Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance

If you don't want to miss a minute of the festival, then bring an RV so you can experience the music and activities up close at the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance. Onsite camping expands to two areas called Across the Way and the Onsite campgrounds, both facilitated by the event staff. If you have a question about the size of your RV, it's best to call ahead. Large sites have a minimum of 1250 square feet, and site-restrictions dictate that all RVs maintain a perimeter of five feet from the edge of each space.

The Onsite Campground is closest to the music stages on the grounds of the Trumansburg Fairground. RVers have two choices of site types to pick from a small space and a large space. Small spaces don't permit cooking, so if you want to use your propane stove, choose a large site. No open fires are allowed, so make sure your stove runs on gas. The Onsite Campground offers primitive camping. There are portable toilets, rustic showers, and water spigots available for all campers.

The Across the Way Campground is a large parking area owned by event staff that has designated spaces for car camping and tent camping. RVers who are staying in the Across the Way Campground reserve large spaces, which allow propane-stove cooking. The campground is primitive with rustic showers, portable toilets, food vendors, a picnic area, water spigots, and a community fire ring. For RVers who like a little quiet, there is a quiet camping area, and for RVers who can't do without electricity, there is a generator parking area. Even though Across the Way isn't technically on site, this campground is still operated by event staff. It's possible to walk to the festival, and some shuttles run back and forth during certain times of the day.

Camping is a favorite activity in the Fingerlakes Region. If you choose to stay somewhere other than the festival campgrounds, you have plenty of camping options. RVers may choose from private RV parks with full hookups and luxury amenities to scenic campgrounds in the New York State Park camping areas. The closest state park is less than three miles from the festival venue. If off-the-grid camping is more your style, Fingerlakes National Forest is less than ten miles away and has both free dispersed camping areas as well as campgrounds with RV accessibility.

Since parking is limited and walking to the venue is possible, guests will want to leave scooters, golf carts, and other toys at home for this event. If you are staying in a section of the campground where you are a little too far from the gate, opt to take one of the shuttles to get back and forth more quickly.

For an event like the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, it's best to pack comfortable clothing that isn't restrictive when you are dancing and moving along to the music. Bring lightweight clothing that dries quickly for the warm and humid days, and for the nights when the temperatures cool off, bring a light hoodie or blanket poncho to keep your upper body warm.

If you reserve a large campsite in either event campground, you are allowed to have a propane stove or grill with you. Pack your cooker, your outdoor chairs, and any outdoor camping equipment you need to feel comfortable outside of your rig. Please leave all residential furniture at home. While your couch might look cute next to your vintage camper, this event prohibits such gear. Don't forget your favorite hiking gear if you plan to venture to some of the outdoor spaces in the area.

Bring plenty of water with you to keep hydrated throughout the four days of the event. Don't forget to pack unique medical items that may be hard to find on the road. If you need assistance with medicine that requires refrigeration, ask a member of event staff where you may keep your medicine during the event. Since the festival is all outdoors, don't forget sunscreen.

In years past, New York state health regulations prohibited cooking in the onsite campgrounds. Event staff helped support RVers by finding a way to permit onsite cooking by offering two different size spaces, large and small. If you want to cook, make sure you reserve a large camping space, which permits gas-only stoves. Gas stoves and gas grills make anything from warming a can of soup to cooking burgers, brats, and even sizzling fajitas. The more simple your meal, the less of a cleanup you'll have, so go big or small. It's up to you!

Trumansburg is a small town with a few places to stop for food and drink. If you need to stock your campsite, there is a grocery store as well as a natural grocery store across the street from the festival. If you want a quick bite, like a hotdog and a fountain soda, stop by the convenience store in Trumansburg. Also, try visiting the local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or cafe. Most of the places to eat are less than a mile away from the festival.

People who love to try different types of food and drink will have no shortage of places to choose from when it comes to meal or snack time. Every year, the vendors offer more delicious choices of foods suitable for all palates. Some vendors take both cash and credit. If you find yourself in need of more money, visit the ATM, located inside of the general store.