Oregon Country Fair: Photos from a Counter-Culture Festival
The Oregon Country Fair is a three-day community gathering held annually near Eugene, Oregon, featuring food, crafts, entertainment, and a unique commune-style atmosphere. The festival, which began in 1969 as a celebration of the counter-culture movement, is a one-of-a-kind experience that should not be missed. The costumed crowd is as entertaining as the jugglers, musicians, mimes, and stilt-walkers that mingle with the fair goers. Angels, faeries, aliens, and hippies all add to the festive atmosphere. If you like your entertainment mainstream, are afraid of a little nudity, or disapprove of the occasional whiff of marijuana, then this fair is not for you.
12-foot tall three-headed aliens walk among the crowd.
A pair of angels smile for the camera.
Where else will you find flamingos and wolves walking hand-in-hand?
Walking, talking trees!
Artisans sell their wares.
Princesses and queens wait in line for body painting.
Body painting is popular at the fair. Many women forgo their tops and have their breasts painted.
Masks and horns are common among fair goers.
Beauty can be found everywhere.
A darling wood nymph flirts with the camera.
Children enjoy the costumes.
This dark raven was a little spooky!
The fair meanders through 280 wooded acres.
A friendly lady elf.
The entrance to the fair is lined with colorful flags
A winged cowgirl?
Where else will you see a bunch of grapes eating fruit?
The Green Tortoise offers adventure bus tours for socially conscious travelers.
Some exhibitors camp above their booths for the duration of the fair.
Pretty costumes dance in the breeze.
Signs are hand-made of natural materials.
A genie on a magic carpet.
Fair goers display their own style.
Even the outdoor toilets are customized to fit the atmosphere.
If you arrived without a costume, there are plenty to be found.
This dragon made of tree branches is much more impressive in person than in the photo.
A stork about to deliver.
The Solar Roller: solar-powered energy on wheels.
Comments
MissJamieD from Minnes-O-ta on February 13, 2013:
I'm from Minnesota but at one point my ex and three kids and I packed up and moved from here to Oregon:) We were only there 6 months because we missed our families too much but I wish I could go back there. It is such an amazingly beautiful state. And your hub has made this fair look so incredibly fun I just might visit there around the time it's going on so that I can enjoy it. I love the pics!! Thanks for sharing:)
PrettyPanther (author) from Oregon on August 22, 2010:
I am glad you liked it, D.A.L. Most of the photos were taken by my soon-to-be-hubby. He did a good job. Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment. :-)
Dave from Lancashire north west England on August 22, 2010:
Hi, so glad to have experienced this event through your excellent photographs which transports the reader right there.Excellent and enjoyable hub. Best wishes to you.
PrettyPanther (author) from Oregon on August 22, 2010:
Thanks, Marian. This fair is definitely a different experience.
MarianG on August 21, 2010:
This looks like so much fun!
PrettyPanther (author) from Oregon on August 18, 2010:
Thanks, carolina. It IS a cool festival!
carolina muscle from Charlotte, North Carolina on August 17, 2010:
what a cool festival, and you got some really good pics!!
PrettyPanther (author) from Oregon on August 17, 2010:
MyClone, it didn't have as much of a "hippie" feel as it did the last time I went, over 25 years ago. But in many ways, it was more counter-culture than it used to be. It's definitely different! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. :-)
myClone from The Land of Confusion on August 17, 2010:
Nice to see you went to the Oregon HippyFest 2010...err..."Oregon Country Fair". Great pics! :)
PrettyPanther (author) from Oregon on August 16, 2010:
Hi lady love, I hope you have a chance to see it. There is nothing else like it.
lady_love158 on August 16, 2010:
Cool hub! I've got to see this for myself one day.
