Man, I so love the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta. Every year my wife and I feel joyful and rejuvenated when we attend on our usual opening Friday.
If only the entire freaking United States could be this loving, this uninhibited, this creative, this yes-yes-yes (a Fair slogan) ALL of the time.
After parking our car, we came across a talented couple outside the entrance gate who reminded us that everyday reality is much enhanced during the three days of the fair.
We had bought tickets months ago in anticipation of our annual secular-sacred July pilgrimage to a land where a fierce friendly creature greets visitors. I guess "the dragon ate my ticket" would have been a good excuse if I'd misplaced my entry pass.
Their bike seemed way too big for them. Or they were too smal for the bike. Or something. No need to figure stuff out at the Oregon Country Fair. Just flow with ...whatever.
Lucky us! A parade passed by soon after we started our tour of the winding paths that lead through the fair.
I was able, but just barely, to squeeze into the always-popular belly dancing viewing area. The only place to stand was right in front of a tree. But that only enhanced the view.
Because it seemed like the beautiful woman was dancing with the tree. Or the tree was dancing with her.
Briefly she and the tree became one.
An Oregon Country Fair path-side conversation between friends.
This sure seemed like a possible purchase -- Laurel's favorite colors. But she passed it by. So many booths, so little time. The cloudy rainless 80 degree'ish weather today was perfect for pleasant browsing. Not nearly as hot as it sometimes is at the fair.
A broom danced on top of this booth. Which was selling brooms.
The whole ambience of the Oregon Country Fair is like no other, in large part because of the beautiful natural setting.
Marvelous colors stand out against the often-mossy greenery.
We encountered Matt Trickey, who works at LifeSource Natural Foods here in Salem. He was peddling "fossillized mushrooms." OK... Whatever, Matt. He tried to explain what they were to me, but wasn't making any sense. Matt might have been under the influence of non-fossillized mushrooms.
Or maybe I was. Because I could completely get what this guy was telling me.
This was one of my favorite booths. I could live happily in this simple booth-cottage. (If it had high-speed Internet. And a big screen TV.)
Here's another high-tech/low-tech juxtaposition. A kid was perusing his iPad, I think it was, from inside a woven wood sculpture.
The drumming circle was filled with happy energy. This guy with a flute accompanied the drummers skillfully.
Another parade!
The parade's band members ended up at Stage Left to be part of a vaudeville show. During the show a cast member asked the audience, "What's the most boring town!" Naturally I yelled out "Salem" as loud as I could.
So sad... we had to leave in late afternoon.
Along with Nancy and Steve, friends from Salem who came to the fair with us.
Walking back to our car, I came across a "throne" that gave me regal ideas. I liked the notion of blessing admiring throngs with a vague dismissive gesture of my kingly hand.
Initially throngless, I managed to find one peasant willing to stand by my throne and receive her lord's blessing. (Just barely willing, though, judging from her expression.)
A final parking area image.
I started at your critique/gentle suggestions/ good ideas about the Salem Art Fair and thereby lost an hour on your neat blog. Reading reading reading. You've given me an unexpected itch to visit the Oregon Country Fair and try some vegetarian Indian food. Good on ya. It would be wonderful if the OCF would hire you to reach out to grammas who survived the sixties, like me. Keep on writing!
Posted by: Ann | July 20, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Ann, I hope you scratch that itch. Buy tickets to the 2015 Oregon Country Fair well in advance, next spring. I believe they sell out, and no tickets are sold on site anymore.
If you need more convincing that the OCF is for you, I've put up other blog posts with photos after previous visits to the fair. To find them just do an "Oregon Country Fair" search using the Google search box in the right sidebar.
Also, it sounds to me like you should like Strange Up Salem. Both my Salem Weekly column with that name, and my Strange Up Salem Facebook page. Give it a like. You could be the 400th liker!
https://www.facebook.com/StrangeUpSalem
Posted by: Brian Hines | July 20, 2014 at 11:37 AM