This year city council allowed camping for Roots and Blues at Blackburn Park, next to the ball diamonds, as a trial run.
The field was in addition to those camping areas across 10th Avenue. In total about five groups ended up camping on the large field.
Roots and Blues staff explained the new field was kept mainly for volunteers who wished to camp.
Sam Hodge and Kolese Walker were two of the happy campers.
Next year will be Walker’s 10th year as a volunteer and Hodge’s sixth. They were happy with the spot, although when they were setting up, they eyed longingly the fenced-off area nearby that included a huge willow tree for potential shade.
Passersby Len Strobl and Anne McKinnon, who drove a 40-foot motorhome to the festival, made a suggestion regarding the new field.
“I think it would be better if they put all the tents in one area so they wouldn’t be fumed out by being next to a motorhome with a generator.”