Oregon Renaissance Faire 1969 in Eugene
Picture found on a foto archive site
Metal frame and parachute
Actually I thought before 1969 but I'll go by others memories on this. The reason this was a bit of an issue for me was I told the story of first setting up this fair, clearing a little ground, helping people make shelters and and sheds to show their wares. On some message board or Facebook somebody challenged me and said it's always been the Oregon Country Fair. Now it a documented part of history
Friend and I didn't quite get the Renaissance part of it and we had been playing with Geodesic Domes so we built one. Back then they threw away re-sawed lumber (1 3/4 by 1 3/4) and the heavy plastic covers put on on flatbed rail cars. Tie all your struts together with screw eyes and bolts and cover with plastic (Georgia Pacific label inside). I had my homemade candles and a friend his ceramics.
A University women's group was struggling with a shelter so we built them just the frame work and they covered it with tie-died sheets. Sun shade and attractive was most in demand.
The guy that built the dome above we only met there and he hadn't gotten the Renaissance thing either but there were lots of people playing with Domes in Eugene back then. We originally thought it was an Arts and Crafts Fair which it really was. Hippies and Arts and Crafts. We were asked later to not do the same next year as they wanted an "Ol' English" style to it.
