Q. WHERE IS DEVENS ANYWAY?
Devens, MA is a new “quasi-town” located on the campus of the former Fort Devens. It borders Harvard, Shirley, and Ayer and is easily accessed directly off of Route 2. Devens is a short drive from Nashua, Lowell, Worcester, Fitchburg and Leominster, and only 35 miles northwest of Boston.
Q. WHERE CAN I BUY ADVANCE TICKETS?
Tickets may be purchased for face value without any service fees at the Acton, MA Enterprise Bank branch located at 340 Great Rd. (Route 2A). Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 800.653.8000 or online at Ticketmaster.com/TheNinesFestival. Visit the ticket info page for complete info.
Q. DO I NEED TO BUY A TICKET FOR MY CHILD?
Kids under ten years of age will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
Q. WHAT DOES A “PATRON OF THE ARTS” TICKET MEAN? WHAT DO I GET?
The Nines Festival Patron of the Arts ticket is both your way of supporting the arts and having a great VIP experience at the same time. You get premier parking nearest the gate, fast lane entrance into the festival grounds and admission to the private Cloud 9 lounge and Magic Garden serving beer and wine. There are private, air-conditioned restrooms and a special viewing area with direct access to the front of the main stage as well.
Under the Cloud 9 tent you will be served complimentary hospitality throughout the afternoon and evening featuring BBQ, vegetarian tapas, Farm to Table inspired cuisine provided by the Bull Run restaurant and Italian delights provided by Lucia’s Tavola plus a variety of non-alcoholic beverages and juices, salty and sweet snacks and java breaks with Equal Exchange fair trade coffee and organic chocolates. And, of course, you will receive the official 2013 Nines Festival art poster. GET TICKETS NOW.
Q. CAN WE UPGRADE OUR TICKETS AT THE FESTIVAL TO PATRON OF THE ARTS (VIP)?
Yes, no problem. The cost is $60 per ticket and will allow you to enjoy all of the same VIP privileges described except for premier parking since presumably you will already have parked somewhere else! You will need to produce your GA (general admission ticket) and have it exchanged for a Patron of the Arts ticket when you arrive at the box office.
Q. WILL THERE BE TICKETS SOLD AT THE EVENT?
Yes. The Nines box office will open on August 10th at 11:00AM and will remain open throughout the day. Please note that if you plan to purchase your tickets on the day of the event, we strongly advise you to do so in cash to avoid potentially waiting in line for a long time.
Q. WHAT TIME CAN I PICK MY TICKETS UP AT WILL CALL?
The box office opens at 11:00AM and closes at 10:00PM.
Q. I ALREADY PURCHASED A GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET; CAN I UPGRADE IT TO A PATRON OF THE ARTS TICKET?
Yes, you may upgrade your GA ticket to Patron of the Arts (VIP) for $60 at the Nines box office throughout the day of the festival starting at 11:00AM.
Q. WILL THERE BE CAMPING AT THE NINES FESTIVAL?
Sorry, not this year. There are a wide variety of lodging options very close by including campgrounds, hotels and B&B’s. Visit the festival’s lodging page for more info.
Q. WHAT IS THERE TO DO AROUND DEVENS IF I DECIDE TO STAY OVER?
The area in and around Devens is both beautiful and historic and serves as the breadbasket of Massachsutts with dozens of farms and CSA’s. There is fishing, hiking, golf, disc golf, bike trails, swimming and much, much more. It’s quite amazing how much there is so close to Boston. Go here for several suggestions.
Q. WHERE IS THE NEAREST TRAIN STOP?
Due to the double tracking construction project, the MBTA commuter rail service to and from the Ayer station on Saturday will not be running. Weekend service on the MBTA’s Fitchburg commuter line runs from Boston to South Acton only. For the MBTA schedule go here.
Q. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS?
Take the Jackson Rd. exit off of Route 2 into Devens. Follow the signs for Willard Field and the Nines Festival. Please visit the festival’s directions page for more detailed info.
Q. BUT HOW WILL I GET THERE IF I DON’T HAVE CAR?
We’ve posted links to several ride sharing networks on the Directions page, some of which you can integrate with your Facebook account on install as a phone app. Check out the festival’s directions page for more detailed info.
Q. WILL I HAVE TO PAY TO PARK? WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE?
Parking is free in all authorized Nines lots. Lots open at 11:00AM. Parking closest to the festival grounds is limited, so we advise you to arrive early and please, please carpool. Arrive early to allow for possible traffic and security search at the entrance. And please try to carpool! (We know, we said it twice).
Q. IS THE NINES FESTIVAL SPECIAL NEEDS ACCESSIBLE?
Yes. Special needs parking is close to the main gate. Willard Field is level and grass covered. There will be handicap restroom facilities located around the festival grounds.
Q. CAN I BRING A BLANKET AND A LAWN CHAIR?
Yes. Low backed lawn chairs are fine, as are beach towels and beach blankets. We kindly request that chairs and blankets be set up behind the mix position at each stage.
