I grew up in Eugene, but never went to the OCF until a decade or so after I moved away. It's been around since the 60s or something (long before I was born), but when I was younger I think it was held in a different location before it moved out to its current location in Veneta. It started as a fundraiser for an alternative school but it's now a 503(c). It's always held the first full weekend in July. Once upon a time, it was a drug filled revelry from what I understand, but they've made it significantly more family friendly over the years. Don't get me wrong--you'll still come across a topless woman or walk through a cloud of pot smoke--but it's not as bad as it once was. And as far as unique experiences go, you'd be hard pressed to find another much like this. It was fun but getting a ticket is a little annoying. You can't purchase tickets there; they must be purchased off-site in advance. I guess it's probably great for crowd control or something--though I don't know that they actually limit the number of tickets--but I don't always remember to plan ahead. Oh well, I guess I'd rather they manage the crowd if that's what it's for. Head over to the parking lot of VRC to pick up your ticket and you can also catch the shuttle there too when the fair rolls around. It's great that they have a shuttle since parking around the place is honestly impossible I think. Unless you're camping, perhaps. There's a lot happening at the Fair, so for those who are quickly overstimulated you should be aware. You'll see stilt walkers wandering around. There's planned and/or impromptu parades that weave through the place. There are troubadours and small ensembles that may pop up, or individuals with a band on their back! You may find a juggler or a few wandering. There's activities for children, like puppet shows or face painting. Alcohol is not allowed on the premises, although there are areas where folks can smoke. There are tons of vendors. It's like the Saturday Market on steroids. There was a booth selling the most beautiful masks; capes and wings; art of various mediums... lots of treasures. There are also a nice variety of food vendors. When I went there was a booth that had beignets and they tasted like they came from New Orleans. There was music of various genres; activities both spontaneous and planned. A booth where you could create your own affirmation. The Oregon Country Fair is truly unlike any sort of fair or festival I've ever been to. I was mad at myself for not having visited sometime when I was growing up and living there permanently instead of waiting until 10 years after I'd moved out of state. But I will return with my little one in tow to enjoy this wacky experience all over again. read more

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it's amazing! I went to OCF in 2019 and it truly blew my mind. I loved it. the food was great, especially off the waffle. everything was lovely and I cant wait to go back. read more

Been attending the OCF for decades, quite frankly it used to be much, much better so nowadays not even 3 star? but in the past it was more than 5 star! A hippy festival that has been ongoing since 1970 minus 2 years off for COVID. As others have said it is now extremely crowded and is still only a 3 day event, maybe making it longer would help? And yes prices are high but so what In the old days there was lots of nudity and some full nudity of both men and women. Then it evolved to mostly topless women with or without body paint. Toplessness still encouraged but just not nearly as high a percentage....such so that instead of a dozen body painting booths there are now essentially none. We still look forward to it every year and my wife is still always topless and still gets lots of attention and lots of photos taken of not only of her breasts but also up her very short sarong so if you ever give the fair a try and see her then she is totally OK with your taking pix both candid style and posed. You will see other women of all ages just not the numbers of them that used to be out....well less than 10% I would guess but used to probably be more than 50% read more

Oregon Country Fair - Parking area of the OCF before heading in...topless as always! - Festivals Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

The Oregon Country Fair is something you must experience at least once. After nearly 13 years in Eugene, I finally gave in and decided to go. Here's a brief overview of what I found: Pros: - Beautiful setting, I loved walking through the different paths under the shady trees, really very charming. - Plenty of parking and park and ride shuttles - Many different food vendors, not only the standard fair that we see at the Saturday Market, but also a lot of vendors I'd never seen before. My favorite dish was the Flan, from the local Peruvian place - Arts and crafts vendors from several states - Metal cutlery that gets collected in various locations and washed: Much more environmentally friendly than plastic. Cons: - You can't buy tickets anywhere at the fair. Since we didn't see this on the website, and noticed that they advertised cheaper presale tickets, but also more expensive "day of" tickets, we assumed that you could actually BUY those 'day of' tickets. We were wrong. There were no tickets at the fair. Even all the ticket outlets like Safeway don't sell any 'same day' tickets, so I have no idea why they even advertise that price. They directed us back to a restaurant in Veneta, where a bunch of hippies were illegally scalping tickets, no doubt with full approval of the fair-hippies, who were the ones directing us to them. We paid significantly more for the tickets than advertised, and had to bicycle back again in the sweltering heat, losing an hour of our time. By the time we returned from a long hot bike ride and paying rip-off prices for the tickets, the only performer that I actually wanted to see just finished performing (as in: one minute before we arrived, she'd just walked off stage when we turned the corner). Also, as my husband pointed out: Before we went, I really wanted to see the Oregon Country Fair. Now that I'm back, I really want to UNSEE some of the things I saw there. (I'm looking at you, naked morbidly obese girl bodypainted as Spongebob Squarepants) read more

