OCF 2026

July 30, 2026 by

My 2026 Oregon Country Fair review!

For previous years, go here.

Puddle of Fire: Booth 650 – photo and artwork by Dennis Sheppard: puddleoffire.net

OK, let’s get going!

Part one. I’ve been having a difficult time figuring out what to say about this year’s Fair. It was probably something like my 20th or 25th Fair. Most of the time when I go to the Fair, I’m on the inside either with a crew or a craft booth, but this year I was a significant other for an elder, and I drifted around the Fair like a bee pollinating and cross-pollinating and mentoring and being mentored, eating fruit; hearing lovely music and enjoying quick reunions with friends. I think I’ve reached the point with the Oregon Country Fair that I reached with Burning Man about 10 years ago, where Fair for me is not filled with a lot of new things but rather with the digestion of previous lessons learned and passing along knowledge and wisdom and stories amongst the people who I meet and the people who have met before.

For the last 10 years or so, I have tended to visit the Ritz every day (usually in the morning) and soak and sauna with friends and luxuriate in the beauty and the magic. This year I noticed that I wasn’t going there as frequently. Part of this has to do with my 2-year-long hope to electrify the Ritz. After having learned what I have in the last couple of years about wood smoke and its danger to our health, I’ve been on a mission to talk to everybody I come across who has any knowledge about electrification or who is involved in putting the Ritz together and trying to figure out if there’s a way that we can electrify the Ritz versus burning wood.

I got a mixed reaction this year to the question I kept raising, with some really wanting the tradition of burning wood to continue and others agreeing with me that electrifying the Ritz would be a way for us all to breathe in a lot less wood smoke. I believe it’s a healthier option, and I’ll keep raising the issue with those who will listen. Also, I noticed this year that I spent a lot less time at the main stage listening to the big acts, as it was hard to see and hear the music from great distances. Also, this year felt like the most crowded year I’ve ever attended the Fair. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday had crowds bigger than I have ever seen before.

I had a desire to see more Vaudeville this year, and I did see a couple of acts. Still, mostly I spent the fair talking to people in Community Village and Energy Park, where I found the most interactivity around the issues that I work on, such as clean air, clean water, and societal change.

I also spent a lot of time meandering around the outer Fair, visiting friends who live in camps outside the fair during the fair, where all the people who work in the various craft booths and on various crews live during the days of the fair. I arrived at the fair this year on a Wednesday and left on Monday.

Photo by Kerry O’Connor

Much music was played by me! I played on the paths, in a few booths, and at the Ritz. Mostly guitar – but I don’t own a piano (some day!) so any chance I get to play I jump at! Oh yeah, and I led a couple songs in the Circular sauna! I had an idea this year to print up some lyrics and laminate them and bring them into the Ritz, but I never got around to it.

In recent years, the nighttime music has been loud and amplified and goes on until the wee hours. On Saturday night going into Sunday, there is an event that starts at about 4:00 in the morning that happens near where I am camped in the Miss Piggy lot that has incredibly loud amplified techno music along with thousands of people blowing bubbles and frolicking in a nearby parking lot. Somehow I was able to sleep through this a little bit better than previous years, but still at about 6:30 in the morning I realized it was better to join than fight, and I walked through the crowd on my way to the Ritz to have a morning shower and sauna.

Part 2. One of the things I love to do at FAIR is pick up various stickers and business cards and things which helped me remember some of the joys that I had while I was there. Sometimes this also leads to helping out various parts of the fair down the road. I should also mention that I put out newsletters on a variety of topics. If you’re interested in learning more, click here. You can check out anytime you like, and you can also leave. 🙂

Here, in no particular order, are the things that I picked up, and I’ll say a little bit about those that need some description.

  • Seems like a lot of work right now; see what you can do with this picture below, but 1st, this Year’s 50th Anniversary Ritz Coin!
  • I think more importantly, I’m going to share with you some of the notes that I took during the weekend. If you have any questions about the picture above or want any of these items mailed to you feel free to reach out to me – Albert@Albertideation.com

On Thursday, I had an incredible conversation with Barbara from Eugene who reads tarot @ The Mothership. One of the concepts that we discussed was coiling. Gathering energy. We also discussed the issue of having big problems to solve and how to approach them.

On Friday morning, I got lucky enough to hear Sharanam singing and talking and playing at Chez Rays. One of my favorite parts of the Beloved Festival was hearing Sharanam offering his music and insights every morning.

Recently I got to participate in an electrification fair in Portland, Oregon. The woman who was talking about gas stoves mentioned that anytime you use one, you should use the air vent above the stove and also use the back burners. I had an idea for an invention that would turn on the fan automatically anytime you’re using a gas burner.

Someone suggested I talk to Solar Johnny regarding electrifying the Ritz.

On Saturday, I had a fun conversation with my friend Susan about creating a setlist for your funeral. We were enjoying time at Piano Lounge, which is one of the nicest places to hang out at the fair.

I heard someone sharing the Desiderata, a poem that my father had framed and placed above him in the divan that he would sit at at our family cabin. That was a nice moment! They also mentioned 2 books: Dust if you Must and Always Wear Sunscreen

I realized I am a roving me and thought about the song Spencer the Rover Contented.

