being “up” or “down” and they have spoken. There will be food in both locations. Fans in the Main Stage area will be close to food, while those at the Masters Stage, Dance Pavilion, Kids Academy, Family Stage, Grass Roots and Slow Jam Tents plus all of the craft vendors will have a nice choice of foods down below, too. We think this is an excellent win-win situation for everyone. Bon appétit, y’all!
3. OUR AMAZING NON-FOOD VENDORS will be nestled much closer to the base of the incline leading up to the Main Stage. The same is true for all the other stages. This has some big advantages. Firstly, craft vendors will be much closer to the Main Stage. Secondly, fans in the Main Stage amphitheater will be able to walk down the incline just a little ways and be at the front “doors” of all the craft and lower food vendors. There will be an added walkway to make the little trek that much easier.
4. The MASTERS STAGE will anchor one end of the craft vendors in the lower field. The other end will be anchored by the Dance Tent. All will be located as close to the “incline” leading up to the Main Stage area as possible. Another advantage of this layout is that camping will begin closer to the west end of the lower camping field.
5. LOWER CAMPING: Blocks in the Lower Camping field will be designated as Quiet Camping, General Camping, HC Camping and Generatorville. We will have “helping hands” to assist on Wednesday to help campers find a spot and save a reasonable amount of space for friends coming later. Campers may save space until Thursday at 2 pm when the music begins. At that time, other campers will be able to fill in areas not taken. A map will be on the web site and in the festival program book showing the locations of Quiet, General, HC and Generatorville Camping. Please be kind and think of others when taking space. PLEASE bring only what you need and leave the rest at home.
6. QUIET CAMPING will be all around the FAMILY STAGE and BLUEGRASS ACADEMY FOR KIDS tents. Families will not have to haul infants, kids, strollers and gear so far. This Quiet Camping Area will be for anyone who wants to turn in early. Please keep noise to a minimum from 10pm to 8am.
7. QUIET STAFF CAMPING (and QUIET CAMPING OVERFLOW) will be in the very south section of the lower field (by the barns). This is where Staff Camping was last year and will be again this year. THIS YEAR: Staff who want to be in quiet camping will set up in Quiet Staff Camping and stay there. QUIET CAMPING OVERFLOW will be in the Staff Quiet Camping section and will be available for ticket buyers if space allows. Any Quiet Camping section must be quiet from 10pm to 8am. IMPORTANT NOTE: STAFF who eventually want to camp in “General Camping” with friends will set up prior to Wednesday in the far east end of the campground (near the entrance). At 6 pm on Wednesday, they will be able to move out into General Camping.
8. HANDICAPPED CAMPING (Tent, Pop-ups & RV) and HANDICAPPED PARKING will be along the gravel access road. This will enable us to provide convenient transportation for those needing assistance. 24 hour Medical Service, HC accessible toilets and handwashing facilities will be nearby. A MAIN STAGE SHADE TENT for handicapped fans will be set up in the Main Stage area in about the same area as last year to provide shelter from the elements as well as a spot at which to wait for transportation assistance. To ensure that our HC facilities are used by those who truly need them, please bring proof of HC status. HC Camping will be considered Quiet Camping (10pm-8am).
9. GENERAL CAMPING, also known as “PICKERS PARADISE,” will be located from Quiet Camping on the west to the far east edge of the lower camping field. Its northern edge will be along the woods bordered by Catskill Creek. Folks in Pickers Paradise are free to pick until the cows come home. Reasonable noise levels are recommended. Please be considerate of your neighbors. Most of High Meadow Camping will be considered General Camping/Pickers Paradise (but tents only, no cars). There should be plenty of space for you to get away from other people if your group wishes to be quiet at night.
10. CAMPSITE VEHICLES: Cars at campsites will be parked perpendicular to streets (not parallel). All vehicles must be able to get out in case of an emergency AND cars parked in this way is a more efficient use of space. Either pull into or back into your camping space, whichever makes sense for your type of camping. Do not parallel park as you could get blocked in. We will have volunteers on hand Wednesday and Thursday to help organize the campground. Please be considerate. People who actually CAMP in their vehicles will be able to pull into the camping block, but you will not be able to move once you’re in there.