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I went with a open mind, I wasn't too sure exactly what to expected but after hearing all the stories from people here and there, I figured I'd give it a swing. First thing first, it's not really a hippy fair in my opinion, sure it's themed as such but you will get more hippy vibes just walking through the local towns compared to the fair. This is a full on highly capitalized fair, it seems they just made the name big over earlier years and then sold out to the money train. It's so capitalized to the point that it's a pure numbers game, they're just trying to get as many people in as possible with the outrageously high admission fee, once you're in, you'll realize how overhyped it is. The place wasn't equipped for sitting, rest/relax areas and/or bathrooms for even 1/4 the amount of attendance even despite them being right on prediction with what was expected this year. It's just so overcrowded for such a condensed area (I mean the place is huge but not even close to what's needed for the number of people).. majority of your time there will just be fighting your way through crowds with people getting annoyed and butty. The food selection is pretty great, everything from vegan burgers to perogies to full on quality Asian theme dishes with everything else in-between. There's less 'sweet' options than I would expect but that's probably a good thing anyways. The best thing about the fair is the people, it's a place where anyone can go wild and nobody is judging. You'll see lots of costumes, hardcore hippies, topless people, flaming gays/related and so on just going ham. It's the most interesting part of the place, a lot of which you can see in Eugene itself on a normal day but it condensing it to one small area is quite the scene. Overall, I don't think I'd be going back, I stayed for a little over two hours and even that was too long, if the crowd wasn't so excessive it would've been more bareable but it just seems the majority of it is you're paying excessively high money to be massively inconvenienced. read more

The Oregon Country Fair is an earth-shattering, mind-blowing, life-altering event. I thank my lucky stars I happened to be in Oregon when this amazing festival was going down. It is unlike anything I've ever been to before. I have been to my fair share of music festivals but this eclipses those by light years. I'll start with the boob painting. Instead of face painting, topless women have butterflies, faces, flowers, solar systems and anything else you can think of painted on their chests. There are young women and old women. Well endowed women and those that the Miracle Bra was made for. All wearing art work. There was a wood fired communal bath house on location as well. I didn't nude up, but on retrospect I almost wish I had. So - you think this would get out of control, but there's no booze and this makes a world of difference. Everyone is respected, respectful and just there to have a good time. Many people are in Renaissance wear or dressed as fairies or fauns. Some guys were only wearing loin cloths. It was a kaleidoscope but with people. No one stood out because there was something everywhere you looked. It was one of the most beautiful harmonious interactions of human beings I've ever witnessed. Beneath all the things that are different about the Oregon Country Fair, there are the things that are the same as every other fair. Great music being played in various tents, some even interactive with djembe drum circles. Yummy festival food, unique vendors and all the other elements that compromise a truly excellent community fair. Maybe not for everyone, but I will always treasure the memory. read more

Oregon Country Fair - Festivals Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

One of Eugene's most community oriented events is the Oregon Country Fair, not to be confused with the Oregon State Fair of Salem. It's a small culmination of a year's worth of planning from the attractions, concerts, local vendors, to livestock for the city of Eugene and its many visitors. And while its technically in Venetta (about 10-15 miles outside of Eugene), its accessible enough for most folks not to miss it along the highway. There are free buses that go to the site, which is a major plus for public transportation. The ticket prices this year are higher, but expected as inflation continues to infect the rest of the world. Its also marks the first time they've issued a "green ticket" which is approximately $1 more, going toward a noble ecological cause (Renewable Energy, Philanthropy or Zero Waste) of one's choice. It's a brilliant idea and worth the investment. The food is one of the most impressive things about the event. There are food stands representing a wide variety of cuisine from kabobs to burritos. Most foodies will have a great time sampling some of the foods and its certainly nothing close to the crappy fair food that visitors have become accustomed to eating. And like the Eugene Saturday Market, there is plenty to see and buy, as vendors have plenty to show off with their various crafts. For those who have a sore back, massage therapists are available in the tents. Looking for custom made jewelry? Plenty of that. Pottery, tattoos, woodwork, etc are all things that can be found here. They also get major kudos for a very nicely designed, revamped website. It is easy to navigate and gives potential visitors a reasonable idea of what to expect. read more

The worst Nonprofit Organization I've ever worked for, failed to provide qualified volunteers with tax deductible recipes for our time.

Lame! Tell me, what's the attraction? The food you can get outside of the fair? The crappy entertainment? The far-to-costly-for-quality goods? The huddled masses of idiots? The over-priced tickets? Or is it the constant dust and various smokes blowing into your face? I simply don't get it. read more

Fair: Five stars Camping and after hours: One star This was my first time going to the fair this year. I had a blast on the fair grounds, LOVED the Gypsy Caravan stage and the bellydancing! Lovely crafts, yummy food, fun costumes (I'm dressing up more next year for sure), and sweet people. But the price for all of it was a bit painful, and I think I might just do a one day visit next year. What turned me off was the absurd elitism of the staff, and the camps. I wasn't expecting that kind of set-up from a supposedly old school hippie event. There was a total obsession with VIP parties and exclusive camp sites.All the coolest stuff was deliberately put out of reach of us common folk, while the people in-the-know had a great time at their secret parties and concerts. For instance, one night our friends told us to meet them just outside the fairgrounds for a fire show. So, we try to go over there, and are met with security people checking wristbands just to go anywhere NEAR the fair (not in it). We had to lie and say we left our car in there just to get back there. The fire show was STUNNING, I've seen tons of fire dancing, but this took the cake. That was the only neat after-hours performance we saw the whole time. The rest we could hear, but not get to, because we apparently aren't cool enough to attend. The camping situation was also just absurd. I had no idea that if you camped in a different site than your friends, it would be a total pain in the arse to visit them. Each camp has different colored wristbands, and hyper-vigilant security people will check them when you go in. There is also no cell phone reception out there, so you can't call your friends to meet them at the camp gate. It was ridiculous, not to mention totally over-priced. We camped at Quiet Camp, hoping it would be a little more serene since we like to sleep in between parties. We payed $40 per person for a spartan camp site in an empty field (no shade from the hot sun) with only port-a-potty's and no showers, water, fire pits, BBQs...anything. On top of that.... They supposedly had a no-noise policy from 10pm-8am. Bullsh*t. Quiet Camp was SO NOT QUIET. It was hijacked by drunk, loud belligerent college age kids. There was no ranger to enforce the quiet hours. We barely slept all weekend and had to listen to people puking outside our tent all night. Even if they weren't loud, it was located right behind the main stage of the fair where the VIP folks had exclusive parties and concerts all night long. Advice for new visitors: DON'T CAMP AT QUIET CAMP. And bring a parasol, earplugs, and wet wipes. I think my future visitations to the fair will be day trips. It's a shame, I had high hopes for this event! read more