I spent a lot of time playing chess with people young and old out in front of White Bird (The medical folks at Fair). I think I won 6, lost two, and drew one. I had a lot of fun talking to young people and their parents about chess and life. I also had one really memorable stretching session in the yoga flow zone on Saturday night with a couple of young people who have recently moved to Portland from Central California. They’re very worried about the future of our planet and their own futures, and we had a good long talk about life, the universe and everything. This took place in Xavanadu – Probably the area I spent the most time in overall. They are also responsible for the passports in the picture above.

I got some altered advice at Altered States: that at the end of each day, I should review what is good that I’ve done and that I remember I am a part of the Fair.

I talked for quite a long time to a fellow named Jer who’s a professor at Oregon University. He’s part of the media booth in Community Village and talked my ear off about various books and sociology. He suggested a book, Red, Green and Blue, and a book series by Kim Stanley Robinson. I also learned about infrasound noise pollution and Sue Burke, a science fiction author. I also took a workshop right nearby which talked about ecobiosis, Symbiotopia, and youtopia. And another book recommendation: The Ministry of the Future.
And Disclosure Day by Philip K Dick. Also Becky Chambers: A Psalm for the Wild.

One of the books that Jer mentioned that he was really excited about is called The Democratic Surround by Fred Turner.

Also in Community Village, I had a chiropractic session with Michael. He mentioned a couple of stretches I can do for my lower back as well. I then took a workshop in the back yurt of Community Village on housing, and one of the questions was why owning a home is the goal. Who does that benefit, and what is the end goal? The people leading this talk were from a small co-housing-like community in Eugene, OR, which is featured in the picture above.

I had the idea of using the Peach Pit (The printed Fair guide) (Above image map) as the basis for a game like OCF Battleship (or Pokémon Go). As you can see in this image, there are an X- and Y-axis which could be used to make points on a map. This is a free idea; feel free to run with it if you like.

Bandit on the Run. I only got to hear one of their songs, but I’m excited to learn about them.

So that’s some of my country fair this year. You may be able to tell from the tone of this article that I have been struggling with my time at the fair this year. I didn’t feel very plugged into the fair, and yet I’m probably more connected than many people at the fair to lots of other people. I wore my name tag again this year and had a lot of fun connecting with people who know me and new people. I highly recommend giving this a try if you walk the 8.

This is what you get when you go to festivals for 20 years in the Pacific Northwest – lots of connections and history with the people who put these events on. I am so reverent and over the moon for everyone who puts this event together each year. It is a labor of love and takes thousands and thousands of volunteer hours. Every little piece of magic is something that somebody thought up, and there are always new things along the path to titillate and excite young and old. If you’ve never been to Oregon Country Fair, I highly recommend going and seeing what happens in the woods near Veneta, OR.

I’ll leave it there for now, and I’ll probably add in some more thoughts and pics as I go along because I’ve had a lot of thoughts about this year’s fair. Down below, you can see some of my feedback on the fair and how you can submit feedback if you have any. Also, the music this year from the mainstage is captured very well by the production team in three long YouTube videos. Enjoy the music, and I’ll see you on the 8.

Albert

And thanks to my campmates for putting up with me!

Here’s my feedback to the fair right when I returned.

2026 OCF Feedback Form: 

Feedback 1:
Hi there, thanks for asking. I think one of my highest interests is seeing the Ritz electrified. I’ve come away from the weekend with a very sore throat. That is often from singing, but wood smoke is just not really our friend, and we should be doing everything in our power to transition the Ritz from a wood-fired entity to an electrified one. I’ve been doing some research on this, and I will write up an article with my findings. But I would really like it if someone more closely associated with the Ritz would encourage this discussion internally.

Feedback 2:
I love the additional seating this year – thank you for that.

Feedback 3:
I love the additional living flowers this year

Feedback 4:

It would be great if there were a way to turn the noise down at night a little bit. I understand that people want to rock and roll into the night, but having really loud music in some of the camping areas until 2 or 3 in the morning makes it hard for people who have to work the next day. This includes the big bubble stay-up-all-night thing that happens out by the registration booth on Saturday night into Sunday morning. That really needs volume control.

Feedback 5:
I loved all the additional spritzers that were around the fair.

Feedback 6:
I thought it was great that you tried to add more shade around the mainstage area, but instead of using whatever that fabric was that was over the tents, it really would make more sense to use something like aluminet or maybe the same fabric that is used by the people who put up the tents all around the fair (Intents), which really provide complete shade. That orange and red shade cloth didn’t really do as much as it could have to protect people.

Feedback 7:
The Vancouver Folk Festival has had a system for years where they have returnable plates that are handed out by every food vendor. This cuts down on the amount of waste tremendously. I can say more about this one if you want, or someone could just look into what the Vancouver Folk Festival is doing. But more and more food vendors are moving to systems that don’t include trash. What they do in Vancouver is that young people staff these booths that take your deposit and give it back to you. The Beloved Festival did that for years. Also, what’s nice is that you can buy one of the bowls that you eat from all weekend long, and each time you turn in the bowl, you can either get a token back for another bowl, or you can keep the bowl and take it home with you as a souvenir. This is also a way to raise revenue and maybe to help pay for the program. (A place to wash the bowls is needed)

Feedback 8:
I love that there seem to be fewer Gators moving through the fair during the day this year. I also appreciate any time you switch from gas-powered to electric-powered vehicles at the fair.