Q. CAN I BRING IN A BACKPACK?
You may bring in a medium size or smaller backpack. A medium size backpack should be no bigger than 20” tall, 15” wide and 9” thick packed. Bags will have to fit in a box of that size similar to the system used at airports. If your bag doesn’t fit it won’t be able to go inside the festival grounds.
Q. WILL THERE BE LOCKERS AVAILABLE?
Sorry, no lockers will be available.
Q. CAN I BRING IN AN UMBRELLA TO BLOCK THE SUN?
Sorry, no umbrellas will be allowed, however there will be some tented shade space.
Q. WHAT ELSE CAN I BRING IN?
Factory sealed water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunblock, non-professional camera, walkie talkies, strollers (if it is for an infant or toddler).
For a complete list of what you can/cannot bring in, please go here.
I’M THINKING ABOUT BRINGING MY CHILDREN, WILL THERE BE ANYTHING FOR THEM TO DO BESIDES LISTEN TO THE MUSIC?
Sure! Todd Desautels, a professional face painter, will be doing free face and body painting for both adults and children. John Weidman, director of the Andres Institute of Art, a sculpture park open to the public in Brookline, NH, is bringing a rock splitting demonstration where children are invited to participate. There will be interactive mural painting during the festival coordinated by Groton’s NOA gallery. And, of course, there will be jugglers, dancers, and other “spectacle” performers roaming around throughout the afternoon and evening. Also, remember that it’s OK to bring in low back lawn chairs and blankets.
Q. WHAT KINDS OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE?
A variety of reasonably priced foods and beverages, featuring “farm to table” selections and including vegetarian options will be available throughout the day. There will be a 21+ beer garden serving a variety of beers and wines, no hard alcohol. You must, of course, present a valid ID to be admitted to the beer garden.
Q. WILL WATER BE AVAILABLE? HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Yes, water will be available for $2.
Q. WILL THERE BE AN ATM ON THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS?
Yes.
Q. WHAT ABOUT BRINGING IN MY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION?
You should identify yourself to security as you enter the festival grounds. Security will bring you to medical folks located nearby if you need assistance, including help storing such things as insulin and providing a secure area for diabetics. All medical prescriptions and accompanying names on those containers will need to match the person’s proper ID.
Q. CAN I RECORD THE FESTIVAL?
Audio and videotaping are prohibited. Photography is permitted with non-professional equipment. Generally, a professional camera is one with a detachable lense.
Q. WILL THERE BE A FIRST AID STATION?
Yes. It will be located near the main entrance gate.
Q. IS RE-ENTRY PERMITTED?
Sorry, no re-entry is allowed except in an emergency. This is for liability and safety reasons.
Q. WHAT TIME DOES THE FESTIVAL END?
11:00PM
Q. WILL THERE BE A LOST & FOUND?
Yes. There will be a combination info and lost and found service located near the main entrance at the 3Rivers Arts tent, next to the merch tent.
Q. IS THERE A 24 HOUR GAS STATION NEARBY?
Yes. The Mobil station on Main St. in the center of Ayer is located one mile from the festival grounds.
Q. HEY, WHY DID YOU NAME THE FESTIVAL THE “NINES”?
Great question. We were listening to that Beatle’s song and the CD got stuck and we just couldn’t get that number out of our heads…no, that’s not it. When you are going out on the town for a really special good time, you get “dressed to the nines”. That’s how it started. Then we named the Patron of the Arts (VIP) tent “Cloud 9”. And named the stages “Nine ‘O Diamonds” and “Lucky Cat”. Maybe you already know the comedy tent is named “Stich” because we hope you’ll laugh so hard you’ll be in stitches…while a stitch in time saves…you guessed it. The art installation and gallery area is called the Muse Garden after the nine muses in Greek mythology. And there’s more as you’ll find out at the festival. Not to mention all the musical references…
Q. OK, SO HOW MANY SONGS FEATURE THE NUMBER NINE?
A lot more than 9. More than 19 even. But probably not one after 909.
- No illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia
- No large backpacks or camelbacks
- No professional cameras
- No alcoholic beverages (21+ beer gardens will offer a selection of beer & wine)
- No glass, cans or outside food and beverages (a selection of foods and beverages will be available for purchase inside the festival grounds)
- No Fireworks
- No weapons of any kind
- No laser pens or similar focused light devices
- No unlicensed vending
- No audio/video recording
- No professional cameras
- No bicycles, skateboards, or anything that would propel a person faster than a normal walking pace
- No pets, except service animals
- No high back chairs or umbrellas or anything that might block another patron’s view
- No re-entry
- All ages welcome (under 10 free)
- A factory sealed water bottle
- Non-professional cameras
- Low Back Chairs
- Beach Towels & Blankets
- Fanny packs, pocketbooks, small bags (all subject to inspection upon entry)
- Sun block
- Smiles
- Hats
- Sunglasses
- Prescription medications