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Rail on the River 2023
Guest Info
This document may be viewed at and printed from http://rail-on-the-river.coloradograss.org
Tentative Info Sheet! Check back later and the day before the event to be sure of any changes!
We suggest you print this right before you head out to be sure you have the latest version.
Print this out because some cell service works at the ranch, some does not.
Tell your friends!
https://coloradograss.org
If you volunteer at Rail on the River..
shoot an email to railevents@coloradograss.org and make the subject "ROTR Volunteer"
In the email, mention what you said you'd do and/or what days you are available for.
Please note we do not have free volunteer tickets.
Capacity is too limited and costs to put on the event are high.
Organizers are not paid.
The only people paid are musicians + sound & production crew.
Schedule / acts / etc. subject to change
Morning Yoga with
Heaven Leigh Vrana
Meet at the steps to the lodge
9am Friday
9am Sat
9am Sunday - sound bath
Rail on the River provides NO Alcohol.
We do not sell alcohol.
We do not provide free alcohol.
(or boomers or auto parts for that matter)
There are no sponsors pouring tasters, etc.
It is however a very communal event!
It's up to the crowd to source what the crowd needs.
There is a nice area for the crowd to set up and share….
Bring lots of ice.
We MAY have some limited ice for sale but not until late Friday or Saturday.
If you are heading to town for ice, please stop by the info tent,
we may ask you to grab some extra bags! (of course we'll reimburse)
Coming to Rail on the River 2023?
First: Let’s Thank Our Sponsors
For contributing significantly, making this event possible:
Jadi Morrow and Luna Lending!
Dr. David Jackson
Butch Hartson
The Weekend Is On, Rain or Shine!
- Be Prepared for Rain or Shine!
- This is June in Colorado. Check the weather and come prepared.
- Time, order, anything subject to change.
For those with DAY PASSES
Important times are
- Saturday: Arrive 10:300am or later. Music is 11am to 10pm
Please be driving home by 10:30
Arriving
- All tickets are will call. Please show up with the person who ordered/paid for the tickets.
- Please bring your ID and a printout of your order if you purchased your tickets online.
If you purchased in person, your ID is all you need. - There is no need to rush, get in line, etc. There is a LOT of room to get close to the bands!
- Park, then head right to the Host Tent (by the music) for your wristband - please don’t wander around until you are banded.
Bring
- Low-back chairs are best!
- Coolers are fine inside the music behind the dancing area.
- Bring appropriate clothing!
dress for the weather - we are on - rain or shine! - ICE! We will have very limited ice available at the fest.
Guidelines / Rules
- Day pass holders are allowed in the main-stage + food truck areas but not the camping areas or lodge.
- All Day pass holders are asked to be in their cars and headed home by 10:30.
If you change your mind and want to upgrade/camp, check with the Host Tent.
Don’t attempt to camp or attend without a proper pass - you’ll be turned over to the authorities. - If you’ve had too much to safely drive, talk with the Host Tent.
- Be polite always and discreet when appropriate.
- Be courteous of others with 420, cigars, etc.
If you are bothering someone, give them some space. - PLEASE NO GLASS. Glass containers in the stage area may be confiscated.
- No Pets, weapons, fireworks, throwing anything.
If you are a jerk, you’ll be ejected. No second chances. - Be RESPECTFUL at the jams.
- Understand the etiquette and wait your turn.
- If you aren’t sure how it works, ask someone.
When You Arrive (i.e., the Essentials)
Tickets / Kids / Will Call / Who Needs a Ticket?
- There are no paper tickets - all tickets are at Will Call.
- Bring your ID to Will Call when you arrive, and we’ll check you in and give you a wristband. If you come later and there’s no one there, find a volunteer.
- This is an adult-oriented event. Kids are welcome, at your own discretion and must be supervised and remain with an adult at all times.
- You must be 21 to drink.
- If your underage kid is drinking, you’ll be asked to leave, too.
- Everyone attending must have a pass, including children of any age.
If it has a mouth - it needs a pass. - No dogs or pets of any kind. You’ll be asked to leave.
- You will be questioned if you are walking around without a wristband.
