QUESTIONS? Here are ANSWERS — basic info for enjoying your festival. We update this page as new information is available, so check in again soon.
Getting there: Altamont Fairgrounds, 129 Grand St., Altamont NY
Hours
The Festival opens at 3pm on Friday. Sign up/in and grab your festival wristband at the Welcome Tent.
The Festival officially closes at noon on Sunday, when we begin packing up chairs, tables, and pop-ups. Please grab a few chairs and bring them up to the volunteers for packing!
Admission
Includes workshops & all the jamming you can do.
– Full weekend: $40 per adult (includes camping)
– Friday only $20 (no camping)
– Saturday only: $30 per adult (no camping)
– Sunday morning: pay what you wish
Additional $25 fee for a tag for anyone needing access to electricity (RVs, medical equipment, etc.). See “Camping,” below.
Kids under 18 are free but must attend with a parent or other responsible adult.
Pay with cash, check, or credit card at the Welcome Tent when you arrive, or pre-pay online with credit card.
Volunteering (3–4 hours) earns a free weekend pass with camping. Email us to request a volunteer slot, or for other circumstances, email us a request for a comp pass: blackcreek@oldsongs.org
Food
BYOFood. A quick drive to town gets you to a couple of options. Please check local listings for the most up-to-date information.
Cooking is limited to outdoor camp stoves. No propane or other open flame devices inside buildings.
Saturday dinner is a potluck. If you want to join, bring something to share.
Camping
Camp Friday to Sunday in tents or small trailers. The site offers a large field for tents (free with weekend admission) and a limited number of RV hookups. Tent sites offer no electricity.
Additional $25 fee for an electricity tag, for anyone who needs to plug in (RV hookups, medical equipment, etc.).
Sorry, no dumping station.
Do not set up camp inside any of the buildings or under the pavilion; these are reserved for jamming, workshops, and community meals.
No open fires. No propane or other open flame devices inside buildings.
Amenities
Potable water available from central water faucets.
Two public bathroom buildings offer flush toilets & hot water showers. Porta-Potties available.
Volunteers
Please pitch in where you see a need – it’s how we keep our costs low and preserve our do-it-yourself ethos. We especially need all-hands-on-deck to pack up on Sunday noon to 1 pm. “Official” volunteers – who’ve signed up in advance and who get free admission in exchange – run the Welcome Tent, support the goings-on-about-campus, help with the Saturday potluck, and do many other essential tasks. Click here to sign up. We’re especially grateful for non-musical spouses/partners who serve as super-volunteers.
Dogs
No dogs or other pets – Fairgrounds policy. Leave your pets safely at home.
Electric vehicles
At the Fairgrounds, you can plug your electric vehicle into a regular 110V outlet for recharging; $25 fee, per Fairgrounds policy.
Weather
Some years it’s hot, some years it’s cold, some years it’s rainy, some years it’s perfect. Evenings may be chilly. Be prepared with layers and rain gear. Bring a pop-up for jamming shade / rain protection if you have one! There may be several fair buildings open for jamming in case of rain (and there may not be).
Worries
– Emergency: Call 911. The festival is located at the Altamont Fairgrounds, Gate 3, in the Village of Altamont, NY.
– Masks are welcome and not required. Please respect the choices of others.
– The fairgrounds are accessible to the public, so use common sense to secure your valuables, including instruments, especially overnight. Neither the Fairgrounds nor Black Creek / Old Songs is responsible in case of loss/damage.