Feedback 9:
I think it would make sense to have an annual education program for people driving vehicles at the fair, especially gas-powered ones, reminding them that they need to be turned off when they’re not in use. I saw many trucks that were just sitting around idling for long periods of time when people weren’t going anywhere. This is a waste of gas ($) and also just increases the amount of pollution in the small area where there are thousands of people.

Feedback 10+:
I thought the fair really had some nice improvements this year, and I really appreciate how much effort it takes to put this on every year. I am very reverent towards everyone who is involved, and I mean this feedback with the best intentions and an open heart. I’m happy to talk to anyone about any of these things, and I appreciate you for listening.

Take care, fare thee well, Albert

Feedback 11 (There needs to be an 11th field on this spreadsheet.)

12. Maybe one thing we could do is get some purple air quality monitors out onto the site and measure the air quality before, during, and after the fair.

Music to unpack by!

OCF Mainstage 2026! Thanks, Production team & musicians & stage people! and MC’s! and Audience! – This is all the music from the main and also stretches back to previous years

Did I really see this?

When someone else writes a great review this year. Hurrah! Thanks, Joshua Samuel Brown!!!

If you want to work in a food booth at Oregon Country Fair, click here to learn more.

If you want to apply to play music or vend at the fair, here is the application link.

Here is the biggest Facebook group having to do with the Fair. There are lots of other smaller Facebook groups that have to do with various aspects of the fair. If you’re curious about any of this, feel free to reach out to me.

Booth 350!

———————————-
7.31.26

[letters@eugeneweekly.com](mailto:letters@eugeneweekly.com)

To the editor, I want to do a shout-out for everyone involved in putting together the Oregon Country Fair. ​I​ had another​ Fair Fair this year, and I wrote a review of it, which is here. You’re welcome to use anything I wrote in your newspaper.

There really is no better place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together than the Oregon Country Fair. Especially young people. The environment that is created is welcoming, inclusive, thoughtful, respectful, beautiful, fantastic, and memorable. The music, food, grounds, and ambiance are all something that is a pleasure for everyone to enjoy. The fair is a huge volunteer effort and, of course, has its challenges as well.
But given the size and scope of the effort, I am happy that I attended again this year, and I have all the reverence in the world for everybody involved who puts this event on. I especially wanted to do a shout-out for all the neighbors in Veneta (and surrounding towns) who are inconvenienced by the traffic and number of people who come to visit their area. Thanks for having us, and I look forward to coming back next year.

With love and respect,

 

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OCF 2025 Things I Found Along the Path

July 20, 2025 by

OCF 2025 Resources

I dedicate this post to my friend James Island, who came down with Covid pre-Fair and couldn’t display and sell them in Xavanadu! Check out his fine lamps!

For my more writerly review of OCF 2025 – click here. I also encourage you to join my email list and keep up with what I do during the year. And, if you’re an OCF Vendor – hop on this list for a couple of marketing emails during the year that might help you with OCF!

Here are links to things I found at this year’s Fair – stickers, lighters, biz cards, and more. Enjoy! And, support the arts! In no particular order… 

  1. A lighter and stickers from Drive to Space – I heard this jam band at the Kesey stage on Sunday. I believe they’re based in Eugene. So so good!  “The group fuses their energy into a cohesive, mind-meld of sound – complete with tempo and key changes, odd meters, tight jams, and well-written, complex material interspersed with improvisation.” – yep! 
  2. Cheri A. Ellis – Booth X63, Xavanadu. My good friend Marcia Wiley introduced me to Cheri, who was vending for the first time this year. On the way in, Cheri (who was vending solo!) twisted her ankle. Her work is lovely – she’s out of Seattle – I checked in on her daily. She seemed to be having a blast.
  3. Daphne Singingtree – Author, Educator, Water Protector, Land Defender.
  4. As I learned about the danger of woodsmoke, I’m thinking out loud about how to electrify things like the Ritz. The Ritz goes through a lot of wood during the Fair, and that smoke permeates the event. In conversation, I learned about Peach Power, a group that is working to bring solar to the Fair. I hope to speak with them once I find out how, about the Ritz.
  5. Pew Pew Zap – Dorky Stuff for the modern adventurer!
  6. Oregon Warmline – 1-800-698-2392 – I think this is a line for people to call who need confidential help. Probably picked this up in Community Village. Sharon Bliss is the warmline manager – sharon.bliss@ccsemail.org
  7. Energy Trust of Oregon (talked to them about electrifying the Ritz & a bunch of other issues.
  8. Have Guitar Will Travel – Charly Price – 530-575-9480
  9. Robert Bolman, Artist. Wow! Here’s a piece of his.
  10. Cascadia Wildlands – We Like it Wild! ”

    We envision vast old-growth forests, rivers full of wild salmon, wolves howling in the backcountry, a stable climate, and vibrant communities sustained by the unique landscapes of the Cascadia Bioregion.

    Envision it with us. (ed. Great organization doing important work – and thanks for the Oreos you left out for passersby! Nom nom!)