11. CAR CORRAL: Once again we encourage campers to eliminate as many vehicles as possible from the campground. If you park your vehicle in the car corral you will be entered into a raffle with daily drawings and a grand prize of two full festival tickets to Grey Fox 2010. You’ll be able to use your car during the festival for off-site travel, but you will not be able to drive into the campground until Sunday when you pack up to leave. If you have an emergency and have to leave early, ask staff for assistance.
12. “GENERATORVILLE” CAMPING (for RVs using generators) will be adjacent to a shuttle bus stop. Shuttle buses will run continuously during Main Stage hours. RVs not using a generator at all will be able to park in any camping section, weather permitting.
13. PUMP OUT SERVICES will be provided by a new company this year. If you want to have your camper pumped out you can pick up a sign to put in your window at the ticket booth as you come in or at the information booth. We have a new sanitation company this year, so give them a try!
14. HIGH MEADOW CAMPING will again be for tent camping only (no vehicles) but with a much improved delivery system. All day Wednesday (until dark) and until noon on Thursday, tent campers headed for the High Meadow area will be allowed to drive up the gravel road to drop off your gear at the “turn-around” circle. You will then drive down and park in an on-site car corral near the festival entrance. If you wish to use your car for transportation into town or for storage, you may do that. You will be able to drive up back up on Sunday morning to retrieve your gear or take the shuttle bus back down. Between Thursday noon and Sunday morning you will need to use the shuttle or walk to get around the site.
15. BIKE CORRAL: A bike corral will be set up for those bringing their bikes. We believe that more people will be bringing bikes each year. And we think this is a good thing!
16. MAIN STAGE SEATING: The LEFT FRONT section of the amphitheater will be restricted to low back beach style chairs and blankets. The FRONT RIGHT section of the amphitheater is for any style of chair. And of course, the HC tent is a shelter for HC patrons only. Please do not block the view of others. Sunshades and sunbrellas are permitted around the perimeter of the amphitheater. Ask staff if you are unclear. When you leave your seat, it is the Grey Fox Way for someone to borrow it until you return. If you don’t want anyone sitting in your seat, take it with you when you leave.
17. THE HILLSIDE CHAIR: We’ll be selling the “Everywhere Chair” again at the Tee Shirt Booth. It’s been a while! These low profile chairs are adjustable, well made and easy to carry. To order chairs in advance, email burdette@greyfoxbluegrass.com by June 15 with quantity desired. They will be dark green. They will sell for $49.00 and will come with our logo on the back of the chair. You can pick them up at the tee shirt booth at the festival. The supply at the festival will be very limited, so let us know if you want one!
18. SEATING at all of our tented venues: Leaving your seats in place is permitted at the Main Stage only. For all other venues, please take seats with you whenever you go. There will be chairs at the Masters Stage this year, so you won’t need to bring chairs with you. Please do not remove festival-provided chairs from any venue.
19. CATSKILL CREEK: It is New York State law that during an event the size of Grey Fox, patrons are not allowed to “swim” in the creek bordering the property. And by swim, that means sitting, standing or wading in the water. It’s a technicality that we have to live with. So, that’s the bad news. The GOOD NEWS is that we’ve been told that It is OK to sit on the banks of the creek and have your feet in the water. We will be posting signs to this effect.
20. ZOOM FLUME SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Speaking of swimming and cooling off, the great folks at Zoom Flume (www.zoomflume.com) are again being very generous and offering discounted day and weekend passes for Grey Fox patrons. Anyone wearing a wrist band from Grey Fox will be eligible. Prices will be $27.95 for a four-day pass. Discounted one day passes — on Saturday and Sunday only — will cost $18.95 ($15.95 ages 3 – 7). Thanks to Ed and the entire very cool crew at Zoom Flume!
21. CAMPING GATES OPEN AT 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, JULY 15. That’s when you will be able to drive onto the Walsh Farm, get your wristband and set up camp. DAY VISITOR GATES OPEN AT 8:00 AM THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY. Parking is free.
22. Main Stage Music Hours: Thursday 2:00 pm-midnight; Friday 11:00 am-midnight; Saturday 11:00 am-midnight; Sunday 10:30 am-2:30pm.
