We got there late on Tuesday (the day before the official festival starts) and could hardly find a place to camp in the regular areas - ended up way up the hill to the left (as you approach) by the water tower while all of our friends who had sent emissaries to save places the prior week were down the hill to the right.   At night we got lost trying to wander around down below so we mostly stayed up at our end after the evening contests. It was a slightly older and less rowdy crowd up there, but still plenty active. The playing up there stopped around 2am most nights - I understand that down in the "swamp" it went on until 5 or 6 in the mornings (as a result of which some of our friends slept through contest registration).

We didnt have problems with snakes or racoons in our area. Someone did see a bear shaped rock, or rock shaped bear (they werent sure which)while hiking down by the waterfall. We werent near any garbage cans and tried to keep things pretty secure and tidy, and the fiddle tunes pretty well blocked out the coyote howls.   I ended up using ear plugs to go to sleep early on the last night, which I recommend to anyone that actually wants to try to sleep particularly with a long drive ahead the next day.   

It was a good time - next year we'll try to get a spot down lower - I may have to wear the ear plugs more if I want to sleep.