I spent forever & a day deciding whether I wanted to go to the fair or not. In the end, I succumbed to the unanimous chorus of "If you live in Oregon, you have to go at least once! It's the OCF! The OCF!" And I'm glad I did... so I thought I'd share my review to spare others the pain of indecision. There are the- PROS: Which include beautiful people wearing and showcasing all sorts of intriguing things- tattooed bodies, painted faces, au natural nudes, elaborate costumes and masks, wings made of feathers and mossy branches, dyed wraps, leather straps, cotton headpieces, metal codpieces, and everything in between. Zooming out, there are surreal decorations, antiquated wood booths built into trees, tangled arbors and thickets, majestic structures made from bits of recycle trash, and colorful ribbons swaying in the breeze. It all takes place under a dense, forested growth that lets you suspend disbelief so you can truly imagine that you're in an alternate world. Everything is living- there is a natural world order to the chaos of the dry, cool dust under your feet. For down-to-earth awesome, there is the Haute Trash Fashion show, which features models in form-fitting bikinis & bathing caps stitched from industrial-duty Purina bags, and party dresses made from old handbags, umbrellas & discarded silk flowers. The best part of the fair is that the music is great- there are lots of active washboards, soulful vocals, and people that can keep rhythm and dance like they mean it. Finally, the volunteers at the fair are particularly helpful and cordial. They work together to run the fair smoothly, which is crazy, considering how sprawling & outrageously vibrant it is. Still, there are the- CONS: It can get pricey! It's pricey to get in, and then hard to not spend more money on all the irresistible foods, drinks, & souvenirs that color the fair grounds. I suggest finding an in through the volunteer community- a few hours of giving back gets you into the fair for free- and you make a lot of friends while you're at it! People are fast walkers/dancers. Make sure you arrive with lots of energy to keep up with the crowd- and assign yourself a walking buddy who will hold your hand when the going gets tough in the tempeh line. In the end, I quite agree with Clearlight M's review: "If you can get into the spirit of it, be open to an odd mix of nature and commercialism, music and weirdness, it can be a blast. It's a minor miracle when you think about it, people just gathering together in the woods to create something, an alternate city for a week, then gone." The OCF is a human miracle, filled with humans who are loving, kooky, passionate, selfless, flawed, materialistic, capitalistic, socialistic, ascetic, rich, poor, good cooks, bad cooks, and everything else humans could be. If you like people (as a beating, pulsing mass), you'll enjoy the OCF. If you tend to keep to yourself, the fair may grind on you (unless you join the grounding circle, or meditation/yoga classes, which are also offered!) I personally think coming to the fair is the best chance you'll have of meeting a fairy in your lifetime. read more

The crowds and over crowding make this a horrible event. I agree with other reviewers who talk about the fact that the crowds just kind of push you along through the dust and heat [and noise]. The size of the crowd means you can't stop and enjoy the performers, you can't find a calm place to enjoy some food, and you can't browse the merchants and vendors. If I were a vendor here I would be really upset with the management folks. The way they've organized this, there are so many people pushed through the gates that no one can stop and buy anything. The solution is easy. Extend the fair over three or more weekends. They've got the brand recognition, they've got the buildings and infrastructure, they've got good weather. Extend the number of weekends, drop the cost per ticket $5. You'll get more people each year and each of those people will spend much more money while they're at the fair. And in the end EVERYONE patrons, merchants, performers and management will have a much better time. read more

It has hippies and nudity and dust and sun and giant crowds. And I absolutely adore the Oregon Country Fair. Go if you have an open mind, can handle a lot of walking, and don't mind coming back with a thin layer of dust encasing your body. Go if you grew up with parents that were hippies. Go if you grew up wishing you could have been a hippie. Go if you don't mind seeing grown men wearing nothing more than a beard. Don't go if your idea of fun is flying around drunk in a helicopter and shooting moose. read more

People love this,but I didn't! Too hot! Too dusty! Too crowded! Lots of hippie stuff. Beautiful crafts. I am simply not a dust and heat fan. Never going to Burning man, tho' many do and love doing so. read more

Full disclosure: I've been going to the Country Fair for 20 years, often as staff, sometimes just to party. And am more ambivalent as time goes on. It was great 20 years ago, and I got hooked. Then got more involved. Then started to see more of the picture. Got disillusioned. Got re-illusioned. Fact is, you cant' have thousands of people gather and not have a certain amount of chaos and a certain amount of structure. My biggest beef with the fair, echoed by some of the reviewers already, is that it is more closed than not, and the people running it take themselves way too seriously. Then again, there is a certain magic possible, the unexpected connections and a sense of wonder, if one lets go a little of bringing too many expectations. If you're just going to party and get high, there's probably better oppurtunities elsewhere. If you don't like hippies, especially old hippies, it's not for you. But if you can get into the spirit of it, be open to an odd mix of nature and commercialism, music and wierdness, it can be a blast. It's a minor miracle when you think about it, people just gathering together in the woods to create something, an alternate city for a week, then gone. read more

