I have a secret to let you in on and don't tell anyone. The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is the best music festival in the Country. This year will mark the 44th year that the greatest acoustic, roots and bluegrass musicians gather in this remarkable location to play great music. Led by the "King of Telluride", Sam Bush, who has played at every festival thus far, past bands have included Peter Rowan, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, Fauquier native Larry Keel, Tim O'Brien, Yonder Mountain String Band, Robert Plant, Mumford & Sons, Keller Williams, Greensky Bluegrass, The Infamous Stringdusters, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, David Byrne, Lyle Lovett, Del McCoury Band, Counting Crows, Bonnie Raitt, Allison Krauss, the list goes on and on and on. Often times after their sets, the musicians will gather at the merchandise tent to meet and greet folks, where else could you meet and talk music with the great Peter Rowan or Jerry Douglas?

Those who attend are known as Festivarians, and each morning they line up at the Town Park Field to get the best possible location for the day. There are rules and rituals. Bring a blue tarp and some folding chairs, set up your spot, and the Festivarian custom is that the spot is yours for the day. This means you can head back to town during the day and not risk losing that prime viewing location. The music goes for four days, with additional shows happening over the Ridge in the Mountain Village and at the tiny Elk's Park downtown. You never know who might show up to sit in at the Elk's Park performances, including heroes like Sam Bush and Chris Thile. Another tradition is the Telluride House Band, that includes Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and others. With lineups like this and the extraordinary setting of Telluride Town Park, the experience is one that you will never, ever forget.

We went a few years ago and are thinking of going back. Tickets are limited to about 10,000, and go on sale, online, on December 7. Buy them early and get the four-day pass! Lodging can be found in Town (recommended) or over the ridge at the Mountain Village. A gondola ride connects the two locations. You can learn more at www.bluegrass.com/telluride/.