Marymac, thank you and the others for your descriptions. It did help a lot and was appreciated.

We go to Grey Fox every year, but it's definitely not for everyone and is in fact much wilder than Philly -in terms of rowdy kids getting too drunk and making noise. (Wow, Oldfarthood has struck me down). But more folks at Grey Fox are there for the music instead of just the party, which seemed not to be the primary incentive among the kids at Philly. Each time we walked through the Philly tent area after being in the concert area, most of the kids were in residence in their camps and apparently hadn't gone down to see any concerts. It was in fact almost eerie, viewing dozens upon dozens of settlements with kids sitting, hovering quietly in their rows upon rows of encampments, perhaps like refugee villages waiting for liberation. That was during the day, and then at night they would all be standing, still pretty much quartered under their own canopies, drinking, laughing, having a good time.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that so many people were in what I can only call costumes! OK, I grew up in the 60's and know a sub-culture when I see one, but some of these folks were dressed in totally outrageous, fascinating getups. Of course there was tie-dye and rayon in abundance, but also many, many guys in kilts (I love the look, Frank says "forget it") some in traditional dress from other countries, lots of Dr Seuss hats, masks, giant head gear, more.

We have in fact been to the Delaware Valley BG Fest and enjoyed it, although there wasn't as much pickin' as we like. There too, people seemed to go with their friends and stick with their friends. We go to other festivals where you start a jam and total strangers will walk up and join in with songs you've never heard...that's what I love! On Labor Day weekend we go to Thomas Point Beach BG Festival in Brunswick, Maine every year (except for the year we went to Delaware Valley), but rumor has it that she sold the park and this is the last year. So maybe we'll make it back to NJ next year.