Oregon Country Fair
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The Oregon Country Fair is a fair that takes place on the second weekend in July every year in Veneta, Oregon, 15 miles (24 km) west of Eugene, for three days, with about 40,000 to 45,000 ticket holders participating. Based on information on Oregon population [1], for those three days, the fairground becomes the 15th largest city in Oregon. It has its own water and communications systems, recycling service, emergency medical team, and security force. The Country Fair began as a barter and craft fair in 1969 as a fund raiser for an alternative school.
The Fair is generally considered a family event. No alcohol is allowed and smoking is limited to designated areas. Activities for children include face painting, puppet shows, fairy wings, and music. Everything from utilikilts to little more than dried mud is worn. Women with bare breasts, often colorfully painted, are a common sight.
The Fair itself is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by an elected Board of Directors with six full time year round employees and thousands of volunteers. It is an example of how 'alternative' values such as cooperation, artistic creativity, naturalism, environmental awareness, localism, and concern for the welfare of the world can be successfully integrated. All crafts sold must be hand made, and there is no processed food available from food vendors. Recycling is taken very seriously. All food utensils and materials must be compostable, recyclable, or reusable. For example, plastic utensils have been completely phased out in favor of reusable metal utensils. The natural and archaeological integrity of the 11,000 year old meeting site is carefully preserved.
The Oregon Country Fair has over a dozen stages and venues featuring acts throughout the day. Musical acts incorporate many styles, including folk, rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, latin rhythms, spoken word, and others. Despite the name of the Fair, straightforward country music is not very common. Fair goers can bring hand drums 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 a popular place for jugglers and daredevil acts, with free juggling lessons offered daily in the meadow. The fair is also a gathering place for marching bands, stiltwalkers, and travelling entertainers.
Ticket holders are able to purchase entry for daytime only. Most booth staff and volunteers camp on site overnight. The Midnight Show on Saturday night brings together the best acts from around the fair for the enjoyment of those who work during the day.
