Thanks to volunteering for the Denny Crum Foundation, I got to spend some time at Forecastle. Having known nothing, this is what I would tell myself in the future:
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There is plenty of space if you’re willing to not be near the music. Shade can be found
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Sunscreen, definitely.
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Bring an empty water bottle or Camel Bak (or buy a souvenir)
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Bring a thing to cover up your nose and mouth if you’re at a dusty stage.
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Yes you can bring a backpack.
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I personally did a Lyft in, can also bike in, and I’m sure that parking garages within 15-30 minutes walking distance were available.
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Lots of food choices
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Pay $10 for 10 tickets to the Bourbon lodge, and use their A/C and better restrooms. Hang on to one ticket as a way to get back in whenever.
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People were very nice!
What I would expect to pay for a day:
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$65-ish for a day pass.
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$20 for a meal. So $40 for two, Lunch and Dinner. That’s assuming you love food like me and don’t just get one thing. (LOTS of food choices omg)
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$10 for the Bourbon lodge (or spend $30 for the mug if you are there multiple days) for the better bathrooms and occasional AC relief
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$15-$40 in parking / Lyft
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$10 for a fancy water bottle souvenir
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??? for alcohol, sorry, i didn’t do that.
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$20 for a locker with charging.
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Grand total: $170 for a day.
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I probably wouldn’t go for VIP the first time around. Granted, I didn’t see the VIP areas, and maybe for headliner bands you’d want VIP to get close. But for a first-timer who doesn’t know any bands, I wouldn’t.
What I would pack in my bag / on my person, assuming its not raining:
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Sunscreen
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Hat/Cap
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Bandana / face guard
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Shades
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Favorite water receptacle
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TP, hand sanitizer
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Wallet (only need ID and card and cash)
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Cellphone
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Battery pack and cable (if not getting the locker)
I would dress in:
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Cargo shorts with at least 1 zipper pocket
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Athletic moisture wicking shirt
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Sandals or Sliders – best for sweat control. (but I’m pretty good at walking in those, you may want to upgrade to shoes for lots of walking)
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I had a blast. I stood in the shade, and old-man-danced, and carded people and lovingly put wristbands on them.
Standard line: “1973 .. Great year!” “Why?” “Because you were born!”. (watch person melt)
I could hear music from two stages from the Bourbon tent, and it was some good stuff. Jonathan Israel worked tirelessly .. 13 hours each day on his feet .. directing the volunteers and being the guy to direct all awkward questions to. Once I learned the 3-5 pieces of info that people needed to know, it was very easy to engage my inner extrovert.
Will definitely do again. July 13-15, 2018.
