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We are doing a series this month reviewing different festivals that we love.  This is not just a festival but an organization that is creme de la creme.  We will be featuring the epic Telluride Bluegrass Festival produced by the great Planet Bluegrass.  Planet Bluegrass also produces RockyGrass (and RockyGrass academy) as well as Folks Fest in Lyons, CO.  RockyGrass and Folks Fest are also some favorites of ours that we have sadly not been able to do since we moved to North Carolina.  We highly recommend checking either or both out as not only is it amazing bluegrass and folk artists but they are located at Planet Bluegrass headquarters on the St. Vrain river right down the street from Oskar Blues Brewery.

Oh yeah….back to Telluride!!!  Wow…..Telluride Bluegrass is just one of those festivals that should be on every festivarians bucket list.  Telluride Bluegrass festival is nestled in the town of Telluride, CO at 9,000 ft elevation so be prepared for all types of weather including maybe even some snow.  Held every year during the Summer Solstice Telluride Bluegrass offers an experience like no other.  Epic landscape with some of bluegrass’s most incredible talent, and some of the happiest people on earth.  You can hike to mountaintop lakes, take in the town life, or throw your Tarpestry in or around town park and listen the music play while taking a siesta by the river under some pine trees.  Tarpestry hosts a giveaway every Saturday morning at Telluride Bluegrass for all of the legendary early morning tarp runners.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about as far as tarp runners, check out this video!  Smiles and sunshine and some of the most delicious food you can find inside and outside of the festival grounds.  Telluride is a well oiled machine going on 46 years and is one of the most safe, green, happy and well organized festivals we have ever been to.  Can’t really say enough about Telluride Bluegrass except that you need to go!  

We are doing a series this month reviewing different festivals that we love.  Today we’re featuring The Northwest String Summit otherwise known to those who have been as “Strummit“.  Strummit is a pretty magical place with a legendary history of shows.  Surrounded by moss draping off of giant trees you are likely to see peacocks upon entering the festival.  Truly one of the happiest crowds of people who just came to have a good time.  A lot of trees to hang Tarpestrys for privacy around your campground and the top of the hill is a great place to watch shows on your Tarpestry.  Camping can be crazy if you show up late, there is even an entire campground named “Slantytown”.  Amazing crowd, amazing music at one of the most magical venues in the country Strummit is one of Team Tarpestrys most favorite festivals of all time.  

We are doing a series this month reviewing different festivals that we love.  Only on it’s second year we are stoked to be heading back to Trondossa this year!

Trondossa is held on quite the venue at Riverfront Park in North Charleston.  Not only headlined/hosted by one of our favorite bands, Widespread Panic, but also just stacked with talent for an all day two day festival on the riverside in Chucktown.  Last year I remember looking around the Spanish moss covered trees while setting up our Tarpestry vending booth and was stunned by an enormous tanker floating down the river.  With tons of green grass to lounge on throughout the day and great food (I ate a Jerry Roll last year!!!) this is a great festival to just hang out on your Tarpestry all day, listen to great music and watch the sunshine (and later moonshine) off the water.  See you there fam!

This month we are going to feature some of our favorite festivals around the country.  The pros and cons, type of people, camping situations, stage accessibility, where and when to use your Tarpestry and maybe something about food if it is notable.  We moved Tarpestry to the east coast around 2015 and have gotten to experience a whole different region of festival life.  We are still working on going to more festivals in the upcoming years so we will update this blog series as we continue to hit the road.  

Here is a short list of some of our favorite festivals around the country!  Each festival has it’s own story to tell every year and we are so stoked that festival season is right around the corner!  Without further ado:

Merlefest

Trondossa

Delfest

Strummit (NWSS)

Floyd Fest

Telluride (Rocky Grass, Folk Fest, Planet Bluegrass)

Greyfox

Nedfest

When you plan your festival and festival campsite this year here are a few Tarpestry Tips that might be useful!  We have received a bunch of pictures from Tarpestry Campsites over the years and have made a few pretty outstanding campsites ourselves.  One of them….Bonnaroo 2013 I think….we surrounded three pop up tents with Tarpestrys so it was an L shaped living space with Art Walls that kept the sun and wind and rain out!  Oh yeah we had an air conditioner plugged into a generator too….. =o.  