- Large parties: if possible, please arrive with the folks you purchased tickets for; If you can't, we'll get the name(s) of others not yet there and put their name on the list for their tickets. The person who purchased the tickets needs to be there first or reach out to us in advance to add other names to will-call. (railevents@coloradograss.org)
Parking, RVs, Camping Sites
ALL CAMPING SPOTS ARE GREAT AND NEAR ALL THE THINGS. There are plenty of great shaded campsites VERY CLOSE to the stage! There is no need to scramble for a spot. Everything is close! Be chill, be helpful, be patient, and follow the directions given by volunteers.
- RVs may arrive no sooner than 12:00 pm Thursday
- Cars may arrive no sooner than 1:30 pm & will be directed to parking/camping at 2:00 pm.
- Please do not line up anywhere before then.
Not even at the end of Parrish Road, or at the gate. - Please DO be patient and arrive fully prepared to follow the directions of the parking volunteers.
- Please try to arrive by 5:00 pm if at all possible.
RV’s will be directed in an organized fashion in one section of the grounds where there are convenient hookups. RVs will not be parked in order of arrival, but instead by best fit according to the length of your rig. Don’t sweat the rush and just follow instructions.
Folks camping with cars/tents will be directed to parking as well. Please be patient and know that all the spots are great, the crowd isn’t that big so it won’t take too long, and we are going to try to help you not get blocked in
Be aware that if you leave during the fest, you could lose your parking spot.
Please try to arrive by 5 if you can, as there will be more people available to help you. If you must come later or the next day we understand. There are lots of spots to camp - but there are lots of things planned you won't want to miss!
You’re Parked…Now What? Setting Up Camp…
After you pull in:
- Set up camp! Decorate!! Lights, lasers, spinny things…
- There is electricity on site but ya gotta be ready to share. Bring an outdoor extension cord in good condition that can get wet. Please unplug when not in use.
- Get the lay of the land.
- Say “Hi” to your neighbors.
- Help folks with their tents and easy ups.
- Help someone carry something.
- Lend out your hammer or spare tent stake.
- Bring your best, friend-making attitude! It’ll pay off!
- Cooking is allowed! Best to bring a camp stove, self-contained charcoal grill, or a crock pot or plug-in electric. There is power.
- Label all your things. Gear, reusable cups, etc. You may be more easily reunited with your stuff. Lost and found at the Host Tent.
- Please bring CANS whenever possible. Beer, pop, seltzer - cans! please. Exceptions? Homebrew, wine, whiskey, etc. If using bottles, please fill your reusable cup in camp and walk around with that. Cans can be recycled at the event. Please pack out your bottles.
- You are encouraged to bring decorations and make your camp space festive. Lights, art installations, lasers aimed at trees. Bring extension cords / power strips / whatever you need to make it easy to share power. The camping area is pretty spacious.
- Please no amplified music while bands are playing or outside after 10 pm.
- Acoustic music jams are always welcome!
- Please do not drop cigarette butts on the ground. Pocket them or find a proper receptacle.
- 10pm-8am. No amplified music outside the dance hall during these hours.
Food
There will be several communal food events. Please see below under “What to Bring” for more information about how you can contribute to everyone’s enjoyment of the weekend:
- Thursday community pot-luck
- Jitter Jams Toast and Jams Friday and Saturday mornings
- Sunday Wake-n-Bake Brunch & Jam
Don’t feel like cooking your other meals for the weekend? A Food Truck will be on-site serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday and Saturday!. Don’t miss ‘em! Tasty, eclectic goodness!
Communications
Please be advised that there is no WIFI available and that cellular signal is extremely limited. Be prepared to be out of contact with the outside world. And know that this is a good thing!
Community Standards & House Rules
Be Your Most Amazing and Kind Self
- All types of people will be there. All types of people are welcome. LGBTQIA+/all genders/colors etc.
- Bring your tolerance, acceptance, and love
- Leave your politics, religion, pets/animals of any kind, weapons, anger/entitlement/bad attitude at home.
- Any sort of anything to the contrary and you will be asked to leave
- Be friendly, make friends, and be tolerant of others having fun. This is a PARTY.
- Don’t be an asshole. Don’t be the one who has too much and loses control.
- Don’t let your fun ruin someone else’s.
- If you do something terrible your pass will be taken and you will be escorted out or turned over to the authorities as appropriate.
