It was quite an experience, and everything said above is true, true, true. We were loners, whereas most people there were camped with their "tribes" of anywhere from 10 to 1000 people! There were amazingly elaborate camps set up, and I regret that I didn't get any photos of the great ones. Too awed. The tents were virtually overlapping each other, they were so close, and there were no cars in that area. "Heavy camping" was the upper area where we and all the other RVs were camped.

Our first location was on the main drag directly across from the Refrigeration Truck, which ran a generator 24/7. After first counting ourselves lucky to be on the end and therefore able to leave when we wanted, I realized I would go stark raving mad with that LOUD generator running continuously, with no reprieve at 9:00 pm when the generators were to be turned off. So I found a friendly parking volunteer who helped us find another spot! Not a great neighborhood, kind of on the edge of everything, but much better than generator hell.

The people were wonderful, very friendly, fairly tame compared to festivals like Grey Fox. The kids were mostly there for the party, and party they did, but even they were mostly polite and subdued, although there was an abundance of drinking going on at all hours. Many of the "kids" had their own babies with them, in fact. Most had been going to this festival for years. All were very nice except the one guy who moved our audience seats back while we were at the vendors and put himself in front of us! We talked about him throughout the set and remarked on what we thought of types like him, so I doubt he enjoyed his slightly better view...

Jean Ritchie's workshop was wonderful, and I managed to get a few pictures. Couldn't stand the sun for long though, so I missed the end of it and didn't catch her to say hello. Jean, your stories and songs were great, and what an amazing voice your son has! I was the one with a big green golf umbrella shielding me from the neck down and my program blocking the sun on my neck, plus a brimmed hat. Nothing but eyes showing, but hot!

It was a nice fest, but we probably wouldn't go back unless we could convince some of our own "tribe" to join us. No jamming for us, except for one nice man called Eddie from New Jersey, who played our bass until he had to take his sick wife home. Oh, and our young neighbor dragged a couple of his buddies over with bass and guitar to meet us and play a few songs one night. Kind of like meeting the elders, I suspect. We saw them later (see photo called Street Corner Jam).

Really enjoyed Amy Speace, Red Molly, The Felice Brothers, Jean Ritchie, Kathy Mattea, Ben & Jerry, others. Still have knots in my calves from hiking up and down the hills to get anywhere.

I could go on at much more length with many anecdotes, but let me just post the link to photos I took. Not the complete picture but I caught a few good ones: Philadelphia Folk Fest 2008