GrassRoots 2019: Everything you need to know if you’re going – Ithaca Journal

Matt Steecker, Ithaca Journal Published 8:00 a.m. ET July 16, 2019 | Updated 12:08 p.m. ET July 16, 2019

Located near the Grandstand Stage , the GrassRoots Vinyl Lounge features DJs spinning booty-shaking grooves to keep you dancing all day and into the night. Kate Collins / Staff video

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Tompkins County’s largest music festival will begin in just a few days at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds.

There are about 80 bands performing at the 2019 Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, which takes place this year from Thursday, July 18 to Sunday, July 21.

Here’s a look at what you should know if you will be going to the festival.

When does the music start?

The festival will run from Thursday until Sunday afternoon.

The Bubba George String Band is scheduled to kick off the music festival at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the infield stage. There will be performers playing music until after midnight.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the music starts during the late morning hours.

Who are the big acts?

Taj Mahal Quartet will bring its famed blues music to the festival. Other big performers will include Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Railroad Earth and Rising Appalachia.

More: Lineup for GrassRoots Fest 2019 in Trumansburg includes Taj Mahal, Railroad Earth

However, a large number of the acts are local to Tompkins County, including Swamp Kids, Fall Creek Brass Band, Kevin Kinsella, Bubba George String Band, Ithaca Bottom Boys and GrassRoots Chamber Orchestra, plus Ithaca Underground with Anamon, The Miserable Genius, La Llorona and Motherwort.

What other activities are there?

The GrassRoots Workshop & Movement Tent will have a variety of different activities for people to try, including yoga, hoop dancing, meditation, qigong, yoga for kids, acroyoga, hands-on healing arts, singing and songwriting.

What’s new this year?

Looking for information on the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival? Check out our video guide to all the essential need-to-know GrassRoots information. Kate Collins / Staff video

GrassRoots has expanded its off-site campground at Across the Way.

There will be 677 large camping sites at Across the Way, said Elaine Springer, a GrassRoots co-organizer. Last year, there were about 100 fewer sites. Across the Way camping sites are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

As usual, there will be on-site tent camping available for purchase on a first-come, first-serve basis. The front gate opens at noon Thursday, July 18.

On-site vehicle camping is already sold out.

How to purchase GrassRoots tickets

Tickets can be purchased at Wegmans, any Collegetown Bagels location, Trumansburg Market, Ithaca Guitar Works or the Ithaca Bakery.

Finger Lakes GrassRoots Fest, Trumansburg, Saturday,

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Finger Lakes GrassRoots Fest, Trumansburg, Saturday, July 21, 2018.

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Adult four-day admission is $140 and increases to $155 starting July 16. Anyone 16 or older is considered an adult.

Advance tickets for teens 13 to 15 cost $67 and jump up to $75 on July 16. Single-day admission for teens is $38.

Advance single-day admission for adults is $49 for Thursday, $53 for Friday, $58 for Saturday, $38 for Sunday. The prices increase if purchased at the gate. More specific information can be found at grassrootsfest.org/tickets.

Kids 12 and younger get in for free.

Camping

Tent camping at Across the Way costs $75 in advance and $95 at the gate.

Rustic showers are located both at the on-site and Across the Way camping locations.

Managing money, supplies and food at the festival

GrassRoots attendees who run out of cash can go to the ATM near the entrance of the General Store inside the festival.

There will be a wide variety of vendors selling food ranging from authentic Vietnamese cuisine to cornmeal fried catfish, and from pulled pork to báhn mi. The festival supports the region’s local restaurants, organic farmers and food truck foodies.

People who need supplies can walk to the Trumansburg Shur-Save or the Byrne Dairy gas station.

Across the Way is behind the Shur-Save. Festival attendees walking from the Trumansburg Fairgrounds would take a right outside of the festival entrance and continue walking in the southeasterly direction on the sidewalk adjacent to Trumansburg Road to get to the supermarket.

To get to Byrne Dairy, a festival-goer would walk in the opposite direction on the sidewalk adjacent to Trumansburg Road.

About the GrassRoots Festival organization

The GrassRoots Festival raises money for arts, education and other area nonprofit organizations.

About 1,300 people are volunteers for the GrassRoots Festival Organization, according to the GrassRoots website.

Can’t get enough GrassRoots?

In addition to operating a festival in the Finger Lakes, the GrassRoots Festival organization also organizes a GrassRoots festival in the spring and the fall in Pittsboro, North Carolina, near Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

The organization also has organized festivals in Miami for the winter.

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