festgrrl: Bear Creek Festival: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

1. There’s a silent disco for late nights – everyone wears headphones at this all-night dance space, near Rees Lake in the campground, so as not to disturb sleeping campers or the park’s neighbors. It kicks off Friday night, when you’ll be dancing to the sounds of Skerik and Freekbass starting at 2 am.

2. Bear Creek has a special attribute that most other fests at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park lack: a stage in the campground on cypress-lined Rees Lake. This is great for a number of reasons, the first of which is that you can bring your own beverage to this stage. To get to all the other stages in the park, You have to go through a checkpoint and you are not allowed to bring in your own beverages, other than water.

The campground stage

3. The white sand Suwannee River beach is not to be missed. Be aware that the river is a long walk from the fest site -- grab a bike, a ride, or a golf cart. Sooooooo worth it.

Beach on the Suwannee River

4. Sunday night is awesome for those lucky enough to stay around for it. The musicians are loose and happy, the fest workers are loose and happy, there’s only two alternate stages running during the day (no decisions to make), then Dumpstaphunk and Lettuce (yes!!) close out the weekend in a funk frenzy. Plus, if your feet are all played out, you can chill in a hammock. The informal rule is you can use anybody's hammock until they get back.

Hammocks in the Ampitheater

5. There's a giant bat house! It is just beyond lake camping in the field. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out! Be aware, the people sitting closest to the bat house get sprayed with bat piss, so back off a bit. “Sprayed with bat piss” is a sentence I never expected to write. I also never expected to be sprayed with bat piss in my life, which is why I am warning you now. Back off a bit and enjoy the amazing bat show.

The bat house

6. The on-site Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park restaurant has a good breakfast buffet. They have nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife. You can also get liquor drinks and good food from the restaurant while watching shows in the Technaflora Music Hall Stage.

7. This year, there are free, handy Bear Creek phone apps with schedules, maps, and other info.

8. The bathhouse on the road that says “Special Persons Camping,” just past the Purple Hat Meadow Stage, usually has the most hot water in its showers.

9. It can get chilly at night in North Florida, so don’t skimp on sweaters and blankets. We have been known to call this festival Brrrrrrr Creek. Fleece and ample firewood are your best friends. Bring your funky warmies -- the costume theme for Saturday night is “Warm and Fuzzy.”