[nabs-l] Questions About Navigating Festivals

[Kerri Kosten]

Hi All!

I have a few questions about going to/navigating large, loud festivals
as a blind person.

There is a festival going on here called Mountain Fest. It is a
festival for motor cyclists/bikers but it is also a regular festival
with live music, food, games, contests, socialization, and people. I
am not really into biking/motor cycling, but I really want to go for
the food, socialization, music, people, and just to get out of the
house. However, I as of yet can not find anyone to go with me. So, I
was wondering...what is the best way to do this as a blind person?

The festival is at a huge park called Milan Park. From what I've read,
Milan Park has a huge huge hill which is very hard to walk up. The
food and live music are at the bottom of the hill and it will be very
crowded and there isn't much space to really sit anywhere. However,
after you get the food you want, you can take a shuttle bus up to the
top of the hill to a place called the Coal Bucket Saloon where they
have drinks (I'm assuming both alcahol and non-alcahol) and there is
more room to sit. So, unfortunately, as you can see this is not just a
little thing where you can just walk around everywhere...I guess you
have to get your food, then take the bus to the top of the hill.
However, from what I've been told the food is very good...they have
funnel cake, turkey legs, and this pork barbeque where you can get
three different types of barbeque sauce on it...and who knows what
else...that's just like two items of many.

Also, I don't know if this is at the top or the bottom of the hill,
but they have a stage for the live music, several motor cycle shows,
tents where sponsors for the festival are set up, a kids corner, a
vendor mall (I'm assuming sort of like the exhibit hall) where they
will be selling motor cycle stuff, as well as Mountain Fest T-shirts
and merchandise. I don't know where all the food vendors are but I
know that there are several...all I know is the food is at the bottom
of the hill and the Coal Bucket Saloon which has places to sit is at
the top and you have to take a shuttle bus to get up to it.

Should I just walk around and ask every person I hear for
assistance/to point me in the right direction?

The festival does have a website with contact info and Milan Park has
a phone number...should I call ahead? If so, what should I tell them?
Is it possible/proper for someone to assist me to get food and tell me
what all the food vendors are and help me to the Coal Bucket Saloon to
a seat? Then, I figure if I want more food or to go back down to the
bottom of the hill I can figure it out or ask.

I know there will be many people around...but I know many of them will
be drinking.

It will also be very loud.

Are people at festivals usually nice? What about bikers?

If I can not find anybody to go with, should I just not go? I know not
going would be easier, but I have missed out on a couple of events
that have gone on here in the past couple of months because of just
not going.

Is anyone on the list from Morgantown, W.VA or familiar with it,
Mountain Fest, or Milan Park?

I'd really like to go to this...even just for a couple of hours.


Thanks for all info/help you can give!
Kerri