  11. KLCC – One of the many radio stations that were representing all weekend. This is an Eugene-based station (I often catch it on the way into and out of Fair!). Speaking of community radio, my home station, KBOO, is playing the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival live right now – thank you!
  12. Seth Francis, Energy Engineer and Sustainability Consultant, ICR Engineering. More discussion about electrifying the Ritz. And E-bikes!
  13. Black Goat Provisions – by Works for Now Farm, Humboldt Co., California. Handmade Soaps, Natural Beauty Products, Sweets & Treats
  14. There was this fun booth (not sure if it was open during the day….) that had interesting dice or you could spin a dial, I think? My “Love poem with the apocalypse” ended up being: We began fated flame time discord!
  15. OCF Tent Tag 08057 – this is fun (if you’d like it, contact me!)  Ground score post Fair
  16. Jameeshka – A musical maelstrom of modest magnificence! Music – performance – curation – workshops – multimedia – Side 2 – Ishka Lha – lovely artwork – worth a visit!
  17. Releaf Foundation – my friend, Jeff Eichen, out of Port Townsend – Jeff does so much good work in the world – it’s hard to keep track. Pics from OCF 2025.
  18. I picked up some info from Oregonwalkbike.org about Oregon’s new law for people on bicycles – Stop as Yield – Keep in Motion, Go with Caution!
  19. Micah Ofstedahl, Altered realism, acrylic paintings. Neat Stuff!
  20. Kelsie Diana Hubik, Sound Therapist – NadaBrahma Sound Healing – this woman had an incredible collection of Tibetan Singing Bowls. She’s located in Menicino, CA. Kelsie did a residency with Rainer Michaells, PhD – in Sandpoint, ID – heavenofsound.com
  21. Got OCF Feedback? Click here or via this address: 442 Lawrence Street, Eugene, OR 97401
  22. Support Psychedelic Science – Maps.org – Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
  23. Nick Lorenz, SEM Coach, Production Efficiency – Energy 350 – longtime friend – knows solar! Working with Energy Trust of Oregon!
  24. Conscious Growth Convergence – October 2-5 @ Lost Valley Education Center, Dexter, Oregon (I heard great things about last year’s gathering from friends – who’s going?
  25. The Center for Rural Livelihoods – Regenerating Landscapes & Remaking Society (found this booth in Energy Park).  (used to be Aprovecha)
  26. Honorable mentions to all the great food booths I got to experience this year – Chez Ray’s! (salmon burger); Vegan Truck Stop; Phoenix Rising (yummy breakfast); Pierogies at the top of the 8; and Salmon on a Stick, folks – you were amazing! And so much more (most of my Fair $ goes to food and drink!) – oh yeah, Hemp House – a delicious hemp/strawberry shake!

Playing for the kids @ Wally’s Way stage – photo by Lloyd

Thanks for a great Fair!  Yeah!

 

 

 

 

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OCF 2025

July 17, 2025 by

Oregon Country Fair 2025 – a Review

Hey there, I’m back from another Oregon Country Fair (OCF). My head is still a little scrambled, and it’s been 3 days since my return from the fields and forests of Veneta, Oregon. This year was another hot one – daytime temps were in the high 80s, and then for the 3 days of the Fair, temps climbed into the 90s. This ends up having an effect on Fairgoers and those who volunteer for the Fair. Right before this year’s OCF a new documentary about the event came out. It’s about an hour long and does a great job of showing off various aspects of the Fair. Enjoy.

About those volunteers, there are thousands of them. That’s something notable about this event that’s different than anything I’ve attended before. The amount of people and people-hours that are poured into this event is quite incredible and makes for a giant family of people who work together to create Fair Magic. Most events have a ratio of volunteers (or paid staff) of about 10 or 20 attendees for every ticketed customer. In the OCF case, it’s much closer to 1 to 3 – a very low ratio (if you know the exact figure on this, please let me know). I volunteered as a musician this year, playing for kids at Sesame Street and Wally’s Way stages.

This episode brought to you by the inexpensive construction headphones I schlep everywhere to help me sleep during loud music and other noise at festivals like this one. And while I’m here, these headphones are part of a 11 life tips series that you can sign up for here. For some great background music while reading this – try out Fair TV – which is streaming the shows from the main stage as I type this – 7.17.25.

So, besides the great food, wonderful music, interesting spoken word, an incredible 1st annual Friday night burlesque show (go in 2026!), and interesting crafts, there are things that are not obvious. Oh yeah, the costumes, people on stilts, marching bands, cute kids, and all sorts of serendipity – there are a few things I want to talk about that are not obvious unless you’ve been coming a while.

Networking.

I am lucky to get to Fair a few days before the official event begins. This meant the Wednesday before Fair for me this year. This led to wandering the 8 and connecting with many craft vendors and other volunteers before the event opens. Some of these relationships have been going on for years. I see you booth L12, Wileyware! As someone who helps small businesses with email marketing, my conversations are sometimes about how to help the crafters market their wares – both at the Fair and beyond.

Wileyware

Wileyware

I got into a conversation with Skeeter Duke, who’s been coming to the Fair since close to the beginning. He talked to me about the intention of the Fair at the start was for people to come together and network. Figure out how to create a new society together. How to take the ideals that were being discussed in the late 60s and spread them through the community and work, and build together. I’m going to keep learning about this intention (there were newsletters back then, and many elders from the time still carry on this effort today). There’s so much to say about this. And I think this part of the Fair is a little obscured by the pageantry part.

