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“oh a rainbow gathering (from profile) is a post-hippie gathering that's been going on for at least 20 years, on the 4th of july weekend.

it's always held on different national proprety, usually a national forest, some people arrive in june to set up a seed camp but most attend over the 4th of july weekend, it's hard to estimate the number of people who attend (up to 2000 in my opinion), the only organizing belief is that you have a belly button (it's not any particular religion or philosophy) though people tend to be pro-environment and specific groups do have their own camps (the gays, krisnas, christians, etc)

there's a family camp area with specific activities for kids, drum circles, yoga classes, meditation, fairy camp (the gays) and usually some of sort of solar powered water filtration system has been set up which has always impressed me, vegetarian and vegan kitchens are set up by various groups, and all of this is set up in the remote, and it's always NON commercial, people are encouraged to donate to the magic hat to buy supplies but you don't have to. on the 4th, everyone is completely silent until "rainbow noon" (about 1 o'clock) when everyone gathers in together at a central location for giant healing/prayer/meditation ohm circle, which i found incredibly amazing all 3 times. plus just being a group of 1000 people all morning who are not talking felt very tribal and inspirational, it's a sort of prayer for world peace.

there's a first aid area with both traditional doctors and alternative healing, information areas, very interesting people from radicals, liberitarians, families, native americans, RVers, hikers, campers to some general weirdos, a self regulating non violent "police" group, alcohol is only allowed in A-camp since it's not a "frat party" their attitude is "we love the alcoholic but not the alcohol"

since this large a number of people do make an impact on the environment, with trails & bridges, etc, a group people, all volunteers like everyone, stay behind for up to a month afterward and work with local rangers on reseeding the area with natural wildlife to minimize long term impact.

the first one i attended was in northern michigan in a northwoods forest, i remember hearing music in the woods and the ohm circle blew my mind. the second one for me a few years back was in the high areas of northern california and one in a rocky area in the wasatch-cache nat forest in utah. i did not attend last year and i heard they had all sorts of problems with the government demanding someone sign a permit; usually the rainbow gathering has refused to do that since there is NO official organization of any kind so no one has the authority to sign such a paper, plus government land is protected in the constitution for people to peaceable gather, something is very threatening to the government about a group that can come together, take care of itself, protect the environment, feed and police itself all without any group or leaders; not that valid criticism about the entire event can't be made, but mostly overall i was impressed with the variety of people i met and the experiences i had, i went with different people to each one which also factors into enjoyment.

the towns closest to the event are traditionally "warned" the government but end up being rather pleased since everyone is mostly polite and these tiny towns make a killing from food gas and retail, probably more then they'll ever make since it's not usually near "nature" hot spots like yellowstone.

they also have a yearly international event in a different world biosphere which i imagine is much more dionysian since americans tend to be sexually and nakedwise more conservative. only a few people were naked at the 3 i attended

learn more at the (unofficial) website about the history, environmental impact studies and some photos, there's also local rainbow groups who have potlucks.

http://www.welcomehome.org/

"welcome home" is what people say as a greeting to one another, "home" being where ever the gathering takes place, the rest of the world is referred to as babylon.

note: there is also a gay camping group that now uses rainbow name but it's different in that it's sometime a commerical endeavor, so the name can have different meanings. but in my experience the main rainbow gathering refers to the this group's 4th of july event
last edited: 4/19/07 1:00:50 PM”

“they tend to gather up around Steamboat - last year they made the local Denver news.

Made a real mess of the place.

Decidedly NOT LNT folks.”

“i don't it's fair to say that of everyone Roam, i know i was LNT and i picked up others litter and disposed of it properly, but i didn't attend colorado last year. just commenting on my personal experience, plus reading through official government reports of post gathering activities is usually impressive

excerpt from a past report (not colorado's):

"We found the entire area completely cleaned up and rehabilitated. All trash had been picked up and removed and all latrenes and compost pits had been filled In and rehabilitated as described in the rehabilitation plan. All construction materials used in housing and cooking facilities had been scattered throughout the area to resemble a more natural condition.

With the recent rains the trampled down vegetation in the fields had already started to green-up and revegetate the heavily used areas. There were several areas that had been seeded with wheat and some clover and this seeding work was beyond the rehabilitation plan specifications.

The cleanup results were excellent but of no surprise. From the very first contacts - made at the beginning of the gathering clean-up work was being conducted by sorting trash, rehabilitating latrenes and compost areas, and continuous picking up trash including cigarett butts.

It is very obvious to me that there are several members of the Rainbow Family dedicated to maintaining a clean environment despite the obstacles of the heat/humidity, getting sick, and an overwhelming job. Individuals I would like to personally thank include: Badger, Dakota, Saylor, Jim, Victor, Val,, Kaba, Riffraff, and many others who worked so hard.

My personal thanks for a job well done and appreciated by all users of this National Forest area.

District Ranger"”

“The Rainbow Family that loiters in the Ocala Nat. Forest is a bunch of slobs too. They leave piles of garbage all over.”

“Great, a bunch of hippies trampling vegetation, disrupting wildlife, digging latrines, seeding non-native vegetation, and throwing cigarette butts on the ground. If the "peaceful alternative community building" thing is the main point, why don't you hold your gatherings in a Wal-Mart parking lot and leave the wilderness alone?”

“Who the frick doesnt know what a rainbow gathering is????


SC<----spent summers as a rainbow child :)”

““i don't it's fair to say that of everyone Roam, i know i was LNT and i picked up others litter and disposed of it properly, but i didn't attend colorado last year. just commenting on my personal experience, plus reading through official government reports of post gathering activities is usually impressive
Sammy Stone
12:06:41 PM
4/19/07


Fair enough Sammy S. I won't paint with a broad brush. But when they were in Steamboat they made a mess. The locals didn't appreciate them moving in and commandeering all the national forest campsites over the 4th of July.

Us folks that live around here and camp in the Nat Forest abide by the rules and pay the user fee for the campsites.

They didn't.

They left a mess behind.

They trampled the vegetation.

They won't be welcomed back.

They should have gone somewhere a little less visible and a little more remote and all the conflicts with the people that wanted to camp quietly away from hordes of people could have been avoided.”