The South Country Fair is made possible by a dedicated group of people who, for almost 25 years now, have worked to turn their love of Folk music into a festival, where people can come together to enjoy not only the music but also the community that it cultivates. Naturally, given our inclination towards fostering the Folk community, we have been happy to provide camping to fairgoers in the hope that in providing the communal space, we are nurturing the growth of our community.
In recent years, we have been paying a price for our success. The primary problem is the limited physical space of the venue complicated by growing attendance, which has manifested mainly as parking problems-especially with vehicles and large trailers inefficiently using up prime tenting in the lower treed camp. Inevitably some automobiles end up obstructing the laneways needed for essential services like the water truck, recycling truck, toilet maintenance truck and emergency response vehicles.
While we have tried, by implementing parking passes, to limit the number of vehicles allowed on site, the campground continues to present problems related to emergency vehicle access and pedestrian safety. Our concern is that these problems, if left unattended, will undermine the safety, harmony and cohesion of our camping community.
In order to stay ahead of these problems, we will be implementing the following changes for South Country Fair 24 (July 16th -18th, 2010):
1) Camping will now be available only to those who purchase a Festival (Weekend) Pass. In order to access the campground, fairgoers will need to show their Festival (Weekend) Wristbands.
2) While in the past we have invited fairgoers to join us in staying on the grounds in the week leading up to the Fair, we will now reserve this privilege for our volunteers. The fairgrounds will be open to campers at 9am on Friday July 16th. All fairgoers are expected to vacate the fairgrounds by 9pm on Sunday July 18th. Given that all campers must have a wristband to enter the camping areas, campers must check in, at the Main Gate, between the hours of 9am and 11pm, on Friday or Saturday. Volunteer Camping will begin at 9am on Wednesday July 14th and end at 9am Wednesday July 21st.
3) We will be asking campers to park at the top of the hill, and carry, lug, barrow or cart their camping equipment into the campground. For those with trailers, as well as those who need their vehicle nearby, there will be a $30 Vehicle Access Fee. The fee will be charged per vehicle per entry into the campground. In other words, every time you leave and then drive back into the campground, you will be charged another $30. It is our hope that rather than simply pay the vehicle access fee, campers will decide to leave their vehicles up top and, in doing so, alleviate our congestion and safety concerns. Currently, our long-term plan is to eventually remove all vehicles (other than trailers) from the lower treed area.
In making these changes, we hope that less vehicles means more tents and more people and, in the long run, a larger but less divided, more responsible and more safe camping community. The people who volunteer their time to make the South Country Fair possible are extremely important to us and we are happy that, in making these changes, we will be able to reward them in a whole new way. For information on volunteering for South Country Fair email volunteer4scf AT hotmail DOT com.
Vehicles Onsite
- Vehicles that enter the grounds must not exceed a speed limit of 5km/hr (average walking speed).
- When reversing or parking your vehicle, you must have a spotter.
- No vehicle (including trailers) may be parked within 1.5 meters (5 ft) of a roadway.
- Violations of any of the above policies will result in the removal of the vehicle from the fairgrounds (by tow truck, if necessary) and the revocation of vehicle access privileges.
Volunteer Camping
Volunteer Camping will begin at 9am on Wednesday July 14th, 2010, and end at 9am on Wednesday July 21st. Of course, volunteers who are actively involved in either set up or strike may, with permission, camp on site prior to or after the designated dates. Volunteers may check in to camp on Wednesday the 14th or Thursday the 15th between 9am and 11am or 7pm and 9pm, or may check in with regular campers anytime after Friday the 16th at 9am.
Given that we appreciate the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, who help make the Fair possible, volunteers who arrive before Friday may use their vehicles to drop off their camping gear. We ask that our volunteers set a good example for other fairgoers by parking their vehicles in the lot at the top of the hill. Those volunteers who need to camp in or with their vehicles will not be charged a vehicle access fee unless they leave and return to the grounds between Friday at 9am and Sunday at 7pm. Every vehicle entry (volunteer or not) between Friday at 9am and Sunday at 7pm will be charged $30.
Once again, for information on volunteering for South Country Fair email volunteer4scf AT hotmail DOT com.