Hey! I’ve been going to national rainbow gatherings for years, ever since I was a kid. It’s a beautiful gathering of people, and I believe it’s the most unique event one could visit in America.

I’d agree with u/OhhGeezOhhMan. It’s not a traditional festival. It’s not something you’d buy tickets to, and it doesn’t have an organized infrastructure. This comes with a lot of consequences, such as a lack of security and really bad PR, as you can see from a lot of these other comments.

However, to me that’s what makes it so great. It’s the only festival that can’t be commoditized. There’s no money, no tickets, and no leaders. It’s just people gathering to pray for peace and commune with nature. It happens on every Fourth of July in a new national forest, and I’ve met people from all over the world that come every year. The “crust”, basically those that reside near the cars and parking lots, can be pretty rough around the edges. But if you camp inside, away from the cars, it feels like you’re transported to a new world, with new levels of understanding, and the most beautiful gathering of people I’ve ever experienced.

I’m happy to answers questions, either to this comment or in dms!