No one can say they have truly experienced what life in Oregon is all about until they’ve experienced the Oregon Country Fair. From Friday, July 11 to 13, people from all over the country will flock to the woods just outside of Veneta to take part in one of the most unique and eco-friendly events in the U.S.
This year’s attractions include live performances on 17 stages with music, poetry, circus acts, and dance. “Everything is new every year,” said the fair’s media coordinator Jen Newtson, “and I’m excited about the whole damn thing.”
The Vaudeville shows, in particular, are the cause of much anticipation.
According to Newtson, the Oregon Country Fair is the worlds largest host of Vaudeville performers, and the act “Dancing with Chainsaws” is an all-time favorite among the coordinators, drawing comparisons with the classic Bugs Bunny cartoons.
In addition, the fair will host numerous crafts vendors throughout its 300 acres of land. Be on the lookout for the giant beehive with booths set up underneath it. In tandem with this larger-than-life setpiece, there will be a massive Mancala game that fairgoers will be able to interact with. This is in addition to the already popular life-sized chess board seen in previous years.
And, of course, there’s the food.
Everything from baked cookies to Cajun grills, there is something that will satisfy even the pickiest of appetites. Because of the organic, culturally diverse nature of the fair, much of the food slides to the ethnic side with more tempeh and stir fry than you can wave a fork at. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find classic fried foods, coffee stands, and pizza shacks. In the Oregon Country Fair, fortune favors the hungry.
There is more to the fair than just the sights, sounds and tastes, Newtson points out.
“The main cake is the money we provide for basic human needs,” she said.
All ticket sales are used to fund human services projects for the community. The Jill Heiman Vision Fund is one such project that has been used to raise money for Food For Lane County just by using coupons and bills from fair patrons. Since 1996, it has raised over $160,000 in addition to the Bill Wooten Endowment Fund, which this year is raising money for youth activities in the Fern Ridge area.
For Newtson, this is what the Oregon Country Fair is all about.
“All the people who come who are so full of the spirit of the fair. It’s all for a deep purpose,” she said.
If you haven’t purchased a ticket yet and would like to, they can be found in the EMU ticket office, and can only be bought in advance of the fair. Fairgoers are encouraged to ride the free LTD shuttles to cut down on automobile emissions.
For more information go to www.oregoncountryfair.org.