 

For example, the Fair features 2 big areas devoted to organizations doing interesting environmental activist work that create all sorts of opportunities for education, but also networking. These are Energy Park and Community Village. I think most people and the booths themselves are missing a big opportunity that I hope to elevate here. We tend to approach the booths at Fairs as consumers – these people behind the table or wall have something to offer us. Maybe it’s a blintz or knish. Maybe it’s tie-dyed socks or a beautiful guitar or earrings. But maybe it’s wisdom. Maybe it’s an internship for someone you know. It goes deeper than that. Here’s an example.

While I was sitting in the Ritz** (an incredible collection of saunas and showers – one of the main reasons I go to the Fair, actually), which is also a great place for networking (or catching up with friends, or group singing in the sauna). Anyway, I look up and see the smokestack puffing smoke. The Ritz burns a lot of wood each year at the Fair, and that smoke is spewed into the air and breathed by fairgoers. I’d been thinking, as I’m learning about woodsmoke, how do we electrify the Ritz? The saunas could be running on electricity and sparring fairgoers (and the region) a little bit less woodsmoke in the air. I ended up in a long conversation by someone who’d been on the OCF board in the past and she mentioned Peach Power – an effort to bring more solar panels to Fair. Well, without that conversation I wouldn’t have been able to then have a different conversation with someone from Energy Trust in Energy Park about the same topic.

I work on a few livability issues. Getting Rid of Gas-powered leaf blowers; dark skies Oregon (esp. how to slow the spread of too bring LED lighting); Keeping Trees Standing; and reducing woodsmoke. Mostly, I’m focused on Portland, but everyone could benefit from the work I’m doing.  So, when I’m face to face with someone who is part of an NGO where these issues are related, I see the person on the other side of the table as an ally. This relationship is possible with anyone at any time – but at Fair, things are labeled better 🙂  ie, the booth dedicated to seed swapping in Energy Park is a great place to talk about saving the pollinators. Seeing my longtime kinda guru, Sharanam – we got into a conversation about setting up a show for him in Portland.

Then, there’s lots of sharing back. Letting people in on Fair secrets – or, what I like to call, showing people the door. Not everyone knows that there are a wide variety of ways to participate in the Fair. You can jury in and become a vendor; volunteer to be part of a crew; but it’s also possible to be an SO (significant other/guest of) an elder (that’s how I got my camping pass this year after many years with various booths and crews). This is something that I want to dedicate some time to in the future – figuring out how to get people to Fair who will have a life-changing experience there. People who might not even know the place exists, but who will benefit from being a part of the Fair Family (which is pretty much everyone).

Fair Information

You can get information about the Fair from the Info Booths located around the Fairgrounds (also known as the 8). But there are a ton of other ways – there are a slew of private and public Facebook groups, for instance. For instance, if you’re tired of my spiel and want more pictures, try out the OCF Unofficial group.

And the information is everywhere – from the banter of the performers (which contains many positive messages) to the Peach Pit, which is the printed guide to the Fair – there’s lots to learn about. There’s even a code of conduct! And general guidelines.

I will probably have more to say about the networking topic I started on above.  My learning about how that informed early Fairs, and my own current approach to networking in the small business world, seems to be pushing me into an area I’m not familiar with.  Going to places we’ve never been before!

The hot temps and dust at this year’s Fair were a reminder to me about how fragile our society is. We march our way through, but it’s challenging. I walked around the Fair most of the time with a wet towel on my head that I had to keep wetting. I’m 64, and I noticed aging for myself and others more than in previous fairs. I got lucky and had dinner with a couple of people who’d been to the very first fair and most of them since that time! 52? 53? I saw more alter-abled transport and more strollers this year than in years past.  Watching kids at the Fair is fun – and it’s also fun to see someone in their 80s oohing and ahhhing like they were kids.

I appreciate the deep connections many of you have with each other. I realized this year, more than in previous years, that those who live in Eugene or thereabouts seem a lot more connected than those of us who travel farther to reach the shores of the Long Tom. This year felt more “local” to me. But I also realize that repeat visits and my many loose ties with a wide variety of Fair people do ground me.

Ah, Fair. Thank you. Thank you for connecting me with many of my friends. Thanks for the chance to share time with people who knew my friends who have passed away – Ben Bochner and Amira. Thanks for the chance to gather in a very safe place and find magic. Fair is not perfect, but Fair is Fair!

Until we meet again, Albert Kaufman, 7.17.25

This year’s Resource List!

PS – your comments are welcome! I am always open to feedback.

PPS – here’s my write-up from last year, and that links to previous years. I may do a Resource List for this year in a bit. Joining my email list is a great way to hear when I’ve written something new.

PPS – my friend, Bruce Bartlett had this to say about the Ritz (which turns 50 next year):

“I agree that the Ritz is otherworldly in its effect on people. I have been transformed in there several times. Each time (5) a new level of tension has relented, both somatically and psycho emotionally.