Awesome world food. World class entertainment. Vaudeville, klezmer music, sustainability education, festival, drum circle, independent craft shopping, surprises around every corner, friends, hula-hooping, playground for the kids, dancing, costumes, parades, yoga, giant chess sets, Alice in Wonderland, solar showers and sauna, bubbles, painted bodies, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. People who claim that this event is elitist for having to close to the public to give volunteer staff a break have no idea what it takes to run what is essentially one of the largest cities in Oregon for one weekend and the costs of infrastructure like keeping portable toilets in working order or recycling every item that the public leaves for volunteers to sort. Plus they have no thought to personal security for people who are camping. Who'd want a bunch of random people milling about your home for the weekend unchecked? Not me. Volunteers put in a whole lot of work, Recycling crews get up at 5 to have breakfast before starting 6 am shifts and then they do shifts later on in the afternoon. Wristbands aren't for the elite, they are for the workers. If you want to be a part of the family there are plenty of opportunities. Ask friends or ask someone on crew while you are there about volunteering for the next year. This is a truly neat sensory experience for the little ones and there is even childcare on site. I've been to festivals around the world and this one really is one of the more comfortable ones since it allows you to bring in blankets to sit upon and has lovely shade from the trees. Some of the sights and sounds are truly indescribable and need to be seen to be believed. read more

The Country Fair is always bound to conjure up varied opinions. This is not your Palin's America Country Fair as it is equally not some drugged-out, feel-good throwback of a bygone era, an era and lifestyle that still to this day polarizes. However, if you want to do some serious people watching, eating, clothing, craft browsing and music-listening in an environment you may have never seen, heard and smelled before, then dive in. You will find very friendly, relaxed people having a wonderful time. It can get hot and dusty. And yes, there is a (very slight) air of exclusivity by those who get the full ride treatment, but I never found anyone overly snotty about it. I would stay if I could, too. Bring lots of water, comfy shoes, a shade hat, (or no clothes), a friendly and adventurous attitude and all will be fine. It isn't everyone's cup of tea (party), but most find the weekend a glorious departure from cookie-cut America. read more

This is my third year at the Fair. For myself the attraction is a reminder of what our culture used to be like back in the 60-70's where freedom, love and self expression where some of the major values we cherished. The Fair Experience has a lot to do with what camp ground you stay at as well as the Fair. Zumwalt is my camp of choice. Setting on a beautiful lake and filled with people who respect and care about each other. These people meet year after year there and there is nothing but a great feeling of sharing with your fellow people around you. I have so much fun that I only go to the Fair once as the camp ground is where the real party is at. Go to the fair with an open mind and get ready to experience a little bit of the groove that made this country so cool at one time. Bring some love and happiness as there are plenty of people ready to share that with you...see you at the Fair! Update: I am on my 9th year now and every year I look foreword to this unique experience. Fair is cool but the Zumwalt camp grounds is what makes this event special! Here is to many more fun years!!! read more

Ok, I must say that I did read all these reviews before I first went to the OCF and I also did lots of homework before I went. I had a great time because I put in the work to understand what the OCF was. It's an artsy, fantastic, vaudeville, throw back of yesteryear and it is great fun if you make it that way. I picked a campsite that was a 15 min walk from the fair, it was set up for families (they even have games set up in the barn and a campfire every night), and they enforced quiet time. We bought a 3 day wristband that got us into the fair earlier than the day passes and we had just as much fun at the camp site as in the fair. Pros: Good food, good entertainment and lots to see and do, cool walking paths (must experience) Cons: a food bit pricey, can get crowded in the central eating area at lunch time, can get hot and humid. read more

Okay, I'm an OCF volunteer so I'm obviously biased, but this is the most important part of my year. I love the Fair, I love what it stands for, I love the community... it's someplace truly special, unlike anywhere else I have ever been. If you want a beautiful day of food, amazing handicrafts, and some of the best vaudeville and music entertainment around come to the Fair! It's magical, and you will be glad you did. I also feel like I have to respond to Brian E.'s concerns below. I agree that a sliding scale might be good way to increase inclusivity, and god knows the Fair could be more racially and culturally diverse. I strongly hope that these issues are addressed in the coming years. And I know that there is a fair amount of nepotism in how the Fair is run - getting on a volunteer crew is difficult, no doubt about it. But if you do know someone on a crew - not even someone in power, just someone to vouch for you - and if you're really dedicated to getting in, and if you are willing to spend eight hour shifts sorting through recycling or other very hard jobs, there may be a place for you. Maybe not the first year you try, but keep at it. I wanted to join this community, and I found my place! The thing is, though, I didn't want a camping pass in order to prove that I'm a member of the Hippie Elite. I especially wasn't looking to get in because I wanted to get in on some mythical all night party scene. I wanted to become more involved because of the way people I cared about spoke of the Fair; the community and the hard work and the playful spirit that infuses everything about it. And I believe that's why I have a camping pass and plenty of people who complain about wanting one and being left out, well, don't. Also: as a 20-something who only recently became part of the Fair Family, I will say that as a youngish newcomer I have never felt excluded, unheard, or somehow relegated to a "lesser" position than Elders who have been involved for decades. No, I'm not running the Fair. I'm not on the Board. I'm still learning about what this whole crazy thing is about - I'm not ready for more yet. But people have listened to what I have had to say and encouraged me to get more involved whenever I can, which is pretty awesome. As for some of the other complaints - Security cracking down on pot smoking, for example - that is unfortunately a choice the Fair has had to make to survive. It was either that or lose the land on which the event happens; faced with that kind of a choice, what would you have them do? And, to be clear, security cracks down just as hard at night on the drugs as they do during the day. Running an event as popular as the Fair is a double sided coin, and those who are in charge have to make hard decisions in order to keep it from collapsing in chaos. I'm not saying that they always make the *right* decisions, but unlike in other forms of government the Fair has a high degree of commitment to listening to what the public (both Fair Family and Visitors) have to say about their direction and future. Long live the Oregon Country Fair! read more

