Question 1

How ADA Accessible is Country Calling?

Ann · Accepted Answer

Public Transportation

Public Transportation is available on both the Ocean City’s Beach Bus that travels north and southbound along Coastal Highway and the West Ocean City Shuttle to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride. All Ocean City municipal buses are accessible.

Parking If you are driving from outside of Ocean City, parking options are available at the West Ocean City Park and Ride and at both the Ocean City Convention Center Parking Lot and the 100th Street Municipal Parking Lot. There will be Public Transportation available to and from the festival from these locations. Accessible parking is available at all municipal parking lots for patrons who have Placards. Be advised there are no parking options for the festival from N. Division Street south to the inlet. Addresses for the lots listed above are as follows: West Ocean City Park and Ride 12848 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842 Ocean City Convention Center Parking Lot 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 100th Street Municipal Parking Lot 10267 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 Accessible pick-up/drop-off The Accessible drop off and pick up point is available at 1 N. Division St (east of Baltimore Ave.). Accessible Festival Entrance There are two entrances at the festival. One located at the intersection of the Boardwalk and Talbor Street and the other located at the intersection of Boardwalk and S Division Street (next to Dumser’s Dairyland). There are specially designated lanes at each Festival entrance for patrons with disabilities. Look for the accessible signs above the entrance lanes or ask a staff member to direct you to the lanes. Accessibility Services Center The Access Center will be located at the main Guest Services & Information tent located just inside the festival entrance located off of the main Boardwalk and South Division Street. Our Access Center services include, but are not limited to:

Answers to questions specific to the Accessibility Program
Information relevant to our patrons with disabilities
Requests for accessibility wristbands
Power outlets for recharging powered mobility devices
Programming information in large print.
Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs) available upon request

Wristbands and Accessible Viewing Areas Country Calling works to make sure that all festival fans have an enjoyable experience. All Festival attendees must have an event ticket for admission into the Festival, and purchasing a separate accessible ticket is not necessary. Upon arrival, please visit the Accessibility services Center for information on the accessibility wristband program. Patrons can request an accessibility wristband at the Access Center. This wristband is to show Festival staff that the patron plus one companion is eligible to enter the accessible viewing areas for patrons with mobility needs or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing areas. The accessibility wristband is non-transferable and is good for the entirety of the show. Note: The wristband does not guarantee a spot in these areas. Please note that both viewing areas have a limited capacity and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot save or reserve seats or areas on the platform. Once it’s determined that an accessible viewing area is filled to capacity (including adequate aisle space for entering and exiting the area), the area will not be available for additional entry. Signage will be placed at the Festival identifying all viewing areas including accessible viewing areas for patrons with mobility needs as well as a designated area for patrons who are Deaf / Hard of Hearing. Accessible viewing areas are marked with the International Symbol of Access on the Festival Map. To see the designated accessible viewing locations, please visit the Accessibility services center for a map of the festival grounds, visit the map on the official Festival website. Viewing Area Wristband Policies

Accessibility wristbands to access Accessible seated viewing platforms and/or Deaf / Hard of Hearing viewing areas are good for the whole weekend.
Do NOT remove your wristband for the entire duration of the event. If your accessibility program wristband is damaged or removed, it can be replaced at the Access Center, but you must bring the old wristband to the accessibility services center.
One companion will be admitted with each guest with an accessible viewing area wristband.
If a guest wants to switch their companion, please notify a guest services representative.
All festival attendees must have an event ticket for admission into the Festival.

Patrons with Mobility Limitations The Festival is wheelchair accessible but is a large venue with great distances between activities and attractions. It is outdoors and across city streets and pathways. Some travel is over natural terrain and terrain designed for motor vehicles. If it should rain, there could be mud. The Festival does not provide personal care, golf cart rides, or push service of any kind or wheelchairs for rent or loan. Wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and three or four-wheeled scooters are allowed only for use by patrons with mobility disabilities. For safety reasons, requests to use other power-driven mobility devices will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Powered wheelchairs may also be charged at the Access Center. Patrons should bring all cords and accessories needed to charge their devices. Chargers must use a 110-volt, 20-amp circuit. Accessible portable toilets are available at the ends of each bank of portable toilets throughout the Festival venue. American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreted Performances

The Festival provides many American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted music performances for patrons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Please email access@countrycallingfestival.comto request a specific performance be interpreted.

We ask that you make a request no later than September 4th, 2024 to allow adequate time to prepare. We will make every effort to accommodate, but cannot guarantee, requests not timely submitted.

A schedule of interpreted performances will be posted here.

Special Dietary Needs and Prescription Medicine

Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the Festival, but if a patron has special medical dietary restrictions, this can be allowed on a case by case basis, please Email access@countrycallingfestival.com for more information.

Patrons are allowed to bring their medically necessary materials and medications into the Festival, provided that all medicine has a prescription label with the patron’s name. Our personnel at the entry gates will verify the contents of any medically necessary materials. Out of concern for the festival staff who handle the trash, please dispose of your medical waste and syringes in the proper disposal, which is located at the medical tent. Please see the official Festival map for the location of the medical tent. Please do not dispose of these items in other trash bins at the Festival.

Service Animals

Pets are not allowed within the Festival grounds. However, miniature horses and dogs, which have been trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability, are welcome. If accompanied by a service animal, you will be provided a Patron Notice of Responsibility for a Service Animal or you can request the form in advance from access@countrycallingfestival.com. Please enter through the accessible lane at either entrance.