Anyone been to a Rainbow Gathering?

idk what it is but seems funny

Yeah it's a bunch of drumming and pot smoking and acid trips. Bring candy bars, preferably Kit Kat, if you want to make friends and score weed. Most of these gatherings are held out in the middle of nowhere and half the people don't bring food.

It's gonna be in Washington again?

is that for gays and lesbians

I went to one about 18 years ago in TN. If you go, prepare yourself for the stench of humans w/o deodorant and baths. When I got out of the car, I almost vomited from the smell.

Also, there were a lot of really bizarre people there who skipped around and seemed like they had fried their brains on drugs, sort of like the old Deadheads. One guy gave me a poem; another a silver dollar.

This was the tail end of the festival, so the people who were left had been there a while. But also be careful, as I had heard that convicts tend to hang out there, too.

Let me know how it was if you go!

I'd love to go. When/where exactly in WA?

I've had many bad experiences with "Rainbow People". The gathering at the Heart's Content Recreation Area brought thieves,moochers and dumpster divers.

They clean the forest and trash everything else.

And would it kill'em to bathe? Seriously.

These are just my experiences, of course and is not representative of all participants.

I was stopped at a roadblock and car searched by the gestapo once while driving through the national forest when they apparently were having a Rainbow Gathering.

Just great. name added to yet another police state list.

oh yeah, the rainbow people.

just do yourself and your kids if you have any a favor, dont take the kids with you.

you shouldnt haft to worry about what to wear though, seeing how most of em are naked.

and those hippies are getting pretty old by now. the horrors!

No I have never been. Last time I was in Washington was 08 and have wanted to go back. It is a 3000 mile trek for me though.

My last visit there I attended something I imagine was very much like the Rainbow Gathering though. It was called Barter Fair. In far north central Washington, 10,000 campers on native American land sharing food, crafts, arts, music and brotherly and sisterly love. For 4 days. No police, no fights, no trouble.

France you shouldn't be laughing...I heard your people don't take baths either...just sayin'

Love the varied replies on this thread so far, LOL

Thanks guys for the tips

Yep its all that, plus as happened at the Missouri Gathering in the 80's roughly 2/3 of the people knew how to party and about 1/3 knew how to camp. Also, if you end up as part of the group that they don't like, expect to learn a side of democracy you would rather not experience, it's called Mob Rule.

If you are going, refrain from using money on the site. Upon arrival, leave all your alcohol at the A-camp, so they won't have to pass the hat and go to town to buy beer. Be respectful while taking pictures of people, ask first if at all possible. Find out where the latrines are, or better yet help dig at least one. Learn how to trade for what you want or need, think of the experience as what would happen if our civilization were to fail and we still needed to function. Do help out at the various kitchens and communal campfires, such as gathering dead firewood from the forest. Learn some good jokes and stories to share. And when leaving bring out as many bags of garbage as you can fit in or on the car.

it's a moving festival of cockroachs. Perfect for ya, OP.

Went to the gathering in WV in 1990. The naked chicks got offended at you for looking at their tits. The fat naked chicks got offended because I wouldn't wash them in the river. The food was all either vegetarian or McDumpster. And they beat the shit out of a tranny who was panhandling in front of a redneck bar in town. The weed was sparse but good. And the park ranger showed up, looked at the permits and left us alone. Not at all like what's been happening at the gatherings as of late.

I didn't last more than 3 days. I need meat. If a woman is naked, I am going to stare at her tits. Nothing can change that. And I don't like washing fat chicks. Not chunky. I mean 400 pound monsters. I ain't touching them. I did like the all of the hugs and "Welcome home brother"s. I had just left my wife and was really, really upset and needed those hugs more than anyone could imagine.

It was amazing how many of those hippies were rich kids. And then there were the rich kids who chose to eat out of dumpsters and live in abandoned houses. Not really my scene man.

I was at the SW Montana Gathering in 2000.

It was an awesome experience.

If you do go, be sure to take enough food and water and to last for however long you plan to be there, it's usually a huge hassle to drive out and drive back in.

When we went, we had a huge camp with a lot of people from the area I was living at then. We were camped on an access road halfway up a ridge that surrounded the main gathering on three sides. I think it was at least a mile walk from our camp to the main drum circle. The gatherings are a LOT bigger than you'd think!

BE SURE to camp away from A Camp. That's where all the hard core drinkers hang out and it's usually a pretty bad scene.

