So Fest 8 will be my first Fest. Me and my girlfriend will be flying in on thursday to have some time to figure out where everything is. From the months of lurking i've done on this board i think i have a pretty good idea of what to expect, but i would still like to enlist some help from all you Fest vets.

So, any tips, ideas, or sage like advice?

Welcome! It is all here on the board really. But as Fest 8 grows closer there will be more and more posts. So just join in and you'll find out anything you ever imagined even NOT wanting to know about it...haha

I mostly suggest reading these threads:

While in Gainesville:

http://www.thefestfl.com/board/viewforum.php?f=5

Traveling to The Fest:

http://www.thefestfl.com/board/viewforum.php?f=6

Fest Rants:

http://www.thefestfl.com/board/viewforum.php?f=7

Best advice I can give you...Fest SEX thread.

Seriously.

If nothing else, do it for the lulz.

yep as gato ranch said: everything is on the board.. what was most helpful for me last year were definitly the advises of which venue is normally filling up at what time (f.e. long rows at the venue when it opens, nearly none later on, or don't change clubs as soon as the venue closes on sat night, BYOB at the kickstand)..

the rest is pretty easy...

For one reason or another, there always seems to be long lines at Common Grounds too. But yeah, hit up The Venue right when it opens to get your wrist band, then its come and go as you please. And really, since the only place with a bag check is Common Grounds (or at least that's how it was last year) everywhere is BYOB. I didn't have a bag last year, which wouldn't have been an issue if The Venue hadn't run out of PBR on freaking FRIDAY NIGHT! WTF was that all about?

This will also be my first Fest, but it's going to be me and 5 of my friends. Good times shall be had....

Long time reader, first time Fester

Venues are BYOB?! That doesn't seem real. Or do you mean, they don't have bag checks so you can just sneak in beers?

That's ridiculous. How does something like that happen?

they didn't expect me thristy german there all night!!!

Dude, I gotta party with the krauts!

Just the Kickstand. It's a stage in a bike-garage. There are concessions for nachos and stuff, but yeah, you have to BYOB.

George's Meet & Produce was too, and Wayard... from past Fests and Fest after-shows.

Kinda overwhelming.

I'm probably going to need to hook up with one of you guys to get general pointers, at least Friday.

I've never been and i feel like you junkies waiting for there fix.

So Excited!

I'm pretty sure there was talk of a Fest board meet-up this year...Thursday? At a restaurant called...Chopsticks...or something? Anyone else remember discussing this? Food would be eating, drinks drunk and pointers given.

Honestly, most of the fun of Fest is running around with no plan, catching what you can. At least that was my experience.

[/quote]

Just the Kickstand. It's a stage in a bike-garage. There are concessions for nachos and stuff, but yeah, you have to BYOB.[/quote]

George's Meet & Produce was too, and Wayard... from past Fests and Fest after-shows.[/quote]

Oh yeah! Doi.