23. SHUTTLE BUSES: Free shuttle buses will run continuously from the ticketing area to the Main Stage area each day. They will start roughly one hour before the music begins and stop approximately 45-60 minutes after the Main Stage shuts down.
We hope you’ll join us on the farm this year. The lineup, as always is spectacular and we’ll be once again doing everything we can to make sure you have a great time. Be watching for more information, coming soon. We have exciting announcements about a new talent showcase. Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading all this. It’s a lot to digest and we hope it tastes great to you.
From all of us at Grey Fox
33 comments33 Comments so far
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yahoo! looks a you listened to us and this is a pretty good start to improving GF.
Thanks, Fred. It’s good to hear!
Mary,Mary, and all,
It looks like you have all been working while we’ve been waiting. sounds like a good plan, Just don’t forget those of us that can’t make it up that incline, i still picture the couple at the bottom sitting sat, night listening to the music because they couldn’t get up the incline.
hey thanks for listening and doing something about it.
when i started coming to grey fox 10 years ago 1999 i could run to the top of the hill. and haven’t missed one yet. but time catches up with you. and that incline is a mountain.
thanks for all you people do
ROWLAND
What if we all signed affidavits for the Catskill Creek?
didn’t i read somewhere that a site map would be uploaded soon?
Thanks for listening to all of our concerns.
If the gates open at 9 when are we allowed to start lining up?
Wow you did make the changes! I am terribly sorry we couldnt help you (my autocad guy just wouldnt budge). I have no idea if I will be available this year but at this point it looks as if I will buy a ticket and attend wedsday-Sunday.
All the best-Tax
Where is the ‘Loud Camping’ section?
I second the question of “when can we line up?”.
‘loud camping’ is better known as ‘pickers paridise’
That’s sad about those two folks that couldn’t make it up the hill. I hope that problem is addressed.
Thanks Grey Fox staff for listening and making all these great changes.
Regarding the hill…been coming to the Festival since 1986–if I’m not sitting in a beach chair on the side of a large hill in mid-July then something ain’t right. “Make me a city on a hill!!”
Has anything been done concerning the security lights? a lot of campers were very unhappy with the UFO like bright lights shining into their trailers and tents. And it wasn’t just a few folks, I’d say a fifth of the field had this issue last year.
Oh and Brother T., I totally Agree! It’s like a hole in my heart.
Oops. I’ve been sending replies back to people individually. We’re listening! I have sent your comments/suggestions on to people who handle those particular issues. We’ll do what we can.
The camping section in the lower field will be designated block by block as “quiet” “pickers paradise” and “generatorville”. And on Wed, staff will be out there helping to organize camping and parking. I think this will help us all use space more efficiently. Do PLEASE plan to leave big hulking unnecessary stuff at home and envision your campsite as small as you can comfortably make it. It’s all good.
Above all, our community (colorful tent city that it is) is a great one and this year’s lineup is spectacular. Come and enjoy to the fullest. Make up your mind that the little stuff isn’t going to ruin your vacation. Some things could annoy you — but there are always work arounds. Let’s all be creative and make the best of the whole experience.
And DO let us know if something serious is going on that we should know about. Sometimes we don’t hear about stuff until months after the festival is over. The time to let us know is when it’s happening. Our security is active 24 hours. Our information booth is manned 24 hours. Let us know. Don’t let it ruin your time and grate on you for a year. We want to know.
Thanks so much.
Mary
PS: Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! It’s right around the corner now! Woohoo! Ya know, one of the things that Grey Fox is famous for is it warmth (the human to human kind). If you meet a new person, welcome them and help them out. Offer them a lemonade or a little tour. Sometimes they don’t know much about bluegrass. Share your favorite bands with them. They’ll appreciate it a lot. It’s all about friends, family and music!
What a valuable and informative site this is regarding the changes that have been made at GreyFox and what to expect and how to prepared for this year. And.. just to let you know, the reader interprets this as a well run festival with a good human element eminating from it…and that make all the difference. Meaning,this is a great bluegrass festival run by people who legitimately care.