Are you serious? No one has "yelped" the Oregon Country Fair yet? This is an Oregon "classic!" Oh the memories are excellent of the Fair. Grab your baked goodies with extra goodies and come into the woods outside of Eugene, OR, each and every summer for a magical festival of more than 700 artisans offering an amazing array of crafts hand-made or gathered by the seller, and food and mystical music galore. Come join the primates, spoken word artisans, traveling dragons, (Kind of like you're on hallucinogens and running naked through Sherwood Forest), activism, gypsies, circus folk, vaudeville, stiltwalkers, nudists, and hippies of all sizes. The food alone is enough to die for: falafel, munchies for your munchies, fudge, brownies, omelletes, herbal teas, almond butter zoom balls, hempnut cookies, curry, anything soy, cheese blintzes, crepes, Peruvian, coffee galore, Spanakopita, tempeh burgers, spinach turnovers, artichoke on a stick, chicken satay, gourmet popcorn, avacado-hummus salads, etouff, chalupas, pad thai, souvlaki, tofu tias, wheatgrass smoothies, coconut ice cream, sushi (smoked salmon, vegi), and the best burrito in the state of Oregon, Rita's Burritos. SOLID! The best part is the camping party afterwards- if you can get into "tent city" you've just re-entered the Grateful Dead "afterparties." read more

To me, this sort of event is what summer is all about. It was a wonderful place to listen to live music, eat great food, dance, enjoy all the eye candy and just be outside in the sunshine! read more

Oregon Country Fair - A performer dressed as Krishna at the Oregon Country Fair. - Festivals Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

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During the DAY: LOADS of people wandering around a long loop of some of the most fascinating hippie commercialism on the planet. Marketing professionals would do themselves a favor to come here and look around at the clever techniques used to sell environmental products or natural organic soaps or hemp hats or vegetarianism or alternative political ideologies. The food offerings are varied and mostly wonderful, but they aren't exactly as cheap as regular food fair food. The entertainment is usually, um... entertaining. Or at least you'll probably always find something of interest on one of the many stages. People watching here is unparalleled. These guys have been doing this for nearly 40, continually growing years, so they've learned a thing or two about how to run a fair. The only thing that bothers me is the exclusive vibe that seems to pervade the fair, especially when it comes to who can volunteer, who can get on-site camping, etc. Then there's always hearing that "I'IIIIIm in the FAIR!" exclamation that those lucky bastards throw in all the rest of our faces because they knew the uncle of a cousin who worked there for 3 years in the 1970's and now they're spending 8 hours a day shoveling crap into the huge compost so they can have the privilege of MAYBE camping INSIDE the fairgrounds at night. Meanwhile, the other thousands of people camping around the fair exchange myths about the AWESOMEST party this side of Mars inside there. But the camps outside can be very cool, too with their own themes and events, so why buy into the hierarchical "you're less than us if you're not one of us" bullshit? Whatever, I do understand, with 45,000 attendees, and the ever-present sheriff's posturing in the past over drug-use and noise complaints, the fair has to clamp down somehow. There's plenty of off-site camping, each different with it's own sort of culture -- it pays to do your research ahead of time to find one that suits your interests -- there's druggie "rainbow" camps, rave-type camps, quiet camps -- just check it out before you go and plan it out. For some camps, tickets sell out months in advance. At NIGHT: Whoa. The Stars are SOOOO bright. Dude, they're MOVING. Is that NORMAL? I'm so confused. Hey, who am I talking to? Myself? Or is that ME? Where is that loud music coming from? Or is it a drug circle bonfire? I mean DRUM circle. (Hits self while walking) Wait, I can't move forward -- what's this? Is that a FENCE? Guess I better climb it, that's what fences are for, right? OK, here I go. Oh shit, some giant mosquito bit me! Oh no, that's just barbed wire. Shit man! Whooooaaaa (Plunk). Wow that was a rush, where am I? DUCK! There's a green monster dragon security guy with a flashlight coming my way, I better hide behind this purple puppet house. Whew, he left. Wait a minute, am I IN the fairgrounds? I'm not supposed to be here, am I? Or am I? What are all those old hippies doing running around naked with paint all over their bodies? Is that guy on STILTS or is he just really thin and tall? Is this REAL? Oh no, somebody wants to talk to me. Keep walking, keep walllllking. Is that one, or TWO people asking for a "password" to get past one of these strange makeshift security checkpoints throughout the compound! WTF? What do I do now? I'll just mumble crazy-like Dr. Gonzo-style and look at that butterfly flower over there in the dark, so they THINK I'm just way too high to answer-- yeah, that's what I'll do, because I'm NOT HI! HI! HI! I swear! Get ahold of yourself man, don't advertise. (wringing hands) OK, how the HELL am I gonna get outta this place? MOMMMMMMY! Mommy? Is that really you? Ok, so if you go to the fair, make prior camp arrangements, bring some cash (although they do have not one, but TWO ATM's on site!), and all your freaky wares to show off or consume. You'll have a BLAST. But my advice is to stay closer to your camp than I was -- for your own safety... and perhaps sanity. read more

