Subject: RE: Winfield 2010 - Walnut Valley Festival
From:
JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 06:22 PM
A "drive-by" (no shooting) about a week ago indicated fewer units waiting in the campground than I expected; but it was early enough that the low density doesn't really give an indication of eventual attendance.
Lineup begins 07:00 AM Thursday, 26 August. The gate from 14th street into the fairground opens then, and campers will be lined up in the order they pass inward through the gate after that time.
In normal years there generally have been 200 to 300 campers "in Lineup" by midnight that day.
Going through the gate, people must declare which camping area they intend, eventually, to be in for the festival, and will be directed to separate "lines" for their area. Although getting several hundred vehicles (many very large) through a single entry lane, with people "competing" to get in first, does result in significant congestion, last year only three vehicles (that I heard of) were seriously damaged. One automobile lost its entire front bumper (left on the side and picked up later) but fortunately none were sufficiently disabled to impede the flow.
In the preposterous belief that everyone follows directions, stays in line, and that the volunteers remember the order in which they assigned the spaces, on the following day (usually) the camping fees will be collected and the actual numbers (on paper tags to be stuck on the camper*) will be handed out. "Late arrivals" will be parked in the appropriate line(s) and will receive their numbers as they arrive.
* It is advised that those whose "camper" consists of something like a brick or piece of tree branch should place their "marker" in at least a baggie for protection from the weather and should securely attach it (duct tape?) to their brick. The camping fee is the same for a stick of wood as for an 80 ft self-contained, except you likely wouldn't need to pay for electricity for the smaller marker.
Two weeks later, at 07:00 on Thursday, 09 September, the Landrush begins. Each vehicle must "leave" the fairground and once they clear the designated exit point they are free to "rush" to their chosen camping spot. Although by this time there likely are nearly 600 - 800 vehicles participating, variations in acceleration capacity and ditch jumping ability result in more "spreading" between vehicles than in the rush in for lineup, so there generally are fewer vehicle collisions, and most damage is due to "fixed obstructions" such as trees, ditches, mudholes, etc.
Since the festival has been pretty much the same for 3.5 decades, many groups have their "traditional" places to camp, and have enormous investment in amenities specific to their customary site, there is very real concern with getting the right "spot" at Landrush; but for most of us who traditionally have camped in the more remote areas the ONLY real competition is for an electric outlet. If you don't get plugged in before the dust settles, you won't have one.
One week later, on Thursday, 16 September, the Festival officially begins, and lasts for 3.5 days.
There are occasional "workshops" and "community events" a couple of days prior to the official start of the festival, but those are quite variable and sometimes only vaguely publicised.
Since the flood two years ago that pretty much wiped out camping at the Fairgrounds there have been many rumors of groups now planning to camp at one of the "alternate sites" that were opened during the flood. There likely will be some groups at the Oxford RV Park, but the number who did so last year didn't match the advance rumors about how many planned to do so. Numerous people have indicated plans to park at the lake, but our past inquiries indicated that reservations, except for "primitive/tent campers" are needed nearly a year in advance there so I doubt that many will get in. But anyone "missing" friends in the Fairground camps may want to poke a nose into one or more of the other sites.
USGS Hydrometer reports indicate that the traditional early spring flooding at Winfield has not occurred this year. A minor "blip" yesterday doubled the flow, but only reached about 4.5 ft in the Walnut River at the camp - likely because of an upstream release. Weather reports thus far don't extend to festival time with sufficient detail to predict anything, but watching the weather probably is a good idea.
John
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sj