- No violence or angry words. Keep your cool.
- Bring goodies to share! Cookies, candies, cocktails, brews, baked goods, sativa, wraps, whatever moves you!
- If you like the spirits, bring a bottle to share☺
- Offer to help! There is lots to be done and even most of the volunteers have purchased their passes. Take over a chore to set a volunteer free for some music!
- Ask a volunteer or check in at the Information tent to help for an hour or two.
- Find a mess and clean it up. Help someone set up their tent. Many of us get together on the regular, throughout the year, for jams and house concerts and events. This is a great opportunity to meet some fun, real people - we look forward to making new friends!
- Clean up your bathroom messes - be a saint and clean up someone else’s!
- Let a volunteer know if something needs attention that you aren’t able to deal with yourself.
Keep it Beautiful and Leave No Trace
- Use the dumpsters provided for garbage
- Recycling is available for aluminum cans
- Bring canned beverages instead of glass whenever possible.
- Try to avoid glass containers…if you can’t, please pack glass empties out and take them home with you.
- Clean up after yourself and everyone else.
The River
- No lifeguard on duty - use at your own risk. You may get in the river - but do not go to the other side.
- Stay on the campground side of the river, please. Don’t forget your towel!
Campfires
- Fires must be in one of the 3 existing metal-ring fire-pits and will be allowed depending on Boulder County fire restrictions.
What to Bring
Do Bring Your Music!
There will be opportunities to jam every night - keep your ears out and join in!
- Jam / song circle during the pot-luck
- At Jitter Jams in the morning bt the lodge!
- Acoustic jams, picks, song circles in camp
- Late-night electric jams in the dance hall with Louder By the Hour and After Crick Wooder
- The BURN ceremony and drumming
So! Bring your acoustic instruments (guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins, bass, etc), and bring your electrics too for late-night plug in jams. Bring hand drums!
Questions about dance hall electric jams? Talk to Don (you’ll get to know him if you don’t already) for more info.
And if you don’t play - no worries, come and listen, sing along when you have the chance, or just hang out and vibe with the musicians
Out of courtesy to the festival musicians, please don’t “crank it” in the campground while musicians are on stage.
Do Bring Your Own Washable/Reusable “Mess Kit”
- Plate, fork, knife, spoon, drink cup, coffee mug, water bottle, koozies
- Paper plates and plasticware are strongly discouraged.
- Running water and several sinks are available in the camping area for washup
- Bring a scrubby sponge and a little dish soap
- Help us keep trash to a minimum clean as you go.
- Help us by taking your camp trash to the DUMPSTER and not in campground trash cans.
- Bring a trash bag or two for packing out your own stuff at the end of the weekend
Do Bring Camping and Festival Essentials
- Low-back chairs for the field stage area closer than the easy up line
- Rain gear! Ponchos, umbrellas. This is June in Colorado. We have a covered stage this year and expect that music will happen outside rain or shine
- Bring decorations and make your camp and stage space festive.
- Chairs for sitting around in camp—armless if you play an instrument!
- Extension cord/splitter/powerstrip rated for outdoor use
- Earplugs - especially if you are a light sleeper. Late night jams are part of the magic of ROTR ☺
- Pop-up shade
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- A labeled reusable water bottle. Water stations will be available - stay hydrated - it will be warm!
- Bring your own shower products and a towel. There are showers on site, but are limited so please be considerate and keep ‘em short.
Do Bring Food and Beverages and ICE for Personal Use
- Beverages and supplies for you and your crew, and some to share!
- Try to bring enough so you won’t have to leave for supplies.
- Your cooler: start with lots of ice to keep your things cool. We will NOT be selling ice this year.
- Consider an extra cooler just for ice and bring more than you think you will need
- Going on an ice run? Stop by the host/info tent to see and offer to pick up some extra!
- Kegs to share are welcome! Please let us know you are bringing one.
Do Bring Contributions to Shared/Community Meals
Something to Share at Thursday Potluck
Easy! Bring a dish to share with the community. Main dish, side dish, salad, dessert. Home-made or prepackaged. Whatever your favorite shareable is.
Toastables and Spreadables for the Toast and Jams Table
- Cream, half and half, non-dairy substitutes for coffee
- Bagels, breads, and other tostable foods
- Think jams, cream cheese spread, nut butter, honey. Etc.