The Oregon Country Fair - formerly the Renaissance Fair, for those of us locals who can remember that far back - is a beloved Eugene-area tradition. The concept is hardly unique, of course - hippie fests abound all over the place, and have since long before Woodstock - but OCF is a unique and lovely variation of the theme. The whole thing has become somewhat of an anachronism, however. It's far from dynamic and while some locals delight in covering their windshields with so many of the ubiquitous annual OCF stickers that the windshields no longer function as windows, I can't help but feel that if you've been to one OCF, you've been to 'em all. I didn't go this year but have been about every other year for a long time, and they all kind of blend together after a while. It was kind of magical when I was a kid, then fun, then simply amusing...and now the whole thing strikes me as pretty pedestrian, like a movie you've seen far too many times. One thing that's a real drag about OCF is that it is now beyond the means of the people who made it what it is. I know dozens of young and old green-loving peaceniks who just can't scrape together the dough it takes to spend an enjoyable day at the fair. At roughly $20 just to walk around and $5 for every damn thing to eat, drink, or be merry, it is beyond the means of many artists, musicians, and families. Camping? You must be dreaming. The whole camping thing has become an elitist farce; in certain liberal circles, having an OCF camping pass is the status equivalent of having a Mercedes in one's garage. At night, the OCF is much more like it used to be; the rules are relaxed and everyone, even the security folks who spent the day running around ruining everyone else's fun, can relax and smoke some ganja...but it's only open to someone who "knows someone." I know people who have paid $500 for the privilege of camping for the weekend, but mostly, you have to be a dyed-in-the-wool OCF'er from way back to have a shot. You could, of course, open a booth to gain camping access - all you have to do then is jump through a bunch of administrative hoops and paperwork that seems more consistent with getting a DOD security clearance than it does with selling, say, organic sassafras sachets (or whatever). OCF takes itself way too seriously these days, and I find that not only appalling but totally inconsistent with the original, carefree spirit that I once loved about it. OCF is still full of love, and still a pretty good time (at least, it was last year). But every year I'm a little more turned off by the increasingly commercial nature of it, by the droves of security people telling everyone to put out their peace pipes and searching to make sure nobody smuggles in a beer or two, and especially by the hypocrisy of a "people's" fair that the poorest, yet arguably most soulful segment of our community cannot afford. I feel guilty when I go, thinking of all the wonderful people I know who deserve to be there more than I do but can't scrape together the bucks. I don't mean to impugn OCF - I still love it, however diminished it might be in my estimation. But if OCF wants four stars from me, they'd better come up with some type of sliding-scale price structure so more of Lane County's most beautiful folks can still make it. I keep mentioning this to OCF folks I know and every one of them cavalierly dismisses me every time - they are nothing if not unified in their stance that OCF is fine JUST THE WAY IT IS, without input from common, unconnected folks like myself - but you know, the more people you exclude, the less of a good thing you have. Finally, if OCF wants that fifth star from me, it'll have to get more inclusive still. I'd like to see twenty-somethings given a bigger voice in shaping OCF's direction (the elders, a hippie version of an old boys' club, pretty much rule the show), and I want to see OCF actively reach out to the hugely underrepresented Latino community. OCF desperately needs new blood - and those groups deserve to be included, not excluded as they currently are. read more

I started selling my Oregon soapstone pipes at the fair around 1974, and for the next ten years we used to say "it just gets better and more fun every year" in every way we could think of. We always regretted the necessity of the Sweep and how many of our friends had to leave at the end of the day, but understood at the same time it was a security measure protecting us. Most evenings we spent around the campfire behind our booth, enjoying the company and having a mostly quiet time, except for the big Saturday Night Midnight Show. When the Fair bought the land and the federal law was passed outlawing "drug paraphernalia" in '83 I was prohibited from selling my products because there was a possibility someone might think they were for illegal purposes and somehow this might result in the land being confiscated by the government. Every head shop in the country just put up a sign saying the products being sold were not intended for use with illegal drugs, and carried on. This began the 32 years of waiting for the legalization of marijuana so I could (presumably) resume sales of my products to the public, though I continued to wholesale to shops all that time. During that time I have attended almost every year, and watched as the crowds and admission prices grew and the rules multiplied, but the kernel of joyful tribal gathering and reconnecting with old friends continued and it was fun enough for me to keep returning. The campfire went away with more rules, so there was no longer a quiet fun gathering at the booth each night, and I really missed that part.. I am currently negotiating with the Powers That Be to be able to resume sales of my product without going through the rigorous Jury Process. Who knows if I'd pass these days with the emphasis being more "artsy-fartsy" and high end of late. I do totally understand every review here and can relate to much that is said on the "con" side, but bottom line, there is no place that is anything like this place anywhere, so this must be the place. It was a vision of Hippie Utopia that was a dream we dreamed long ago, and is still a pretty cool event. I hope to see you there! read more

I am coming from a different perspective. One of my best friends has a booth at the fair, so I had an overnight pass and could camp inside. (I didn't realize that these were gold until the fair started) I was set up pretty cush, with my campsite right there and we were pretty close to the latrine, which also had it's downside. It was nice being with my friend but I found the fair itself to be too overwhelming. Fourty thousand people is just too many people in one place. At one point I found myself in a log jam and no one could move. I wasn't even trying to get anywhere in particular. I almost had a panic attack. There is some cool music and great puppets and art and such. The people watching it good, but essentially I just found myself wandering around in a crowd in circles. Unless you have serious cash this just isn't very satisfying. The food was fantastic, better than most festivals. I was one of the priviledged few to be able to stay in after "the sweep" which is when the hippie gestapo make you show your band or get out. But that just meant I wandered around in a circle in the dark instead of in the light. It was more fun than day though. All in all, other than the people I was with, it just wasn't all that friendly. People were snippy and annoyed. You don't camp with the other fair goers so there is no sense of community with them. I found myself spending most of my time back at my tent with my friend, I just couldn't deal with all those people. I think my favorite part was the communal showers at 'the ritz' strong hot water showers. You have to pay $6 to shower with a bunch of other old, fat people, but I would say it was worth it. It rained on day three and I was officially over it. In some ways it improved the spirit of comraderie to have everyone in the mud but I'm not great at being inconvenienced by weather. read more

