Dry Ice Information!

Where do you get it and how much does it cost? I figure I'm in for about $40 with normal ice for Lockn'. If dry ice isn't cheaper, I'm thinking it may not be worth the hassle.

You'd have to look in your area for it...but here's a national company (I have NOT used).

www.continentalcarbonic.com/faqs.html

You can also find an 'ice house' in your area - in most places.

I think it was around the $1 per lb per block ice.

We bought 30lbs I think...for a large 100qt or 12qt cooler.

The pre-frozen water bottles we put in were still half frozen on Sunday (we got the dry ice Wednesday AM.)

Maybe contact Berkey Creamery and ask where they get it...or if the manager would sell it to you.

One of the cool things (pun intended) ...there is NO WATER with dry ice. It evaporates.
So...no more wet crap in the cooler - unless it's from condensation.

Sam's Club has a portable ice maker. It makes 20 lbs in 24 hours.

I put my dry ice in a smallish soft side cooler and put it in a larger cooler. I've found this keeps you from damaging fruit, freezing your beers, etc. It'll last the full weekend. We even had fresh cool milk for breakfast cereal each morning. The soft sider I use has a flap on the top that you can open or close to help regulate temp.

I've gotten it my local Kroger too. But I don't remember seeing it in there recently

i get mine at kroger

some Kroger's have it
and you can make block ice at home.
the bigger the block the longer it lasts. Also if you have a lot of car space, pack and seal coolers for each day and don't peek!

put layers of newspaper on top of the cooler (inside)especially for the "swinger" top coolers that aren't insulated.
seal (tape) the coolers
Pack several small ones for different days, or all breakfast in one, drinks in another.
Freeze empty plastic bottles filled w/ water (or iced tea, lemonade) and put in the coolers, drink as they thaw.
pour your vodka or gin in a plastic bottle, "freeze" for 2 days, put in the cooler. Won't count against the 1 bottle rule!
Chill your coolers before packing. At least have them in the house for a day. I pack mine w/ frozen water bottles overnight, then repack for the trip and don't use those bottles.
Pack limes, lemons, condiments, hard cheese, in a seperate cooler than doesn't have to stay cold cold.

Always put the ice blocks on top.
Air is your enemy.
Start with everything already cold, even if transferring from a cooling cooler to a travel cooler(s). That includes condiments, mixers, etc.
Freeze your bacon, hot dogs, anything that will take it before packing.

I am looking forward to trying out dry ice, too.

Though I haven't been to a festival, I live a high-cooler lifestyle. Last count I had 19 of them. I also deal with hurricane packing and loss of power.
I believe that smaller tightly packed coolers are better than the big ones.

Our large cooler with 40lbs was perfect for 4 days at vibes.

Dry ice was in paper from the shop. Canned soda was cold when put in and left in the 12 pack container. It actually started to freeze and we rotated the cans.
We used thermal lunch bags fir the milk and such. Left it open and everything stays cool
Oh I layered some cardboard down first. Eggs and such on top of everything else.

And the water bottles were pre cooled with some iced.
Warm ones were put in around day to and rotated to the bottom.

OK come by for some brown liquor at my Casbah. I doubt I'll bring the single malts (pearls before swine and all that). Sipping Glen Morangie (sherry cask) as we "speak".

I have a home-made orange/ginger syrup that when stirred into bourbon or black rum* will set you free. I'll try to sneak some in along with my mint syrup for juleps (are sterling straws considered a weapon?)

Sadly my bitters are all in glass bottles. May have to bring in the Agnostura in a body cavity. Bitters and soda water is an old hang-over remedy from the Raj.

Vodka for bloodies. Gin for G&T to ward off the malaria--not too much, gin makes one mean.
ever try the Jack Rudy tonic? a half ounce w/ soda water to make your own tonic.

*Ron Virgin. Thick black full flavored at half the price of Gosling or Myers's.

but my beer is PBR. Tastes just as good hot as it does cold.

I think you said you were in Virginia--there's a relatively new Irish in the ABC stores called Clontarf. Same price point as Jamison/Bushmills. Very much like a Powers (another favorite until they jacked the price $5) and kinda in between the two on weight. Give it a try. I'd bring you some but as you can see from above I have smuggler's blues.

The local dry ice guy recommended 5 lbs. for our large cooler. That doesn't sound like enough from what people here are saying?? What do people here think?