MMario--

In the bad old days, they used to run out of camping space. Camping was available only by advanced purcahse. I once had a friend who came with me who didn't bother to look at her ticket envelope until she got there. Inside, it had an admission ticket plus a letter saying she had applied too late to get a camping pass. We told the gatekeepers that she'd be sleeping with us in our tent, and they let her in anyway.

But these days, as I understand it, camping is available clear through to the last minute. (Check with the oldsongs people, though--my statements are based on long experience but I'm not in any position of authority, nor am I connected with the Festival.)

The camping oval (mentioned above, divided into "quiet at night" and "quiet in the morning") can get pretty full, but I've always found a decent spot in midfield arriving Fridays by 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. But in recent years, they've greatly expanded the area allowed for camping--the large area behind where the grandstand used to be, and all the huge "quiet in a.m./quiet in p.m." space behind the "Better Living Pavilion" (the part of the fairgrounds close to the town of Altamont).

But the extra cash needed in conjunction with an advance ticket is perhaps $10--a small and worthwhile investment, even if you decide ultimately on the comforts of a motel. Besides, having the camping designation justifies your presence in the campground when you circle around looking for music after the formal song circles and dances break up at 2:00 a.m.

--Charlie Baum