Doing something you (almost always) do in private now openly and relaxed is a powerful ritualistic tool that can dissolve shame. When the internal tension, that is so often held excruciatingly tight in a person who is troubled by their body or their beliefs about it, is finally allowed to release itself, the person enters into a free, open communal space with music and laughter in the background in a way that feels almost surreal at first. I recall the first moment my shower turned off so the splash of the spraying water on me ended. I opened my eyes and started taking in the world around me. The relaxation, conviviality, and acceptance I witnessed filled (informed?) a part of me that had always wanted that sensual environment to exist. Warm fires make for warm conversations. The toning in the saunas still echoes in my mind.

We have created a portal into a profound body-positive world. The fair itself is a towering testimony to the glorious beauty of the body, in a kaleidoscopic, wild, outlandish statement of joy. This celebration in the Ritz of our innate beings with our unique bodies manifests the world as it should be.

Deep appreciation for its builders and keepers. May many be blessed in the portal.”

Thank you, festival culture, for making me who I am.

Philly Folk Festival
Burning Man
Oregon Country Fair
Vancouver Folk Festival
Beloved
Mariposa Folk Festival
Hartford Folk Festival
Middletown Folk Festival
Folklife Festival
Garlic Festival
Singing Alive
Cascadia Songrise
String Summit
World Domination Summit (3)
Neurodiversion 2025

I’m probably missing a few 🙂

And to my Mom and Dad, who pushed me in this direction from the very start

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OCF 2024 – Resources

July 16, 2024 by

Resources: OCF Booths and more

One of the lenses I see the world through is a marketing one. So, part of my life at festivals is seeing what is going on marketing-wise. Sometimes I can be helpful to a vendor or learn something myself. So, in no particular order – here is some of what came out of my bag this morning and the attached memories and stories. If you see any mistakes, please let me know @ albert@albertideation.com! Thanks. I also did a more overview write-up – that’s here.

  1. Vestiks amazing shirts!
  2. Harm Reduction Resources: from 8 til late – Rainbow Connection – Xavanadu – this ties in with the big contingent of healing resources and health education that happens here.
  3. I keep a list of Vendors I email about marketing once or twice a year – if you’d like to be on that list, click here.
  4. Todji Kurtzman – one of the artists this year. He had a piece in Xavanadu – todji.com for more of his incredible work!
  5. Someone from Lost Valley Education Center led a fun workshop on how to throw a block party – including 7 tips to throw an epic block party handout. It included an Icebreaker Bingo card which I used over and over again for the rest of the day.  They are at lostvalley.org – this was in Community Village on Sunday afternoon. Lost Valley is also hosting a Conscious Growth Convergence September 27-29 – looks lovely.  More info at consciousgrowthconvergence.org
  6. A friend mentioned Johnny Franco and Brother Dan – and their serenading of the audience. I didn’t see them, but she sent a video.
  7. Rebecca Bashara – metalsmith/designer – These folks were near my home booth, L12 – had these lovely stones lined up on tables and on a model that changed during the day. Very lovely.
  8. Then there’s the booth where you wish your Mom was there. Wooliza Fiber Arts was that one for me. Incredibly lovely woven pieces. wooliza.com
  9. LyndaFeman Ceramics – I always love to stop by and see what Lynda has going on. She usually has at least one fancy menorah! This year’s was delightful
  10. I’ve been stopping by and saying hi to Astrologer Mark S. McNutt for years. I loved hearing that he’s very full up in his work. It’s great when any solopreneur is so popular they don’t need to do much marketing. astrowizardry.com 
  11. I have a newsletter for friends and family called The Eleven – you can sign up for it here. + Smiles from this year’s event.
  12. Autumn Higgins – Ceramics, Art, Custom Pottery – Someone showed me a coffee mug they’d purchased from Autumn, and then later I happened upon her booth. Beautiful work! autumnhiggins.com
  13. Stage Coach Farm & Forge. I’d never seen this person’s work before. Hefty skillets and cookware. Damn, these things are heavy and will last several lifetimes. I’ve actually never seen anything like it. stagecoachforge.com
  14. One of my favorite parts of the whole time I’m at Fair is finding things that are being done elsewhere (I’m looking mostly at you, Eugene) that we might be able to bring to Portland. bringrecycling.org/classes is in that category.
  15. Raising Resilient Bees – digginlivin.com/book – there were a few bee-related booths – this one from Energy Park. I also purchased some of their propolis. Yum!
  16. Creative Spirit Collaborative – A Eugene-based group.
  17. Rabblebox 3-stringed guitars. Neato!
  18. Got feedback for OCF 2024? Online: https://tinyurl.com/4sjxtrp9 or, by mail: 442 Lawrence Street, Eugene, OR 97402
  19. If you walked the 8 you likely saw Jeff Eichen taking photographs with a tripod. He’s often dressed in green and he’s hard to miss. He’s doing good work to help those who have records due to cannabis use. Check out releaffoundation.org 
  20. How did Jenny Leis’s card get in my collection? Your Enthusiasm is Contagious – says her card. I was actually speaking to someone who I want to connect to her work in facilitation, training, and consulting. And for now: jennyleis.com
  21. Ah, this next one is special. The Eugene Environmental Film Festival! The woman in Community Village who was sharing about this event offered me a t-shirt which I’m wearing proudly. What she is doing is fantastic and I may travel to Eugene for this this fall. This is also where I heard the phrase “platform maker” for the first time. More about that as I learn more.
  22. Another one that my Mom would love. Wood ‘n I Weavings!
  23. Evan Burnette – Local Art Glass – lovely work!
  24. Pure Love Chocolate – This was their first time at the fair and they rocked it.  zero sugar.  yum!
  25. Wileyware, Booth L12 – We had fun and sold many glasses. I added to my collection and saw so many friends and laughed so hard – thank you, Marcia Wiley!
  26. L49 – James Island – Trees of Light Lamps – beautiful.
  27. I spent a lot of time with Joshua Morton. I believe this next picture is of his work. It sounds like he does a lot of good in the world – proceeds from his art – he donates his money from this event to a college scholarship fund for students in his area. Enjoy