- We’ll have a bunch of toasters to use.
Contribution to Sunday Wake-n-Bake Brunch
EVERYONE: Bacon, sausage, or vegetarian substitute: Bring a pack (1-2lb) of store-sealed bacon for the biggest bacon-fry ever for the Sunday Wake-n-Bake! This one is almost mandatory.
- Wanna go the extra mile? Bring some sausage to cook up as well.
- If you are a vegetarian bring a meat substitute or something else.
- Refrigeration: We have access to refrigeration! We’ll collect bacon, sausage, and other donations for the Sunday Wake n Bake at the potluck on Thursday night, and refrigerate everything properly.
- Fry your own! On Sunday morning, please head to the coffee area and grab your bacon, etc to fry it on Sunday morning! We tried to cook all the bacon ourselves last year, and it was a FAIL! LOL
Orange Juice, Champagne, Other Juices: Please bring some juice and something to mix with it if you like for Sunday Wake-n-Bake. Mimosas? Palomas? Bloody Marys? We are happy to refrigerate juices for you. We’ll have some coffee, but that’s all we provide for beverages at Wake-n-Bake.
Other sweets, baked goods, etc.
Do Bring Cash!
There is NO ATM. We may accept cards if the technology works. The food truck may or may not accept cards. CASH IS KING. If you purchase every meal at the food truck each day, buy a poster, donate for Jitter Jams, and buy a bag of ice, $150 should cover you for the weekend, and you could do it cheaper. Help us out and bring 1’s 5’s 10’s as well so we don’t end up in a change crunch. Having some extra cash never hurts. There will also be some art for sale and other artistic vendors.
Do Bring Community Firewood
- Bring logs, not your trash pile or scrap lumber
- Even a firewood pack from the grocery or a ⅙ cord from Bustamonties!
- Nice cut logs not bonfire stuff
What NOT to Bring
- Generators. If you must run your generator, your RV must be parked on the west side, across the street near the silo. There is no electricity or water there.
- Fireworks
- Weapons
- Drama, attitude, politics
- Your pets. Leave them at home
Your brewery or distillery…
Vending
Guests may set up a spot to sell non-food service things like art, jewelry, clothing, and candy - see info below. Food that requires cooking or preparation on-site (ie grilled cheese sandwiches) and beverages are not OK. If you need an exception, let us know!
- Vendor Fee: $50 (cash) for the weekend. This is for OUTSIDE the music area, across the street in the pavilion lawn. Ask at the info tent.
- “Inside” the music area vending/presence with easy up is $250. Please reach out in advance if this is you.
- Get in touch via events@coloradograss.org or talk to Paul on Facebook in advance to get more information.
- Seek guidance on where to set up, etc, before you do.
- Find a volunteer to pay and for setup instructions before you start selling.
Band Contest!
The Band Contest is ON!
- $20 fee to enter is REFUNDED if you and your band show up and compete.
- Bands may have up to one paid performer from this years event.
- The contest will be held Friday night at 11pm in the dance hall, single mic style!
- More details at the registration link. Be sure to read it all!
- Purchase/Register for the band contest here.
How to Get Here (DO NOT TRUST GPS)
The event is at Parrish Ranch RV Resort and Campground, 7599-6719 W Co Rd 4, Berthoud CO 80513 Berthoud, CO 80513
Don’t trust google or your GPS! You may be led to come from the wrong direction where you will get stuck behind locked gates! Parrish Ranch can ONLY be accessed from W Co Rd 4. There is NO ACCESS FROM THE SOUTH no matter what any map or GPS says. You will get stuck behind locked gates.
- From 287 and 66 in Longmont go NORTH 11.2 miles to W Co Rd 4
- Head WEST towards the mountains on W Co Rd 4
- Drive 4.9 miles west. The pavement will turn to a dirt road. Keep going and turn left (South) on Parrish Ranch Road
- Drive 1.2 miles down Parrish Ranch Road, which is marked as private.
- The Campground will be visible and on your left as you round a few bends.
- Don’t be tempted down random home/farm driveways.
- Watch out for sheep, cows, and peacocks!
