Oregon Country Fair

I finally made it to the Oregon Country Fair. It was the 40th one so it was about time, and I found out a favorite performer of mine was going to be there so I had to go. The main reason I think I never tried too hard to make the fair is because the medieval war I've been going to for the past 18 years falls on the weekend before the fair and I spend the fair weekend resting. Not this year! I "hippied" up and hit the road. Didn't take the bus since this was my first time and knew I'd just be out in the parking lot with no real reason to have it there. I left kinda late as I look back since I had to score a ticket on the way, and there was a delay a few miles from the fair with fire trucks but no fire.

My parking spot had to be over a mile from the fair entrance it seemed, and it was mostly just cars between my truck and there. My front license plate vanished there which was lame, but I'm over it. So, I get my hand stamp and enter the fair after my trek from the lot. There are constant city buses coming and dropping and picking up people by the gate so its a pretty busy spot, but nothing compared to inside the fair. The best I can describe the fair location is like a forest groves with a track through it. It has a nice big creek you cross over on bridges a few spots inside the fair, and has spots where they hold the performances along the way. The main stage has some room in front of it for a crowd, but most of the spots are small and maybe 200 people can get a good view of them. I missed all but the last song of the artist I wanted to see, but at least I made it for the one song.

Getting around inside the fair is interesting, but don't try to get anywhere fast. There are basically 2 lanes of people traffic going either way, and the pace is slow. Like baby step slow, and you are surrounded by people going every which way since the track is lined with booths selling all sorts of items and foodstuffs, and people will see something that catches their eye and cross in front of you to get to it. Musicians also litter the landscape along the track, and you'll hear a washboard band or piano man playing some good jams.

The merchants sell some really nice things, from stone blade knives to kiddie superhero capes. The selection was good, and I was compelled to buy a wooden comb from a 20 year fair vet who claims to be the only wooden comb maker in the US that he is aware of. Its a great comb I use it every day now, combmaker.com if you want one. I also sampled some of the food, it was all good, I really like the organic ice cream sandwich dipped in the fresh melted chocolate. I also ate an egg roll that stands out, and kabobs I had were also excellent. The fair kind of had theme to some sections, there is a gypsy caravan, and a primitive zone, that stood out for me, and there was a guy at one of the primitive displays doing a demonstration on stone age fire making, and was really good and I had to catch it twice.

The headliners on Saturday were the Gourds who I didn't even know were playing until I walked by the main stage and heard them jamming out some hillbilly bluegrass jams. They are best know for the country fried version of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice" they are a fun time, and the crowd was really into it. A 15 foot tall puppet manned by 3 people was even out in the thick of the crowd getting down. The band really seemed to get a kick out of the Eugene hippie types, and promised not to speak of this back in Texas. They even brought out Baby Gramps to jam with them on the last song, so I got to see him rock out for another song after all. The show was great, but ended kind of early it seemed, but I guess they want to kick the masses out and start the partying for real. At least that is what I hear, the best times are when the public is gone and the fair workers can let loose.

All in all, a good time, but kind of crowded for my liking.