Okay here are our tips for your festival campsite:

1. Check out the Team Tarpestry FB page and see if there are any other friends of Tarpestry going to the same festival.  Might be cool to meet some new awesome people and have a bigger campsite!
2. A nice option for using a Tarpestry is to hang it on your pop up tent with bungee hooks when you are at camp to block the sun, wind, rain or other outdoor elements that mother nature wants to throw your way.  You can easily unhook it and then take it off to the show!
3. Fold your Tarpestry in half if you leave it on the main field.  Put your gear just to one side of center with the Tarpestry laid out fully.  Fold the half without stuff on it over the stuff.  You can even stake down the corners in case the wind picks up.  This protects your stuff from the weather and makes sure everything stays dry from the top and bottom of the Tarpestry.  
4. Have Fun of course and take your time!  You’re at a festival!

We are going over various types of hikers that we meet along the trail when out enjoying nature and today we are featuring the Free Range Hiker.

I think we have all been a Free Range Hiker at least once in our lives and if not perhaps we have dreamt of how freeing and wonderful it would be to roam a mountainside unattached to any trail and as far removed from civilization as we can get.  A quick warning to the dreamer from those of us that have engaged in Free Range Hiking, it does SOUND very liberating and fanciful……typically not quite as glorious as the dream.  Now this is not to be confused with Mountaineering which most times have destinations and general routes mapped out even if they aren’t technically trails.  The Free Range Hiker is more avant garde about the route and determined they can figure out how to get back to the start using their instincts.  

Now the Free Range Hiker isn’t often spotted, as they are not on the trail and in fact most likely actually lost somewhere randomly in the woods.  Thankfully they will most likely have a Classic or Rugged Tarpestry with them as they at least understand there is a chance they “may” get lost and weather protection “might” be necessary.  When you do come across a Free Range Hiker be prepared for everything opposite of the Birder Hiker.  You will need to fully engage the Free Range Hiker as they are most likely thirsty, hungry, tired and a little bit scared and they will need to tell you their entire hike story so far, and need to know how to get back to the parking lot at the end of all of that!  After you tell them how to get to the parking lot, say something like “well glad you’re alive” or “you’re doing great and so close to your car”.  Often very confused when you find the Free Range Hiker it is best to proceed with caution but don’t be scared of them they just might need a little guidance…..and food…..and water…..etc.  

We are going over various types of hikers that we meet along the trail when out enjoying nature and today we are featuring the Trail Runner Hiker.

Now the Trail Runner “Hiker” is a special breed of hiker.   Hiker is in quotes for the Trail Runner because they hike at a much higher speed and depending on your definition it might not really look like what you’ve experienced as hiking.  Some Trail Runner hikers even take it too the next level by adding weight jackets.  Gotta feel the burn!  Besides the weight jackets the Trail Runners typically have no other weight except perhaps carrying a squirt style water bottle.  There will be a Tarpestry at the end/beginning of the trail either at the car or campsite for easy wardrobe change. Trail Runners are often seen in the parking lot in the back of their suvs sitting on a Classic Tarpestry eating orange slices and either tying or untying their trail sneakers.  

It is quite impressive passing, or getting passed by, a Trail Runner “Hiker”.  While the normal hiker is maybe breaking a small sweat and breathing a little harder than normal the Trail Runner is whizzing by, not sweating, not breathing hard and wearing a weight jacket.  Just remember not to judge yourself and be grateful for the time you have out there too.  You’re doing great!  We’re talking about some serious athletes here.  Always happy and full of energy the Trail Runner “Hiker” is typically fun to talk to but this most likely will only happen at the parking lot.  One of the most elusive hikers on the trail….either seen by all or seen by none.

We are going over various types of hikers that we meet along the trail when out enjoying nature and today we are featuring the Hippie Hiker.

Similar to the City Hiker just discussed, the Hippie Hiker can often be smelled prior to being seen.  Now, obviously, these are both very distinct and different smells and you will quickly understand the difference after only a handful of encounters.  The Hippie Hiker is in no hurry, in fact they probably haven’t even decided if they actually want to hike to a destination or just turn around whenever.  The most important thing for the Hippie Hiker to have on hand is a good amount of water, a Tarpestry, and of course the rolling papers.  I mean, you know, what’s not better than smoking while hiking?  

I know not all Hippie Hikers will fall quite in the “trail smokers”* crowd, however they will still most likely be hiking a bit slower than most on the trail and looking for a neat spot off trail where they can relax in the wild and see even less people.  A Tarpestry of any kind is a crucial companion for the Hippie Hiker.  Not necessarily in it for the exercise, we can all learn from the Hippie Hiker to slow down a bit, take a deep breath and just be one with nature. 

*Even if you aren’t into breathing second hand smoke on the trail, please try not to be too judgmental of the trail smokers….they really were trying to light up when no one was around. 

We are going over various types of hikers that we meet along the trail when out enjoying nature and today we are featuring the Granola Hiker.