RVs may arrive at Parrish Ranch no sooner than 12:00 pm Thursday. Cars may arrive no sooner than 1:30 pm. Please plan to arrive just on time or any time after. No pre-game lineups or land-rushes are allowed or necessary. Volunteers will park you.
Festival Schedule
Thursday
9a | Staff setup |
NOON | Gates open. RVs arrive and park. Please do not form a line anywhere. NO TENTS OR CARS AT THIS TIME. |
1:30pm | Cars may begin to drive down Parrish Road to the campground. Please do NOT line up anywhere before then. Not even at the end of Parrish Road, or at the gate. The gates will be opened shortly after 1:30 |
4:20pm | Celebrate the time together! Take a few minutes to chill and meet between the dancehall and camping area, then get back to setup. If it isn’t your thing, no worries! |
4:45pm | Campout wide musical POTLUCK in front of the dance hall. - Bring a dish to share!
- Jam / Song circle at the potluck space. Join the circle. Bring your music. This was a great time last year. Please help us make it awesome again!
- Remember your washable/reusable plate, fork, knife, spoon and cup.
- This is a great opportunity to drop off your bacon/sausage for Sunday Wake-N-Bake
|
6-6:45 | opener? |
7:00 (with a break) | Gasoline Lollipops |
11:00 - ??? | Campground Jams |
Friday:
Early till 10:30 | Jitter Jams! Coffee, Toast, and Jams By the dance hall. Fantastic coffee. Please drop $1 or more for coffee in the donation jar to help us cover costs. Bring your mess kit, music and join the acoustic breakfast jam happening here!
The community donates the toast and jams! We got toasters! Bring something to share for toast and jams (ie bread, jam, spreads) You can drop off in the morning or Thursday night and we’ll put it in the walk-in and set it out in the morning.
Please make Jitter Jams happen! Bring something! bread, bagels, english muffins, jams, spreads, cream cheese spreads, cream, half-n-half, etc to drop on the coffee table or bagels, english muffins, jam, butter, cream cheese spread, whiskey, Or, just bring yourself. |
8-9am | Join the Jam Class with Alan Mishell get up to speed to join the jam! |
Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner | Food truck will be onsite Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss ‘em! Tasty, eclectic goodness! Affordable and tasty upscale offerings! |
11-12 | Teresa Storch Band |
1215-145 | Brandywine and Elle Michelle and Friends |
200-330 | Wood Belly |
400-530 | Louder By The Hour |
600-730 | MOJOMAMA |
8:00-10pm | Crick Wooder |
11ish | Band Contest in the dance hall then Jam Free For All! |
Saturday:
Early until 10:30 | Jitter Jams! Coffee, Toast, and Jams |
8-9 | Join the Jam Class with Alan Mishell |
Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner | Food Truck will be onsite Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss ‘em! Tasty, eclectic goodness! Affordable and tasty upscale offerings! |
11-12:15 | Elle Michelle’s Grateful Hollar |
1230-145 | Brandywine and the Mighty Fines |
200-330 | Ain’t From Here |
400-530 | Wood Belly |
600-730 | Lionel Young Band |
8:00-10pm | Gasoline Lollipops |
10:30ish | BURN / Ceremony |
11ish | Free for all jam! (self-contained electric okay) |
Sunday is Funday!
Morning: grab some bacon or whatever you brought for Sunday morning and cook it up for wake-n-bake!
8-9am Join the Jam Class with Alan Mishell
11:00 am Wake-n-Bake: Sunday breakfast n jams!
- A potluck bacon-drenched Jam and social.
- Song circle, drum circle, pick, whatever you are into!
- Bring your music maker and feel free to sing along.
- Big acoustic jam/song circle(s) everyone invited to play!
- ~ Social time ~ Bake time ~ Consider bringing a cocktail setup to share ~
- Bloody bar? Vodka station? You put it on. Sharing, but no vending of any spirits, please.
Clean Up and Roll Out by 3:30 pm Sunday
- Besides cleaning up your own campsite - we kindly ask everyone to spend a half hour (more is really appreciated!) helping us cleanup at the ranch after wake-n-bake. Not sure how to help? Ask a volunteer.
- Please leave your camping spot spotless!
- Pack out what you can, properly put the rest in the dumpsters.
- Pack up so you can roll out at 3:30
Coming in August! Band Camp for grownups!