Honorable Mentions – areas I visit a lot every year: Energy Park and Community Village – rock on!

Thanks for visiting – stay in touch! Albert

OCF 2014

OCF 2017

OCF 2022 – a very short and different fair

OCF 2023

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OCF 2024

July 16, 2024 by

OCF 2024

Hello! Here’s my report about this year’s Oregon Country Fair (OCF). Like life, everyone has a different version of how this event shapes their lives. We all wander about asking each other “Did you see this? Did you eat that? Did you see so and so?” But in the end, you have a map, weather, food, drink, music, theater, crafts, people, costumes, rainbows, and HEAT! This was the hottest OCF I’ve ever attended (15-20 years attending, in a row-ish). Much time was spent grumbling about the heat – and figuring out how to survive and thrive given that condition.

Don’t miss Part 2 – Resources + Booths

If you know nothing about OCF and want a quick video that gives you a magical glimpse, here’s this year’s promo video. For a limited time, they’ll be streaming the main stage acts here.

This Fair is like no other. It’s been going on longer than most and is heavily volunteer-run and organized. It probably has more volunteers than just about any event in the world. Many people involved stay with it for a lifetime. There are many booths (food/crafts) that have been there since the beginning, 55 years ago! People also switch from one crew to the other depending on life circumstances – ex: my partner is on that crew = and I joined that crew. Or, we broke up and I needed a new place to be! I heard a lot of that in one of the many Facebook groups that people gather in to talk about the event. Like this one!

Volunteering is how one earns a pass to be able to stay in the Fair after dark and also usually enables you to camp in or close to the Fair. There are woods and nearby open fields and they are filled with tents, and vans, and RVs. Luckily, after my first visit 20 years ago, I have become “Fair Family” and that gives me this wristband that allows me to go to and fro at all hours. Some people bust their butt all year long and some people do very little for this wristband. But my sense is that it all comes out in the wash. Those who work super hard on this event reap rewards that others can’t dream of. Particularly noticeable is the close community in some of the groups where people put together something magical together while watching their families grow together. Strong bonds are created as well as family and Fair lore!

So, I guess this may be more of an inside baseball reading on the Fair. We on the inside are cautioned to keep our experience on the down-low somewhat. Some of that makes sense, but I’ll try to lean into my own experience – which I think it’s Fair to say is mine to share. If you have feedback for the event, you can leave it here.

So, this year I drove with my housemate to the event on Wednesday and we arrived in the afternoon. Once through Albert’s Circle, we arrived at camp. Our campmates were already somewhat setup and there were a couple pop-ups that made our entry a bit more pleasant. Getting in can sometimes be easy, but sometimes it can be a bear (taking hours to find your name or pay for a parking pass in person). Luckily, this year I was able to pay for my camping and parking pass online – whew! Once I had arrived at camp, I set up my tent, and said my hellos – it was off to the Ritz to luxuriate in the amazing sauna and shower and fire areas.  If you’ve never been to The Ritz it’s really quite something. You pay your money and in you go (please take off your shoes as you enter!)

The Ritz has been there a good long time. When you enter you’ll see an open space with a fire area in front of you; a stage off to the left and in the distance 5 rows of showers (on either side of poles) and then cubbies to put your things. Off to the right at midnight is a giant sauna that can probably hold 70-100 people. The seats are tiered – 4 levels * 4 sets of these. On the edges of the showers are your cold shower – pull on a rope and you are hit hard with cold water! Very cold water! At 2 o’clock from the entrance – more cubbies and a fire area which is cooking just to warm your belly. I’ve never seen anything like it. 3 pm? Another sauna – probably the original – seats about 40 and is round. More cubbies are behind that and then you have more showers and another fire area which also hosts an amazing cobb bench. There’s another of these as you walk in – a great place to sit and relax once you’ve done the sauna/cold water combo a few times. There’s a place to check your valuables (instruments). The stage features acts from the Fair – I’ve played there many times – and it’s so fun to play music for naked people!! Hot showers, saunas, live music, and friends – this place really is my heaven.

Food vendors don’t start selling until at least noon on Thursday so I was on my own till then. Our camp was having a group dinner of jambalaya that night, but I wandered over to visit a friend nearby and he was serving … jambalaya! So, I ate and played music with him and his friends.

 

The only reason I have any pictures at all (if you want to see them all they’re over here) is because of this bench and the others near it (go see the pics!). I never bring my camera/phone to Fair. The last thing I want is to be spending time on my phone (it goes pretty much dark once I have my tent up). But after the Ritz on Thursday morning, I meandered to where these benches sit (not open to the public) and I had a seat. They are brand new, were finished the day before and I think might be made from lumber milled from downed trees on site. OK, one more.

