For one weekend every July, a quiet stretch of forest outside Eugene transforms into something straight out of a dream. The air fills with music and laughter, the trails come alive with costumed performers, and everywhere you turn there’s a little bit of magic. This is the Oregon Country Fair, and in 2025 it’s celebrating an incredible 56 years of creativity, community, and pure whimsy.
Happening July 11–13, 2025, this iconic three-day festival invites you to step into a world where fairies and fire dancers roam, artisan booths wind like a river through the trees, and delicious scents from food carts drift on the summer breeze. It’s hard to explain to someone who’s never been—part art festival, part hippie carnival, part family reunion—but once you’re there, it all makes perfect sense.
A Festival Like No Other
The Oregon Country Fair was first dreamed up in 1969 as a simple craft fair to benefit an alternative school. Since then, it has grown into a massive celebration of art, music, and self-expression, attracting more than 45,000 visitors each year to its wooded fairgrounds in Veneta.
Over the decades, it’s become a rite of passage for Oregonians and a destination for free spirits from all over the world. Yet despite its size, the Fair has stayed true to its roots: sustainability, community, and a deep respect for the land. Compost bins and recycling stations are everywhere, volunteers keep the water flowing at misting stations and fountains, and creativity seems to bloom from every corner.
What to Expect in 2025
This year’s Fair promises a little bit of everything. On 17 stages scattered throughout the shady paths, you’ll find an all-star lineup of musicians, poets, jugglers, aerialists, and giant puppets swaying above the crowds. If you’re lucky, you might catch R&B artist Celisse, folk duo the Shook Twins, or the high-energy antics of Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters lighting up the Main Stage meadow.
Food lovers, bring your appetite. With 85 food booths, the Fair is a culinary adventure all its own. Longtime favorites include the potato knish at Knish Bliss, sausage-on-a-stick from Cleveland Chicken, and the giant burritos at Ritta’s Burritos. For dessert, grab an organic fruit popsicle or freshly baked cookie before heading back into the fray.
Shopping is another adventure entirely. More than 300 artisan booths line the trails, offering handmade jewelry, woodcrafts, candles, pottery, clothing, and even musical instruments. It’s like wandering through a fairy marketplace where every booth holds something unexpected.
A Place for Everyone
The Fair prides itself on being welcoming and inclusive. OCF Marketing Manager Vanessa Roy describes it as “an island in the storm,” where people can let go of their everyday worries and show up exactly as they are. “We want you to feel safe, loved, and included,” she said. “Bring a friend, because there really is something here for everyone.”
That said, first-timers should know the Fair has a few quirks. It’s officially an alcohol- and “drug-free” event, but you may still catch the scent of cannabis drifting through the air. Nudity is also part of the Fair’s anything-goes vibe, so don’t be surprised to see a few bare chests painted with butterflies.
Families are more than welcome, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. There are two family-only zones—Mellow Space and Groover’s Grove—where kids can unwind if the sensory overload gets to be too much. Puppet theaters, art stations, face painting, and storytime performances keep little ones entertained throughout the day.
The Fairgrounds cover about 500 acres along the Long Tom River, just 15 miles west of Eugene on Highway 126. Parking costs $15 per vehicle, but the best way to get there is via the free shuttle buses running every 15–30 minutes from Valley River Center and LTD’s downtown Eugene station. Your Fair ticket doubles as your bus pass, making it an easy, eco-friendly choice.
Getting There
Speaking of tickets, there are no sales at the gate. You’ll need to purchase in advance at oregoncountryfair.org. One-day passes are $64.46, three-day passes are $159.02, and discounts are available for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.
When the Sun Sets
By 7 p.m., when the public gates close, the Fairgrounds shift into a very different kind of party. Volunteers, vendors, and camping pass holders stick around for glowing light installations, spontaneous drum circles, and after-hours revelry that feels part rave, part dreamscape. For most visitors, though, the Fair is a daytime experience—and one they’ll be talking about for years.
There’s no place quite like the Oregon Country Fair. It’s a celebration of imagination, inclusion, and Oregon’s enduring counter-culture spirit. So grab your sun hat, lace up your walking shoes, and prepare to leave the ordinary world behind for a weekend you’ll never forget.