The “Granola Hiker” is that person we meet along the trail that we have a hard time figuring out “does this person live out here” or “one day I’ll hike as much as they do”.  This hiker typically has calf muscles larger than most peoples’ biceps and as the name implies always has some assortment of granola in the backpack or fanny-pack.  Always into the light weight hike, the Granola hiker will undoubtedly be carrying the Tarpestry mini so they can easily take it out for a quick pit stop to decipher the types of trees and birds, take a swig of water and chomp down two or three almonds and one off brand m&m.  

Encountering the granola hiker on the trail can be a bit intimidating as they are normally passing us.  We’re not talking about the passing us in different direction kind of passing but more the “making you look slow” kind of passing.  Although the granola hiker is highly interested in the wildlife, trees, rivers, scenery and so on, they are so experienced that they just know how to hike at super speeds without breaking the tiniest sweat, and while going for hours off a few drops of water and a few dehydrated mango slices.  But let it be known that if you do encounter a granola hiker on your path to the mountain top, they will always be kind enough to offer an almond or two, or a (1oz) sip of water to the weary before they march on.  

It’s time to take a peek inside the lives of hikers.  Hiking is one of those activities that quite a wide variety of people enjoy doing as, let’s face it, it is glorified walking.  Yes you do get those epic mountain views or relaxing river chillouts and if you’re smart enough, you bring your Tarpestry along so that you can have a relaxing sit while enjoying your hike snack and views.  We have made a ton of different Tarpestry designs over the years, almost as many Tarpestry styles as there are hiker styles!  We want to bring you a little taste of what we’ve seen out there on the trail over the years.  Over the next month or so we are going to divulge in the various types of hikers so we can all understand each other a little better when we say hey along the trails.

So Let’s get out there and explore the wonders of nature on our hike through the mountains, through the natural wild lands or along a quiet beach reserve.  Let’s head to our favorite national or state park, river or lake, or secret trail and be kind to those we meet along the way.  Get your granola and Tarpestry in the pack and meet the diversity of nature and those who enjoy it too.  

Types of Hikers (the short list):

Hipster Hikers

Granola Hikers

City Hikers

Hippie Hiker

Dog (not) on a leash Hiker

Trail Runner “Hiker”

Birder Hiker

Free Range Hiker

Lifer Hiker

January has just flown on by this year….is it really February already?!  Well we all know what February is good for right?  Snowboarding, skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, sledding, snow ball fights, high heat bills…..oh yeah and Valentine’s Day!!  That’s right, it’s the time to slow down a little, crank up the heat a tad and cozy up to our Valentine.  We understand Valentine’s day isn’t just about your wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend.  Some of us have different Valentines……like our pets, our Teddy Bears, or even our favorite movie on our favorite couch with our favorite pillow and of course some popcorn or chocolate we bought for ourselves.  Well whoever (or whatever) your Valentine happens to be this year, we want you to make Tarpestry a part of your Valentine’s Day celebration.  

Enjoy 15% off during our Valentine’s Sale!  Get the “Union” Android Jones Tarpestry for your significant other, or perhaps a Tarpestry Dog Duvet for your furry friend, or let yourself know that you love YOU and get yourself a Tarpestry of your very own!  We love you and wish you a very happy, warm Valentine’s Day!

Our international Tarpestry ambassadors Jake and Ashley (IG: Jashlandia) rolled into town a couple days ago and we we’re debating a snowboard run at Beech Mountain Resort, but based on weather reports it looked like warmer temps and rain were in the forecast.  We woke up the morning after they arrived to steady snowfall and we decided to make it happen!

What a great decision!  Jake and Ted went snowboarding during the night session and luckily had the Artist Edition Tarpestry “Maroon Bells” by Kind Design packed so we could get our boot change on while keeping our feet dry!  The mountain was great with limited people, perfect temperatures, and even a little snow started falling mid snowboarding session.  Jake and Ted both hadn’t been snowboarding in a few years so needless to say they were a little sore the next morning! Fun winter adventures were had, to say the least, and we’ll be ready, Tarpestry in hand (or in backpack), for more action packed outdoor activities!

It’s a new year and we have set a few intentions here at Tarpestry.

1. Mindfulness: we are practicing mindfulness in all business practices including production, sourcing of materials, our contribution in the festival community and the time we spend in nature testing our outdoor blankets.
2. Art: we are bringing more art and more artists to the Tarpestry Artist Series line.  We understand the intrinsic value of art and what it means and can do for the artist and the observer of the art.  Bringing unique and beautiful artwork to the outdoor community is one of our main goals.
3. Joy: we are having fun! It’s easy to get wrapped up in the daily business grind so we are making a point to bring joy into our workdays. We do get to work at music festivals, after all. And camp and hike and lake and picnic and waterfall, etc.