Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 02:42 PM

'06 Fiddler's Grove is just around the corner...

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 25 May 05 - 09:09 AM

We'll be looking to be near Donnies Short Green School bus just inside the gate as well, Gregk

Arriving around 3:00, I hope,.

In any case look for a 14 by 20 canopy with a red suburu and a sign that says Folk/Blue Grass Tonight hanging somewhere.

Chance

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 25 May 05 - 08:58 AM

Palmer and I will be arriving Thursday afternoon, as well. I *think* we'll be just inside the gate, but we won't know until we get there...

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 14 May 05 - 11:08 PM

The Shivers, Susette and I, will arrive around 2:00 on Thursday and set up near the entrance. Look for the red Subaru.

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 09:00 AM

It is a possibility for us, but it's too soon to tell.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 06:08 PM

Fiddler's Grove 2005.

Anybody going besides Susette and I?

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 10:07 AM

Twenty years is a good test sample. Should be great weather then.
Thanks, again.
I'll let you know how it goes.

chance

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 09:50 AM

From my almost twenty years of going to Fiddler's Grove, I recall only one "wash-out" year, and a number of showers, but mostly I remember nice weather.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 08:41 AM

According to my pal Tom, the contest is by 'invitation' but he hasn't told me what that means yet. Down in Asheville, we dropped in for two weeks last summer, during their Fiddlin' On the Green, they walk through the crowd and 'invite' people to play on stage.

I did see the 5,000 limit on tickets, but I wondered if that was theory or practice. Well, 5,000 or less is a good size, sort of like Mt. Airy.

Say Greg, does in usually rain at Fiddler's Grove?

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 03:05 PM

While I have seen attendance grow a bit and then fall back a bit, it is a far cry from 90,000. From their website they appear to have backed off of the "by invitation only" to a limit of 5,000 tickets. To be honest, I was going to guesstimate that they get 1,000 - 2,000 folks. 5,000 seems like a lofty ceiling to me, but maybe I'm a poor judge of crowd sizes. Or, maybe a lot has changed since I was there last (1998).

It is a competition, though, that some people take more seriously than others...

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 01:38 PM

Thanks, Greg. Discretion obtains. It is all about the music. Is it still 90,000 people?

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 12:21 PM

As with other festivals, if discretion is exercized, there won't be any problem. While there is a bit more "sabre rattling" at FG, there is a historical reason.

Fiddler's Grove is an off-shoot of the old Union Grove festival that Harper's father (H.P.) started (that's how they claim 80 years). Harper formed it after he split up with his brother over letting the festival get out of hand in the late sixties, early seventies with a lot of locals resenting what went on there, including lots-o-alcohol and crowds approaching 90,000. Union Grove is in Iredell County, which is dry. Harper began his own festival (Fiddler's Grove) and has maintained a "by invitation only" policy to control the attendance and withstand public scrutiny.

One year they had state police walk through the campground. Beer (and wine, I think) is available at the truck stops, but other stuff must be "imported".

I have a memory from one year where a really drunk stooge started yelling at people in the audience. After a few minutes of this, police came and took him away.

Fiddler's Grove is all about the music, not a party...enjoy it!!!

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:30 AM

GLoux, I notice alcohol is prohibited at Fiddler's Grove. It is the rule at most festivals in NC and VA, but it seems that discretion is actually the practice (and sometimes not even that, like Mt. Airy) and the rules are so that trouble makers can be ejected. Should I leave my favorite alcoholic beverage at home for Fiddler's Grove or can one use a nondescript container? What's the practice?

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:19 AM

Arriving on Friday shouldn't be a problem, but you might not find a good shady campsite, that's all...there is plenty of room.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 06:06 AM

thanks for the information Greg. the folks we're meeting don't arrive until Friday, so I guess camping spots may be getting scarce if we show up then?   

Sorry you CAN'T GO. Bummer.

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 01:32 PM

Fiddler's Grove is in Union Grove, North Carolina, about an hour south of Virginia near Interstate 77. They have a web site.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 01:26 PM

Where is this place? Dothey have a website?

A

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: GLoux
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 01:24 PM

Fiddler's Grove is one of our favorite festivals for old-time music. Since it is a year-round campground, it is well equipped to meet the needs of campers for the Memorial Day weekend event (showers, water, etc.)...we used to make the 10 hour trek to Union Grove and camp from Wednesday thru Sunday, taking the kids out of school to go with us...but since they've hit high school, it didn't make sense to take them out of school just before final exams, so WE CAN'T GO.

Great festival with lots of nice folks. Advice: try to camp in the shade and don't underestimate how cold it can be at night. Getting there Wednesday or early Thursday makes it easy to get a good spot. I believe this year's event will be their 80th, so there may be a larger crowd than usual.

We preferred camping in the rear of the grounds, past the shower house by the end of the road near the hook-up sites. Others prefer camping along the road to the stage, others by the pond. With kids, though, camping near the showers, etc. worked best for us.

Hope this helps.
-Greg

Subject: RE: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 11:08 AM

Can't be we're the only mudcatters going?

Subject: Fiddler's Grove ' 04 Who's going?
From: Fortunato
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 08:06 AM

The Shivers, at least Susette and I, are going to Fiddler's Grove on Memorial day weekend this year. We would of course like to meet up with mudcatters and others of similiar ilk. We'll be setting up near our pal Tom Mindte, arriving on Friday around noon.

I'd love to get advice and information from you folks who have been there. A new festival is like a new girl friend. It's alway good to look before you leap.

cheers, Chance