Oregon Country Fair

Ever summer since I moved to Portland from the Midwest, I’ve vowed to go down to Eugene for the Oregon Country Fair but for one reason or another have never made it happen. Lured by tales of naked hippies, fire jugglers and magical drugged-out anarchists, the Fair has reached such mythic status in my imagination that the real thing would certainly pale in comparison. Or would it?

The Oregon Country Fair takes place in a wooded setting 13 miles west of Eugene near Veneta, Oregon. This year’s Fair dates are July 11-13, 2008. With crowds of nearly 50,000 over the three day period, the fair is one of Oregon’s largest gatherings of any sort, so large in fact that it has its own water and communications systems, recycling service, emergency medical team and security force. What began as a barter and craft fair in 1969 to raise funds for an alternative school has grown exponentially every year since then.

The Oregon Country Fair has over a dozen stages and venues. There are musical acts and performances of all kinds: folk, rock, latin rhythms, slam poetry/spoken word, marching band, jazz, blues, bluegrass and more. Bring your hand drum and join in the Drum Tower, a drum circle that begins on Thursday morning and continues 24 hours a day until the Fair closes. The Fair is also well known for its jugglers and daredevil acts and even offers free juggling lessons!

Maybe this will be the year I finally go.

Oregon Country Fair
July 11-13, 2008
www.oregoncountryfair.org