Oregon Country Fair
Time Line

 

1969

First Fair Hawkins Heights organized by Ron and Robin Ulrich

 

1970

May Fair held at Crow Road
October Fair held at Veneta (current property)

 

1971

Security Crew Established

 

1972

Grateful Dead field trip:  Sunday, August 27, sponsored by the Springfield Creamery
Set 1:  Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Black Throated Wind,
China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider, Mexicali Blues, Bertha.
Set 2:  Playing in the Band, He's Gone, Jack Straw, Bird Song, Greatest Story Ever Told.
Set 3:  Dark Star, El Paso, Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Casey Jones

 

1975

Oregon Country Renaissance Fair (name change begins)

 

1976

Community Village established
Security staff eliminating need for sheriff patrol
Oregon Country Fair (formerly Oregon Renaissance Fair… name change complete)

 

1980

Energy Park Established.
11th Annual Oregon Country Fair:  A Northwest Celebration filmed by Jerry Joffe

 

1981

Successful legal action against Lane County allows for down payment on land

 

1982

Grateful Dead field trip:  Saturday, August 28, sponsored by the Springfield Creamery
Set 1: Bertha, New Minglewood Blues, Tennessee Jed, Me and My Uncle, Big River,
Althea, It's All Over Now, China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider.
Set 2:  Day Job, Man Smart/Woman Smarter, West L.A., Fadeaway, Far From Me,
Playin' in the Band, drums, The Wheel, The Other One, Truckin', Black Peter,
Playin' in the Band, One More Saturday Night, Dupree's Diamond Blues

Purchase land
Alterable program
Established 501c3

 

1983

Fair almost rained out
First Peach Pit, bumper stickers, 6-pack toilets

 

1984

Camp Long Tom children's camp

 

1986

Free bus ride
Moz road constructed

 

1987

Archaeology determines 11,000 years of gatherings on this site
Paid on-site caretaker
First Spring Fling
Camp Out with Vaudeville video released,
Filmed by Jerry Joffe during the 1985 and 1986 fairs.

 

1988

New Highway 126 opens
Last year water truck in Figure 8

 

1989

Dehinda’s Acres established
First paid general manager
Archaeological Park established

 

1990

KLCC  broadcast

 

1991

Land paid
Installation of water system
Left bank established
Jill’s Crossing, Volunteers bridge opens
CB radios converted to FM communication system FCC license

 

1992

Failed Grateful Dead field trip
Endowment established
Attendance exceeds 50,000
Fair Family News newsletter begins

 

1993         

Wristbands
Yurt construction for caretaker’s residence
Fair Family News 1st edition
Stage Left opens
Zumwalt campground opens
Neighborhood response established
Lot security established

 

1994

Larson property established

 

1995

First watershed enhancement grant
Feasibility grant
Entertainment budget doubles
Web site created

 

1996

Attendance all time high 53,000+
Jill Heiman Vision Fund established
Further Festival Sunday July 28th
Advanced tickets
Off-site ticket sales
Site Manager established
Respect our community committee established with Veneta

 

1997

District Attorney threatens fair
Chela Mela meadow opens
Long Tom Watershed Council established with Further Festival funds
Wetland consolidation grant

 

1998

Paid Parking
Purchase in-town Office
Hospitality / Crew Services established
Rural investment fund experimental test plot grant

 

2000

Purchase of Hubbard property
Far Side land swap

 

2001

Purchase of Fuller property (Alice's wonderland)
Indian Creek Enhancement Grant
Friday 13,505, Saturday 17,725, Sunday 13,691, Total 44,921 Fairgoers
First Cultural Jam August 11-12

 

2002

Spoken Word speaker series
Friday 13,819, Saturday 17,362, Sunday 14,461,  Total  45,642 Fairgoers

 

2003

Friday 13,185, Saturday 15,957, Sunday 12,144,  Total  41,286 Fairgoers

 

2004

Friday 12,300, Saturday 16,000, Sunday 13,000,  Total  42,300 Fairgoers
Rabbit Hole opens for Spoken Word
Strawberry Lane
booths re-located
Purchase of Swanson property

 

2005

Vision Quest – what do we want the fair to look like at age 50 (2019)

Friday 12,289, Saturday 16,186, Sunday 11,925, Total  40,400 Fairgoers

2006

Friday 13,047, Saturday 18,339, Sunday 13,181, Total  44,567 Fairgoers