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QuickTake:
Can I still get a ticket to fair? What should I bring? How should I get there? This is the week when the woods near Veneta become the capital of the hippie world. Here’s what to know as you venture out for the Country Fair.
The Oregon Country Fair begins this week. Here’s what you need to know before you trek to Veneta for three days of tie-dye, woodsy charm and only-in-Oregon cultural experiences.
Can I still get a ticket?
Yes! Tickets are available online. Pricing starts at $60 for a single day and $150 for a three-day pass. Tickets for admission are not sold at the gate, so buy them online ahead of time.
Parking passes are also available online for $15 a day. (Bundle options combine admission and parking). If you pay for parking at the physical fair gates, it will cost you $20, cash only.
When is it?
The fair starts Friday, July 10, and runs through Sunday. Each day, the fair is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How should I get there?
The fair takes place on private grounds near Veneta, 12 miles west of Eugene on Highway 126. If you pay for parking, you can drive to the site.
But the fair recommends people take the free shuttle bus, in partnership with Lane Transit District. The buses start at 10 a.m. each day of the fair, and leave from the LTD Eugene Station downtown at 10th Avenue and Olive Street, as well as from the Valley River Center northwest parking lot. The last return bus leaves the fair at 7:30 p.m.
What should I bring?
There are five ATMs at the fair, but it’s a good idea to bring cash to avoid lines.
Also advisable:
- refillable nonglass water bottles
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- handheld fans
The weather forecast for this weekend in Veneta is relatively warm, per the National Weather Service. Friday and Sunday are expected to have temperatures near 84 degrees — the hottest temperatures expected during the fair. Saturday is forecast to have a high of 80 degrees.
What should I wear?
This is the time to bust out your flowiest, most bohemian outfits. Fair fashion is famous for its color, idiosyncrasy and “whatever goes” vibe, in as much or as little clothing as you’d like. The event is known for nudity, but per the Country Fair’s FAQ and Oregon state law, genitals must be covered in public.
Comfortable shoes for traipsing through the grounds also are recommended. I logged 12,520 steps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. one day during last year’s fair in my Tevas — while comfortable, my feet were so, so dusty by the time I was on the bus home. So consider how down-and-dirty you’re willing to get in the name of fashion.
What should I leave at home?
The fair’s FAQ has a long list of things not to bring, including:
- weapons
- drugs
- alcohol
- pets
- fireworks
- video cameras
- portable audio systems
- people who don’t have tickets
Who is performing this year?
Along the pathways and on performance stages, there will simply be too many performances for one person to absorb. Take a spin through the Peach Pit to curate your ideal fair lineup.
But this year’s acts include one I’m very excited for: comedian Demi Adejuyigbe. If you haven’t heard of Adejuyigbe, get excited: He’s been one of my favorite under-the-radar outside of the internet comedians for about a decade, and his delightfully absurd style is a perfect fit for the Country Fair. Here’s a great bit from his recent stand-up special “Demi Adejuyigbe: Is Going to Do One (1) Backflip” about solving racism.
One other callout: There’s so much music, it can be hard to figure out which bands to gravitate to. The Country Fair has compiled a Spotify playlist featuring each performing musician, so you can sample what different bands have to offer.
Is there anything special I should know about?
If you’d like to really embrace the Country Fair ethos, this year marks the 50th anniversary of The Ritz, the communal open-air shower space with two large saunas, a stage and no technology allowed.
The celebration begins at 1:30 p.m. Friday, starting with sharing history and stories from the Ritz and a tour of the interior, before the annual women’s-only time from 4 to 5:30 p.m. And the queer, transgender and all hour is 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
How many people will be there?
Attendance is capped at 15,000, though the population is closer to 35,000 when counting vendors, staff and crews. It can be a busy scrum, especially in the more populated walkways. If there’s something you would really like to see, make sure to carve out time to get there early.
If it’s your first fair, what should you expect?
Let the experience wash over you. I ended up dancing barefoot in the dirt last summer, so I had a fairly fun first year, but here’s what I wish I had done in particular:
- Stay hydrated, use sunscreen and savor the shade. It’s a crowded, sunny outdoor experience, and you’re going to walk away with a sunburn unless you’re savvy.
- Be willing to spend money. My first fair experience was a cash-strapped one, and once inside I made my way through spending less than $15 overall. But I can’t say that was ideal.
- Remember that the Peach Pit is your friend. The official guide is a godsend when you’re running around the woods: It has a directory and a full centerpiece map of the grounds, which comes in handy in the cell service-light stretch of woods the fair extends across.
Happy fair, Lookout readers! 🍑
