Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival-18 Sept

Subject: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 09:04 AM

For any of you Walnut Valley Festival fans who haven't heard, the start date date for early lineup at Winfield has been pushed back from the 22nd to the 29th due to weather. Here is the announcement from WVF:

"Due to the above average amount of rain that has been received in the Winfield area, the previously published date of August 22nd for early lineup has been changed to August 29th to allow the fairgrounds some time to dry out.

This is a decision that has been made by the City of Winfield with agreement from the Walnut Valley Association.

It is recommended that you monitor the official festival website at www.wvfest.com or the festival FaceBook site for any additional information as it becomes available.

The early line up date has changed to August 29. The fee due to the City of Winfield for camping will change.

Old dates and fee – Aug 22 – Sept 6: camping is $3 per day ($48)
New dates and fee – Aug 29 – Sept 6: Camping is $3 per Day ($27)

Old dates and fee – Aug 22 – Sept 6: camping with electric is $10 per day ($160)
New dates and fee – Aug 29 – Sept 6: camping with electric is $10 per day ($90)

All other fees will remain the same."

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 01:49 PM

Many old-timers keep an eye on the river whenever there's a possibility of high water. The USGS posts water level reports at Walnut River at Winfield on the Hydrograph tab.

The river peaked a little above "flood stage" (18 ft) two or three days ago, which means there was water "in the town" and in adjacent fields and possibly across some roads; but it's receded fairly rapidly since then. (I believe that peak came some days after the WVA schedule change was announced.) Some water gets into the campground at lower levels, but shouldn't interfere with the festival if current forecasts hold.

A main concern is whether the mud gets a chance to dry before people move in and chew it up. Continued new "flood warnings" for the County were issued late last night by the local TV weather reporters, effective through Saturday evening (Aug 17), but were too vague to tell whether the campground might be affected.

Pre-lineup camping is in areas somewhat less susceptible to flooding than some of the actual "campground," so the most critical areas can be left to dry until "Landrush" day. Official Festival info - including any last minute changes - should appear at the WVA Festival site.

John

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Elmore
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 12:14 PM

How does this change affect the Performers? Some of them must have gigs scheduled for the new dates.

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 01:30 PM

It shouldn't affect the performers -- the actual festival performances don't start until 18 September. The pre-festival lineup determines who gets enter the campgrounds first to claim their favorite camping spot once the campgrounds open.

In 2008 there was flood water running down the middle of the midway a couple days before the festival, and all the performances still went off as scheduled.
- Phil

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 03:08 PM

The dates that were changed are just the date when they'll let you into the campground to get in line for the lineup.

A week or so later, they'll come around and give you a lineup number that determines the order in which you'll be allowed to move into the real campground (from the lineup holding areas) to choose your campsite for the actual festival.

A week before the festival actually starts, the landrush moves everyone into the actual campground.

Approximately a week after landrush, the festival starts, and runs for three or four days (depending on how you count them).

The dates for the festival itself haven't changed, so the performance dates/times for the stars will (mostly) go on according to the original schedule.

If you're not too particular about where you camp, there generally are a few good spaces available early on the day of the landrush; and if you don't need electricity there's always room even later to squeeze in another few tents - although you might not find space you can get to for a camper.

If you have a group that wants to camp together in a particular spot, somebody has to occupy a space in the lineup close enough to the front of the line to "secure" the campsite, which generally means "marking a spot" in the prelineup area about 30 days in advance of the festival. Most people mark their prelineup spot with a tent or a camper, but only a few actually "camp" prior to landrush, and any marker you can stick a receipt on for the prelineup camping days will work. (Markers have ranged from a stake in the ground, to staked down tarps and to porcelain thrones and old sofas from the thrift shop.)

To get a lineup number you have to be present when they hand them out (because that's when you pay the camping fees through the end of the festival), and of course to get your camping spot you have to participate in the landrush (successfully); but otherwise you only have to "be there" when you want to.

John

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Elmore
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 09:49 AM

Thanks, John.

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 08:36 PM

I'd have to get in line to lineup?

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 01 Sep 13 - 04:27 PM

Just got off the phone with the Winfield cousins. The water that was in the campgrounds after the recent big rains is all gone now and the campgrounds should be in good shape for land rush. They said that the water got up and over the first road, but not much further.
- Phil

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Sep 13 - 07:35 PM

Two weeks ago the river peaked at 18 ft at the hydrograph where it comes into town. Today it's at 2.3 ft, and there's no forecast for any significant rise in the next couple of weeks.

The USGS gives only a 2% chance of exceeding the "maximum ever recorded" there (39 ft?) so the festival is probably fairly safe.

The remaining question is whether what looks dry actually is dry enough for the camper traffic. Some years back I watched the "experts" spend about 7 hours trying to get one fifth-wheeler out of its "dry" parking space when the river was rising and they decided to move the "lineup" a little farther from the boat ramp down in the Walnutter area.

About three(?) years ago there was one low spot in the Pecan grove that caused enough trouble that they decorated it and designated it [big sign] as a "cougar trap;" but I think they were disappointed that none of the old gals got caught in it.

We're still debating whether we'll be able to make a visit, but it looks unlikely since Lin will still be into her "outpatient physical therapy" sessions, and we haven't made a lot of progress in accomodating her new "mobility needs" for even the "normal" campground conditions. (Her PT sessions wipe out a full day, about 3 times a week, and then she needs a couple of days to recover after each one. We need 9-day weeks, but the clinic didn't like our proposed new calendar.)

John

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 02 Sep 13 - 07:17 PM

Stop by if you make it down, John. We'll be in our usual spot and I'll make the coffee this year.
- Phil

Subject: RE: Winfield 2013 - Walnut Valley Festival
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 16 Sep 13 - 03:16 PM

We're all settled in up by the main gate on the pavement, with the blue canopy and big Texas flag. The only thing we forgot to pack was the coffee pot, but have procured a replacement so all is well.
- Phil