To me the OCF feels like a bigger, dirtier Saturday Market with a $35 cover charge. The fair did provide good people-watching, and tons of opportunities to eat delicious, reasonably priced food. Still, when I go to the Saturday Market and spend $35, I walk away with something. As a lifelong resident who had never attended OCF, it truly was a surprise to me that the bulk of the fair was shopping. Oh well. It's something you have to try once. read more

Used to be great, but not anymore. Dirty, noisy, incredibly crowded. 95% leftover hippie crafts. Entertainment is ok, but the one that we really wanted to hear and was actually pretty good, was drowned out by the drum circle. What I really don't understand is that they have hundreds of volunteers to put this thing on, yet between the ticket price, parking & camping prices, & booth rentals, they are making a boatload of money. Why would anyone volunteer to up the owners' profit margin? read more

You won't regret going to the Oregon Country Fair! I would recommend bringing at least $50 a day but you could get by on less. There is so much yummy food though that's it totally worth it. For getting there it's best to take the free shuttle from the Eugene station. I'd get there at least 30 minutes before the first shuttle leaves because there will be a line. Wear comfy shoes that you don't mind getting dirty and bring lots of water. read more

Here is a Southern Californian perspective of The Oregon Country Fair...I loved it. Everybody came as how they wanted and no one batted an eye. I loved seeing everyones different take on their own perspective of the fair. It was a very non-judgemental, relaxed environment with everyone from their own walk of life meshing well as a collective whole. To people who complain or have an issue with nudity...there was maybe 50+ topless painted women, a few just topless women, a few men in Speedos, and I think basically two males and two females practically nude (barely had their vaginas/dongs covered...maybe I'll be the third male next year). But this is out of what 50k people in attendance. Also, no one was being overtly sexual imo. The crowds...it definitely got crowded. I felt it got overcrowded at about 3pm on Saturday (10am to 1pm is the best time). People complaining about pricing...it's a "fair"...you are going to pay above what you are used to. I had a great time and will be going back next year. read more

Be prepared to walk a LOT. My pedometer said 12 miles. It was a nice day, not too hot. It's the largest gathering of hippies in one place that I've seen besides Garberville, CA. Food is plentiful, varied and not too expensive. Artisans peddle beautifully handcrafted goods. I'm in it for 2 new pairs of earrings, and a cool driftwood piece for the front porch. I enjoyed my day, but be prepared. It IS very crowded, hard to walk through crowds, and can get frustrating. Great people watching, all in all I'd go back. It was fun, my hip flexors hurt, but hey, I'm 57 and walked 12 miles on uneven packed dirt and hay! Fun day! read more

The fair has its positives (but I really cannot see many), but between the huge crowds, absurd amount of noise and dust, and overall excessive amount of overpriced crafts, the fair is really not worth it. Don't waste your time. The food is also sub-par, unless you like overcooked and overspiced brown goop; between the smell of the restrooms, the annoying lack of organization and planning, I suggest spending your days in the sun at the beach or - better yet- the Saturday Market. The fair is simply not worth your time or money...not to mention people there tend to be too stoned to know much about anything... read more

I love going to "The Fair". Having said that, Sean hannity would not. Nor, would anyone who values his point of view. If you are a people watcher, open minded, enjoy good food and music and can either tolerate crowds or find a spot off the track a bit, you'll have a wonderful time. The fair has something for everyone. My friends and I go each year. We camp away from the fair. (Triangle Lake) I have done the "all nighter/insider" thing at the fair and I guess I would rather just hang with my friends in the evening. I read some of the rhetoric and some is true. Certainly some of the people running the fair are approaching nazi status-wanting to control every aspect, but just fucking things up. That is unfortunate. The people that go once and decide they hate it? All good. The fair changes year to year, but is more the same than different. I have been in 4 decades now and will continue. It is the week after the forth of July-annually. Hope to see you there! oh-the good for kids thing? I am on the fence. Depends on you and your children. The address is completely wrong! It is in Veneta off 126, West of Eugene. Having said that, I suggest coming to fair from either the north, south or west. Not the east (Eugene). One could consider even staying in Florence and leaving from there, especially if you want to grab a hotel and be on the coast. You have to buy your tickets in advance, away from the fair. In general, hippies can't do math, so the money collection has been left to third parties. You can however, purchase parking passes on site. Friday is a great day to see performances. Saturday is a great day to just take it all in. Did I mention Artis the spoonman or tom noddy the bubble guy or the vaudeville performances or the belly dancers or mud dancers........ read more

Sooo yeah... What can you say about OCF? I know adults who have been attending since they were babies, and to them, OCF is not just a festival, it's a way of life- a return home from 360ish days of society's monotonous routine. In fact, the staff members who greet you as you enter the gates all say, "Happy fair. Welcome home." Well to me it's just a really fun festival, with really good food, and really eccentric people. It's great! If you come with an open mind are prepared to walk a lot and spend money on overpriced (but very yummy) food, there is no way you can't enjoy yourself at OCF. Most attendees buy "day pass" wristbands granting entrance to OCF until 7pm. But here's the secret. If you work staff (or know someone who does), the day pass rule doesn't apply to you. A "staff" wristband allows you to stay on the fair grounds overnight- and that's where the REAL fun begins. I've gone to OCF twice- once as a day passer and once as a staff member. I won't get into details but let's just say the party doesn't really start until the sun goes down. P.S. Yes this is a hippy festival so if you don't like hippies why are you even reading this? read more

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I have been going to the OCF For six years.....would not miss it....get your old hippie clothes out and go!

