Camping With The Blues
Benefit the beautiful Sertoma Youth Ranch by camping and enjoying a Blues extravaganza almost outside your RV door in Brooksville, Florida.
Event information
Picture the setting: music amongst the pines and the comforts of your RV at your fingertips. It is a wonderful way to spend the weekend with the family, all the while rocking the blues! Camping With The Blues is a fundraising festival with proceeds going to the Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville, Florida.
A family-oriented venue, the kids can join in on many activities geared just for them, and you can revel in the rustic atmosphere of this 80-acre retreat. Talented Blues performers will give it their all over the three-day event. Open spaces and sights of wildlife are there for your enjoyment throughout the weekend. The musical entertainment takes place under an open-air stage with plenty of room to sit and watch or dance as you desire.
Make the most of the entire weekend. Start the day early with an exploration of the campground, tune in to the performers all day, retreat to your campfire after the show is complete, and re-energize with a night of sleep in the RV!
Tickets
Prices for Camping With The Blues tickets vary, depending on whether you plan to attend for one day or the entire weekend. Expect to pay between $20 and $80 for admission to the festival. If you purchase at the gate, the prices will be higher. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. The cost for your RV has many variables such as whether you plan to take a site with electricity and water or choose to take a more primitive site.
Explore Camping With The Blues RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
I-75 is the route to take to the music at Camping With the Blues. You’ll be driving through an area teeming with birds and wildlife. They will be evident in abundance the closer you get to Sertoma Youth Ranch. Once you reach the main gate, festival staff will direct you to your chosen camping site.
Parking areas
The rules for parking your RV or any extra vehicles at the campground will depend on the type of site you have chosen because the sizes of the sites can vary. Staff will inform you where to go once you arrive, but to review the information upfront to make sure that your camping rental fits your campsite type. Guests will likely find free car parking at the front gate as well.
Public Transportation
Being in a tranquil, nature-filled, and secluded location, Camping With The Blues does not have access to public transportation. Driving your RV straight to the venue and parking for the weekend on festival grounds is an appealing option!
Where to stay
Onsite
The camping is rustic and the environment truly beautiful, so festival organizers ask that you respect nature as you camp. If your RV is self-contained with water and electricity, you can take a dry camping site as an option. There are usually water and 30 amp electricity hookups that are assigned to campers as they arrive on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a dump station located on the grounds. There are two buildings that house showers and restrooms in the camping area. Generators (non-commercial) are allowed and must be rated 70 DB or less.
Nearby
The area surrounding Brooksville offers many options for camping for those who prefer to camp in their RV somewhere other than Camping With The Blues. Depending on what Florida RV campground you choose, you may only be minutes away from the music over at the festival. Pull-through sites and accommodations for rigs big and small are for the taking at Orlando Southwest KOA.
RVers can look for a river or lakeside spot, or park the rental RV in a quiet location with hiking trails right at the doorstep. Colt Creek State Park and Hillsborough River State Park offer settings fit for relaxing at a Florida campsite.
Getting around
Camping With The Blues is held in a huge venue. The Sertoma Youth Ranch camping area is extensive and because of this, golf carts are permitted. You can rent one if you do not have your own, but all drivers must be licensed, and obeying the speed limit of 10mph is a must. Proof of insurance is required, and if your golf cart is not equipped with lights, you cannot drive it at night.
What to pack
Clothing
The temperatures are typically comfortable in Brooksville in October. Dress for any weather event though, and be sure to bring along long-sleeved shirts in case bugs like mosquitos make an appearance. A sun hat will help protect from the bugs, too. Closed-toe shoes and comfy sneakers fit the bill for footwear. Pack rubber boots in the RV in case of inclement weather; wet feet aren’t on the schedule for Camping With The Blues!
Gear
Stock up the RV with charcoal briquets, food, ice and firewood, and you are permitted to enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine around the campfire. Barbecues are permitted on your list of gear item; Sertoma Youth Ranch wants you to experience an authentic camping and blues weekend! Set up your lawn chairs around the fire pit and relax to the sounds of crickets before bed. Be sure to bring along a flashlight for your trek to the bathroom prior to lights out each evening.
Health & Safety
Camping among the pines means that you will need a supply of hefty bug spray for both the daytime and evening hours at the festival. Sunscreen to protect against the sun’s rays is a must. Campers will want to hydrate well so make sure the RV refrigerator is stocked with cold beverages. Have a first aid kit on hand for scrapes and bruises, since the kiddos may be running full tilt all weekend!
Where to eat
Cooking
Camping With The Blues is a true outdoors experience; and therefore, everyone will likely build up a healthy appetite! There are picnic tables on site, perfect for laying out a big spread of sausages and potatoes or salmon and veggies. Use either a camp stove, barbeque, or fire pit for easy outdoor cooking. Never leave the fire unattended in the pit and make sure that the barbeque coals are cold before leaving the site for an excursion.
Restaurants
If you are out and about exploring the region around Camping With The Blues, pop into a local restaurant for a meal. Guests to the area will find variety galore for sating the appetite including vegan, vegetarian, and meat lovers tastes. You can enjoy a meal at one of the restaurant chains in Brooksville or try a quaint mom and pop meal at one of several choices.
Vendors
Beer, wine, cold drinks, and tasty eats will be for sale at the vendor booths. Combine your love of Blues with some pleasurable Florida fare, carefully prepped and cooked by locals with talents to share. Move from vendor table to table; you’ll find unique goods and merchandise for sale. Pick up an original item to bring home as a souvenir of your time at Sertoma Youth Ranch.
Safety
Security
Security staff will be on hand to ensure that Camping With The Blues is a safe and fun event for everyone. Alcohol will only be served to those over 21 years of age, and anyone acting in an unruly fashion will be asked to leave. Pet owners are asked to keep furry friends leashed and quiet so that everyone may absorb the sounds of the festival. Sound systems are not allowed in the camping area; enjoy the sounds of the festival while at the stage area instead!
Weather
Temperatures in Florida in October are ideal for attending festivals. The days will be warm and the evenings typically in the cooler range, although it wouldn’t be unusual to have a warm night. The average rainfall can be described as moderate with the heaviest amounts usually falling at the beginning of the month and lessening as the days move toward month’s end. Be prepared with rain gear just in case; you never know when a cloud will form overhead.
Medical
One convenience of attending Camping With The Blues is that you can camp in your RV on site, so if you have specific medical needs, this can mean a lot for your peace of mind. Your medication or other needs can be easily accessed within a few minutes. In your RV medicine cabinet, you may want to include options for fever and cold, and keep the band-aid supply ready to go since the area is somewhat remote.
