Photos from the Pre-Oregon Country Fair

This is Ellen and Gary and their dog Sammy. Ellen took me on a 20 mile bike ride on the first-class bike path along the Willamette River in Eugene. They built this side-by-side tandem bicycle seen below, which they take to Burning Man each year. I hope I captured the masterful engineering.  

                                                                             

Setting Up

I was particularly impressed with the outstanding organization of the Fair. After 40 years, they seem to have it down. The 10,000 volunteers camp at the Fair and must haul tents, supplies and necessities. Hand carts, along with motorized trailers are available for this purpose. Gary and Ellen brought their own wheelbarrow and as you can see in the above photo of Gary, he's proud of his packing job.

Below is the registration area where volunteers (sorted by crew), entertainers and vendors get signed in and wrist banded. 

A Bunch of Cool Stuff

The Village

The Fair takes place on 400 acres of land owned by The Fair. Much of the acreage has been built into an intentional community, with dirt roadways lined with unique wooden structures (often 2-stories), occupied by a vendor.  The land floods during the off season, and many of the structures must be rebuilt or reinforced each year. The intentional community is just for the 3 days of the Fair. During the rest of the year the land is unoccupied. The 10,000 volunteers set up tents in the woods behind the booths and walkways of the Fair, camouflaged by blankets.  I was swept away by grand manifestation of raw and vibrant human creativity. Next Year In Eugene!