WordCamp US kicks off in Nashville this week. Here are some updates regarding our venue and ways to make your trip easier and more enjoyable.
Early Badge Pick-up
If you are in town early, and you would like to pick up your badge on Thursday, November 30, we will have a table set up in the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel located at 611 Commerce Street from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Registration and Badge Pick-up
Once you arrive at Music City Center on December 1 or 2, come to the registration desk in the main lobby near the 5th Avenue South and Demonbreun Street entrance.
We’ll give you your attendee badge and lanyard. From there, we recommend checking out our hallway track area (see it described below) to grab some coffee, check out our sponsors, and then be in any one of our three speaker rooms for opening remarks at 9:00 am.
Our free t-shirts and swag items (1 per attendee) will be available in the Hallway Track starting in the late morning. We’ll Tweet out the exact time when we are all set up.
If you need to be in touch with us during the event the best place to do this is via Slack or Twitter. You can use the contact form, but we will not be checking this as regularly.
Volunteers wearing bright blue shirts can help direct you to the correct person on site for any matters of urgency or emergency. Organizers will all be wearing rainbow colored lanyards. Our Code of Conduct is in effect at all WCUS events.
NOTE: All badges must be picked up before lunch on Saturday, December 2. Badges will be available for sale at Music City Center for last minute attendees. No one can attend the After-Party unless they have a badge, please plan accordingly.
Music City Center: Venue for Sessions and Contributor Day
Music City Center is a large convention center, and we are only using part of it for our amazing schedule of speakers and events.
We recommend that you enter at the corner of 5th Avenue South and Demonbreun Street.
If you need to park there are a variety of local options in the area. The closest facility is located directly across the street on the corner of 6th Avenue South and Demonbreun Street with P2 being the most convenient section.
Additionally, Spot Hero has offered WCUS attendees the following deal at other parking facilities within walking distance at excellent rates. One (pending it filling up) is across the street from the official hotel, the Renaissance. Visit the WordCamp US SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up. They also have a coupon code if you are a first time user on their mobile app. Enter code WORDCAMP for $5 off your first spot.
The Hallway Track
Aside from having our regularly scheduled speaker sessions, there is also what is commonly known as “The Hallway Track.” We even did a GoWCUS episode where we talked about it.
The Hallway track consists of the following:
- Gutenberg Usability Testing Booth: User feedback on Gutenberg
- Happiness Lounge: Need help with something WordPress? We can assist.
- Get Involved Table: Learn how to contribute to WordPress.
- Swag Area: Items both free and for purchase
- Coffee, Water, and Snacks
- Job Board: Postings for those seeking and offering employment
- Sponsor Area: Printer’s Alley, Union, Broadway Sponsors there all day
- Sponsor Bazaar: Jefferson Sponsors 8:00am -10:00am and 1:30pm – 3:30pm
- Shared Swag Table: Info from Charlotte Sponsors along with others
- Community Bazaar: Highlighting Communities from the Americas and Asia 8:00 am -10:00 am and 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
The Layout of WCUS
We will be on several floors of Music City Center. All are fully accessible. There will be lots of signage and volunteers to help you to get where you want to go.
Floor 1:
- Registration (where you grab your badge and sign in)
- Speaker Session Rooms: Banjo, Fiddle, and Guitar
- Lost and Found
Mezzanine Floor
- Swag (where you grab your free WCUS t-shirt and other free swag)
- Happiness Lounge
- WordPress Get Involved Table
- Coffee and Snacks
- Community Bazaar
- Sponsors
- Job Board
- Nursing Room
- Quiet Area
- Gutenberg Usability Testing Booth
Floor 3
- Lunch: Hot lunch each day, and live jazz band entertainment
Floor 4
- State of the Word: Plenty of seating for all attendees to hear WordPress co-founder, Matt Mullenweg, speak on Saturday afternoon. In the State of the Word, Matt will share his thoughts on where WordPress has been, where it’s going. He will also take questions from the audience.
After-Party
Our after-party will take place at Adventure Science Center located at 800 Fort Negley Blvd. Nashville, TN 37203 from 8:00 pm -11:00 pm on December 2. We will have beverages, light hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. We advise attendees to eat dinner first.
No one can attend the After-Party unless they have a badge. All badges must be picked up/purchased by lunchtime on Saturday, December 2 at the Music City Center. Please plan accordingly.
Contributor Day is December 3
On Contributor Day, you can help give back to the WordPress Open Source project. Newcomers are welcome. You don’t have to know how to code to participate. Swing by the “Get Involved” community table in the hallway track on Friday or Saturday to find out more about all the ways you can participate.
What to Do in Nashville: Food, Attractions, and More
Our GoWCUS Google Hangout has covered what to expect in Nashville. Short episodes that are 15-20 minutes have talked about: food, drink, the hallway track, and more.
We also have a couple of posts that you might want to check out that feature the best that Nashville has to offer.
Traffic, Parades, and Road Closures
I-24 closure throughout the weekend:
If you are driving in from outside the city center, you will likely need to add 15-20 minutes to your drive time. There will be detours, but Nashville is a small city with a circle around the center. All detours will still be very easy.
http://www.tn.gov/tdot/article/interstate-24-bridge-rehabilitation-timeline
Christmas Parade Saturday, December 2. Affecting those walking and driving in.
Nashville’s annual Christmas Parade will pass directly in front of the convention center. Please secure reserved parking ahead of time if you are driving in, and plan extra travel time due to crowds.
Pedestrian advisory December 2 from parade organizers:
- At 8:45 am – foot traffic across Broadway must cross at 8th Avenue South or higher
- Foot traffic will not be allowed across the parade area until after the parade is over
- Please leave extra time coming from area hotels due to crowds attending the Christmas parade and street closures as listed above
Sunday December 3: Football game
If you are coming to Contributor Day we advise to you leave extra time if you are driving in from outside the city center, and to reserve parking. The Titans have a football game starting at noon and the incoming traffic is legendary.
Slack: #WCUS Channel
Twitter: @WordCampUS
Instagram: @wordcampus
Facebook: WordCampUSA 