David,
Comments like yours make it all worthwhile. We wouldn’t do this if it weren’t something we cared deeply about. We’re happy to know that it shows. Thank you. Have a great time! — Mary
Dear Mary, Mary and GF Staff,
Thank you so much for all your thoughtful changes. I am always amazed, though not surprised, by your seemingless endless generosity towards this extended GF Bluegrass family. I have been coming to Grey Fox (Ne Winterhawk since 1985). The next generation has now joined us. Some people worried about our new location but I had no doubt that you would provide us with an equally awesome new home. And that indeed you did!
Thank you! You truly are the best!
See you in three weeks.
Kate
My brother and I have been enjoying the fest for 8 years now. The two of us come from the city of Boston specifically South Boston and never had heard of the music t’ill later in life. Well, The Grey Fox has always been time for me and my brother to pal around with each other and act likes kids again with no responsibilities and endless hours to hear great music and have a few beers!
Anyway, Thanks for the great times and thanks for letting us meet some great people!
Also, thanks for letting me sleep on, around, near, and sometimes in that pain in the you no what tent I bring every year!
Eugene
Where’s the site map ????
YEEHAAAH!
We just cannot wait, we already have all the gear out and checked, ready to pack up and go!
We’ve been on every hill since 1976, including the famous rainy Cooperstown field! At this point it doesn’t matter where you have it, we will come!
I am a bit concerned about HC camping access. I have MS and I try to leave the space for those who truly need it but that may be me this year! What kind of “proof” do I need? I just want to be prepared for whatever may arise!
Thanks for all you do, Mary! What an amazing job you do every year!
Please help, my wife and I can’t attend and we have two tickets we need to get rid of. If interested, my email is aa_in_philly@hotmail.com
thanks!!
what about shower facilities? I’m a 25 year vet and in the old days I didn’t care but now I have family and such.
The shower facilities are quite excellent. Clean and plenty of hot water when I was using them last year. I think they were $4 a pop. Dunno if that will be the price this year, but to me it was worth the money. With kids it can add up. So you can also do a pop-up shower at your site (we had a make-shift one for years) with one of those hot water bags. Always worked well and added to the rustic camping experience….
Steve
thirstylizards.com
we’d really like a map of the campsites. sounds like you’ve changed things around. wanting “quiet”, and also have “special needs” person. we’d thot of the river edge but it sounds like that is no longer quiet camping..,is that so? need our parameters.. luv you guys an the festival!!!
Glad to see the Car Corral encouragement
Guess I should’ve read this before I posted to the Discussion Group lol
Probably a dumb question, but what is the “GR” stage? Just wondering.
Tom
How about a security phone# ? save time and looking for someone in emergency thanks
We missed last year but looking forward to another great experience.
We have had some problems in the past with people trying to save way more space than allowable. One year we had a women tell us we couldn’t put up out shade tarps up because the stakes were in the lane her uncle needed to back his truck up into!!!
We didn’t want to be complainers but obviously a truck lane isn’t part of camping space.
What should we do about this if something like that happens again?
Please make sure that master tent seats are not “saved” with articles of clothing or towels. I can easily see this happening as people really just want to save seats no matter what is in place.
Great plan for making room for those of us who can only get there around noon on Thursday. Hope you have a few “Nazi’s” on hand to enforce the space allocation program, and keep people from “saving” space for someone who probably will not show up anyway.
This festival and it’s organizers have CLASS all the way!
Let’s just chant, pray and hope for good weather. OOHMMMMM
My husband just made the arrangements with work and can come to Grey Fox! Anyone leaving from the Rochester, NY area on friday????We really would love to leave the extra vehicle at home….keepin’ it greener. I am a volunteer and cannot wait for him but I would if I could, he has a clean NY drivers id, great for conversation, non-smoker(5months!), has no gear but his body and a day pack, AND has gas $$$$.
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration, I am leaving for the farm about midnight; get back at me. safejourneymassage@gmail.com
Sunday July 19th. 1:27 am, yes , AM!! Yet another sleepless night in Oak Hill! Rude campers are keeping peaceful residents up for yet another straight night! Constant drum beating and blaring music is preventing us from sleeping! I can hear the crap inside my home with the windows shut tight! Do you think it’s right? Well neither do I! I think it’s time the festival packs up and goes away! If you can’t respect your neighbors then it’s time to go. Very unhappy resident here.