These benches are filled with musicians each night – sometimes until dawn – playing songs for one another and collaborating. It’s a pretty magical place and I usually spend at least a couple of hours there each year, but this year – this was my visit. I sat on the benches and realized – I must show other people the benches and the design – hopefully, places like Breitenbush and elsewhere will create something like this!

The Land

Last year’s storms took a heavy toll on the trees. Many are downed or were removed pre-event. This has also led to piles of wood all over the camping areas. It also led to many booths losing shade this year – making a hot fair even hotter! I hope that the Fair Org is thinking about how to remove these wood piles given we’re now in a wildfire-prone area. I’d suggest sooner rather than later and would be happy to help organize work parties until this is done. Otherwise, we risk losing the forests. Have feedback for the Fair? Here is their feedback form.  The Cascadia Wild/Forest Defense booth had a petition asking the Fair Org. to open the land to indigenous groups who have been gathering here for thousands of years. I signed.

What it’s like to be the Mayor

Being the outgoing person that I am I know a lot of people at this event. I’m sure I’m not the only one. But I am one – I have been called The Mayor (and I usually suggest – there are probably more than one 🙂 – but I am certainly one. This leads to a different type of experience than many people have. I walk a pathway and am often greeted by name frequently. As I get older and everyone else does, too – I am not always able to place the other person, but eventually, we get to where we met and stories unfold.  I spend a lot of time in various booths – playing music and trying the local foods and other offerings. So, this adds up to a lot of connecting and reconnecting every day. I am a humble mayor. I also spend a lot of time interacting with strangers and seeing how things are going with them. I try to leave things much better than I found them 🙂

And back to the Ritz

walking and walking

the dusty paths

saying hello

sharing a kind moment or two

communicating clearly

the truth serum of Fair

One thing that is very clear to me is that at this event people are very real with one another. This often means skipping over the chit-chat and getting right to the meat of things. It might be health-related, or relationship-related – but conversations tend to go deep fast. It’s very refreshing and can lead to deepening relationships, too. There’s also clarity about not over-sharing various logistical things. This is probably an aspect that is more prevalent in the Fair Family world, but it might also be spilling over to everyone – and it’s one more way that life at the Fair is different – and why we cry when it’s over. I saw a lot of crying this year.  People need this type of experience more than ever right now. I heard one child ask: “Why does Fair have to end?” – I’m sure many people would love to have more villaging in their lives.

Heat

It was a scorcher this year – with daytime temps in the high 90s. There were misters; there was encouragement to drink water. Stay hydrated. I’m sure WhiteBird saw its share of heat-related visits. A way I figured out to beat the heat was to have a small towel that I could put around my shoulders (once wet) and even over my head. Whew, without that I don’t know how I would have coped. Also, trying to stay in the shade as much as possible was a strategy. That didn’t work too well when I had to cross town, though.

I like to highlight the craft and other vendors that I meet along the way (plus, the ones I work with!). Here you go,  Part 2!   What’s the story behind these lamps, L48, for instance?

and these glasses – L12 – Wileyware!

My Previous Reviews of OCF

OCF 2014

OCF 2017

OCF 2022 – a very short and different fair

OCF 2023

OCF 2025

OCF 2026

poem by Sheba Hulsing

Oh Faire how I love thee,
Feet oh so dirty
With a hoarse voice parched
We continued to march
Circuitously we danced
And pranced
Oh so entranced
And romanced
By the beauty of all of you
In your brilliant hues
Tears welled and flowed
At the beauty so bestowed
Each moment a blessing
Especially as we were undressing
To sing oh to sing
Dry cracked voices merging
How our hearts were surging
As we found harmony
As we found harmony
I’m forever changed, each year, again and again. Magic beyond my wildest imaginings and I’m delighted to be so tired and so nourished.
Thank you to the fair family and all the magic that lives in each and every one of you.
Until we dance and play again. I love you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Oregon Country Fair Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oregon Country Fair 2023 in Review

July 12, 2023 by

OCF 2023

It was the best of Fairs it was the worst of Fairs. Every Fair is unique and this one certainly was that, too. Everyone has a different time at this Fair, too. It takes everything you arrive with, magnifies, twists, and takes it all into a kaleidoscope and brings it back to you for your amusement or derangement. It’s good, bad, and ugly! I had a time at the Fair this year. One of my fave fun things to do is to share some of what I learned or who I met at the Fair as a way to stay in touch with them and introduce you to them, so without further ado – and in no particular order – here is some of that! Photos by Mike Meyer! And if you want to see lots more photos and videos – check out the OCF Unofficial Group (I’m an admin on there!). And if you somehow found your way here and would like to get monthly updates from me about the life and times of Albert – Sign up here for The Eleven – my monthly newsletter. OK, now, on with the show!

A card found among the various business cards: “I have come to bring out the beauty you never knew you had and lift you like a prayer to the sky.” – Rumi

Well, it was the 11th – so, the rest of my story came out in newsletter form. – Enjoy! The Eleven, July 2023

OCF 2022 was a very short one for me.

Filed Under: Oregon Country Fair Tagged With: , , , , ,
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