Good to see at least once in your life, but in generally it's only fun if you're a hippie or into that kind of lifestyle. Good food and interesting sights. But most people are on drugs, and if you go you should be too. read more

I'm a bit of a Jaded attendee-volunteer who's first excursion to the OCF was back in 1978, when i was able to help with a sales booth of a couple of acquaintances from Saginaw, I've attended off and on as a fair goer and a Energy park volunteer several years in a row since then. It was always a good experience for me. I even worked the energy fair back in the late 80's with just the say so of a local bicycle frame builder which allowed me to enter through the service entrance on my recumbent with a "day pass" which turned out to also allow camping. Fast foward to 1992, I had an agreement with a booth seller from Saginaw ( again..) to help move her and her friend's wares and booth equipment in my van in exchange for a parking and couple of days camping pass. I'm ready on the day they need to move stuff, we load the van up and I drop off the gear at the service entrance. once again pretty painless, until I go to the front desk and make arrangements for the passes and parking the vehicle. Well the train jumped the tracks when I got to the admissions booth, the staff hadn't heard of of me, wouldn't contact the booth operator and or try to research my pass, even though I did get a parking pass for the entire 4 days. I just couldn't even get back in to the Fair without purchasing an admissions. I was arrogantly accused of trying to lie my way in, or to trying to take advantage of the past laxness of the fair. The worst part was the crowd of youngsters pressed into service as Security that were taking their power far too eagerly. That I persisted in finding out what was amiss was probably what finally got me in. But the sudden nastiness and the arrogance of the folks I had to deal with was a complete shock. Looking back on this I feel that I should have just left my friend and his co-booth operator to fend for themselves and find their own way back from the fair. I am a principled person, I expect that people I deal with, especially when i I've known these folks for a while would have at least had a some reciprocal principles for my efforts, but the trouble I was subjected to for my good deeds were far from being fully rewarded. No, as if the rewards of that day for my efforts weren't enough, I had the misfortune of having my Van's fuel tank contaminated with dirt Someone from the staff or the kids in security was probably to blame, It's hard to say, but it ended up costing me a couple hundred dollars in repairs and parts. OCF you were fun at one time, but your popularity, greed and over handed administration has killed this for me, never again.. read more

If you are headed out to country fair be sure to stop at Ritta's Burritos and Dana's Cheesecake. Both Food vendors are AAAAAAMAZING! Everyone at the OCF is so friendly and lively. there is so much going on it is really hard to take it all in, in one day. There are tons of shows for kids and adults ranging from music, comedy, circus and parades. Be prepared to see a lot perople dressed up in costume. read more

Coming from a hippie town(Garberville,CA) we always have annual festivals similar to the Oregon Country Fair, but on a much much smaller scale(except Reggae on the River). This was like the Summer Arts Fair except much, much bigger. Bring your camera if you go. People here are hams and you will see things you thought you could only see in a circus. The food is overpriced, but some of it is very very good. There's something for everyone here. One con is the dust. I think the ground should be moistened before the people arrive because by the afternoon, there is dust everywhere and it gets in your mouth/nose. I love the OCF! read more

The fair is an amazing place, and even now months before it begins I start getting excited. I was reading these reviews and decided to give my (biased? you tell me) take on the whole thing. First of all, I am a volunteer and inherited the position through family, but I really didn't even like the fair until I went on my own for the first time last year. There was a big difference between being the kid that was forced to work in the pie booth and endure the heat for three days, and the kid that (without endless supervision) got to really experience the full extent of the fair's power. There is something for everyone here, from over 150 different food booths to endless homemade crafts and goodies. Admittedly much of it is overpriced, but even without buying it is well worth it just for the view. By the view I mean, of course, the various goodies AND the people. Every day there is another wonder to behold. Sometimes its cave-people meandering through the dusty "streets", and other times its an entire parade of stilts and costumes with plenty of bystanders following along. When darkness falls, the staff links arms in a "sweep" across the fair grounds, pushing out the tourists so that booths can close up for the night. Once that is done, staff members get their own chance to have fun after their long and laborious day shifts (not that day shifts aren't fun, as I know from being a part of the Teen Crew). Some people here say that there is a lot of unfairness, and that the "real" party starts when the paying guests have gone home. In my opinion, it is the chance for the workers to be rewarded for their service. And besides, I know I look forward to my chance to rest and watch some fire dancers after running errands in the heat all day. There are plenty of chances to party it up during public hours, but the choice to take advantage of such chances is yours alone. The heat is bearable, with plenty of shady trees in the actual fair grounds. There are also any number of people ready to blast you with a water gun or a simple squirt-bottle if you give them a yell. The dust is bearable as well, and I don't really notice it as much as a first-time fairgoer might. Outside, on the way in, it can get a bit uncomfortable. But inside is actually pretty nice the majority of the time. There is even a booth that sells FANTASTIC organic bug spray that will do you well long after you've left the fair. I didn't get one bug bite last year, neither did I get dirty enough to desperately need a shower before I went home. Its all about how you play it. And that, my friends, seems like a good sum-up to this review. Its all about how you play it. If you come in wanting to have fun and experience things you may have never seen and may never see again, this is the place for you. Leave your ears open for the faint sounds of the drum tower or the many street performers abound. Leave your eyes open for the next weird thing that might come your way, because it could very well ask you to dance. And leave your mind open, because that is the very best way to take in all the fair and its diverse and wonderful people have to offer. read more