I saw online that there's a new camp that's sprung up in the last few years called Death Camp or something like that. Sounds to me like that's another camp you'd want to steer clear of. I'm not sure what exactly Death Camp is all about but you can Google it.

The Gathering is so huge though, that you can walk all over for days and never even see those two camps.

You can usually find an information booth as you enter the faire which will give you the location of the food kitchens (always free) and the bigger camps, etc.

Even counting in those two not-so-nice camps, a gathering is still a fantastic experience and one you will remember forever.

btw, the exact location of the gathering is not announced until June.

Since I live in Washington, I will be going, for at least a day trip if my work schedule doesn't allow me to go camping for a few days.

Yeah, I have been. It was in New Mexico near a town called Truth or Consequences around 1977. It seemed like every type of person was accounted for. Nerds, Hippies. Bikers. Teacher types. Organizers and business people. Very interesting. Emphasis on the alternative. Peyote buttons were there. Morning sunrise circles, clothing optional. I was thee three days and left. I heard after I left the entire place broke out in dissentary. Missed that part.

Don't let others drink from your personal drinking container, ever. Make sure your water comes from a clean spring, and check the source to make certain it is a clean spring. Generally if you drink things that required the water to be boiled the likelihood of sickness is less. Drink hot tea and coffee, and help carry potable water to the kitchen you like. A lot of this kind of event is based on what you can put into it. Be careful of others taking advantage of you.

Of the showers, it all depends on if someone knows how to set up the hot water system from the spring to where the showers are to take place. If going, and you can afford it, bring a couple or three hundred feet of black plastic water line, say inch and a half or so, plus fittings and if you stay for the duration you'll get it back. I once saw an old copper radiator from a vehicle over a campfire as the heating element at the Wyoming Gathering. People get inventive and artistic at gatherings, its not all a bunch of wasted rangers, but there is that element too.

About dogs, leave them at home. Loose dogs are a problem and they poo wherever they feel like it, and even if you keep them on a leash they may fight with other nice dogs. Dogs are generally unsanitary, treat them like small children at the Gathering. They don't like the super soaker, if you want other people's dogs to move on from your camp or kitchen.

Kids are OK to bring, like dogs, keep track of them. If your kids are young and or innocent, keep them close. If they are older let them be free, if they yearn for it. Always leash your dog, trust your dog to do something unsavory. Prepare yourself to camp before you actually go by camping outside on the weekend, that way you will know what to bring in your backpack.

At the Kid Village, the kids will eat better than everybody else. Don't expect to get food when you want it, expect long lines. Go to the Council and involve yourself with the people who make the event ROCK. Attend any and all stage performances, most likely it will be the only big event that night.

Go take pictures of the wonderful things people make in the woods for everybody to use for a short time, because they create from inspiration with no thought of getting paid for their efforts. Participate in the workshops, find people or kitchens you like and camp near them.

Lock up your stuff, or hide it really good, better yet don't bring it, if you think you might need to leave it and come back to your camp later. If you fear losing stuff, just keep it with you, or hide it in your locked vehicle. Tempt not lest ye be lifted from. Camp near folks who will watch each others camp to make sure things stay put. Bring what you want to enjoy, candy bars are a good trade unless other folks brought candy bars. When leaving the Gathering, take lots of other peoples trash home with you, to put in your favorite dumpster, at home. Respect each other, and enjoy yourself.

Last Edited by The Starbuckian on 03/14/2011 08:01 AM

A rainbow meeting yup going to get your packed that just another place for all the guys that get tired of cruising the rest stops

OP, Are you still going to go given all of the postings?

Probably. I make my own decisions

isn't that for fags?

I live in washington
this will be my first
but many friends go religously

GAYZ ?? LOL you are dating yourself kid !!!


Its not the gay rainbow shit!!!

Its the old peace flag rainbow thing...

go to find peace , ( stay away from the drinkers tho)

and communal love ...


If your afraid of the 60s love thing PLEASE stay the hell home
!!!

Yes: I attended one in NC in the Pisquah National Forest. It was magical. They were out in the middle of nowhere.And they had structures with kitchens, food, water, talent shows,music, and druming, fire dancing,. If you can go then you should. They will not allow alcohol.You should bring food, enough to share.

Never heard of it before, just scanned the wiki page on it.

Sounds like a boring, vegetarian version of BURNING MAN?

Old Timer

I went when i was younger. I loved it and have been looking for another one to go to. I can't wait.