tee hee

LIB is in a great area, with big shady trees, water spigots at regular intervals, and electricity throughout the campground (but bring a power strip and extension cord if you want it, because the people who come in early pretty much stake it out early so you'll need a way to share it with them and let them keep their blinky lights and night art pieces lighted.) The shower is like a big open room-downside is that there is no privacy, but the upside is that there isn't a long line to wait in to take a shower.

Last year they had it around Mother's Day, and the temperature was PERFECT, probably in the mid-70's during the day (a little chilly at night, maybe down into the low 50's,so bring a coat and a good sleeping bag). This year I imagine it will be up to 10 degrees hotter during the day because it gets pretty hot out in that valley in the summer (and summer is that much closer), but don't forget your jacket or coat for night because once the sun goes down it cools off quickly.

There are 3 stages spread throughout the campground-the main one is up on a hill above the camping spots and surrounded by vendors (who serve good food and beverages if you don't mind paying the premium for them all weekend). The main stage is a real raised stage with curtains and everthing, and last year they had a performance stage set up close to it for Cirque Berserk and other acrobatic acts. The other 2 stages are smaller and more intimate-last year one was in a covered dome in a clearing and another was open field, but had a big above-ground swimming pool at he back of the dance floor to cool off in.

The venue is small-ish, which turns out to be nice because you can walk to wherever you want to go within 5 minutes. Wear comfortable walking shoes or boots, though, because the roads have a lot of soft dirt and gopher holes on them and you would be constantly twisting your ankle if you tried to walk around in high heels. Last year they had some awesome workshops and I hear they have a great line-up again this year.

It isn't too loud at night, so even if you are a light sleeper it won't be as hard to fall asleep as it is at Burning Man. I didn't need ear plugs, and even slept in till 10 before things heated up one morning last year.

The only downside I can see this year over last is that they want to bring in more people, so they are making you park about a mile away and bringing you into camp on a shuttle (so camping places won't be filled with parked cars). So leave the big pieces of art and Theme Camp Fun Stuff and extra camping stuff at home and just bring the bare minimum of what you need because you will have to carry it in and out. You can drive in an RV (for $75 extra) or car (for $50 extra) but on the site it says there are a limited number of spaces for them so don't count on it if you haven't already bought the pass. Try to leave the valuables you don't want to carry around with you home, as there really won't be enough lockers to store them in and your car is so far away......

I am in no way affiliated with the Lightning in a Bottle crew but I think it is a good time-and such a kinder, gentler camping experience than the Black Rock Desert, with these amazing creative Burner-type people thrown in! I am not coming out for the whole time this year (other things going on that weekend) but I live close and am going to at least come out on a day pass one day.