Rainbow Gathering: 5,000 to 10,000 Campers near Tidioute for 4th of July

Read current news updates here   See photos of this year's Rainbow Gathering at this link.

 
The summer-time population of Warren County might swell by as much as 40% this July 4 holiday as campers from all around the country hold an annual "Rainbow Gathering" in the Allegheny National Forest. The annual impromptu celebrations are now in their 38th year. The nature and alternative-cultures enthisiasts held their first camping vacation since 1972 in Colorado.

To read about an award-winning film documentary on the eclectic group, visit this link. 

To view a documentary on the local economic impact from the previous Rainbow Gathering in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, visit Warren TV.

Read the Associated Press report here.

Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness write:

"If you are planning a camping trip to the Allegheny National Forest around the 4th of July holiday, please watch for news reports about the upcoming "Rainbow Gathering," and which part of the ANF they decide to camp in.

If you want to have a quiet, uncrowded experience while visiting the ANF, then you will want to avoid this massive campout. There could be anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 people attending the event."

According to the Erie Times, "Allegheny National Forest will be home for more than 15,000 people during the 38th annual national Rainbow Gathering.

The event is held every year in locations across the United States by the Rainbows, as they call themselves. The gathering has been held in Allegheny National Forest twice before, in 1986 and 1999, and will take place this year from July 1-7."

However, anecdotal reports (see comments section below) and a Times Observer article put the actual numbers somewhere between 5000 to 10,000 campers.

The actual location of the campsite was announced this week. It is about 6 miles southeast of Tidioute near Hearts Content in Warren County. The last time they were here, in 1999, the environmentally-conscious group got good marks for cleaning up.

For more information on the Rainbow Gathering, you can visit an article about them at Wikipedia.

Above photo is of the 2005 Rainbow Gathering in Cranberry, West Virginia. Photo in public domain.

See Related article: Getting Ready for Big Camp Out

 

Comments

[editor]

Thanks for the link! You might also like these fun photos taken by a local clergyman at this link:

http://www.alleghenyalmanac.com/2010/07/rainbow-gathering-2010-photos-from-allegheny-national-forest.html

ENJOY!

[Mosparx]

I ran across a website upon my return, from a Local who did a very nice posting about his visiting the Gathering:
http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/STONEMANGUITARS/rainbow.html

[Mosparx]

The amount of disinformation, bias, and prejudice that I am reading from the neighboring PA communities postings online is astounding. But it happens each year, no matter where the Rainbow Family gathers at. People fear most what they do not understand. Several years ago I took my wife and children to a supposedly "Wholesome" Bluegrass festival. What we witnessed after dark would make a sailor blush. In short, at any celebration you will have 95% decent folks and families there, but it is the 5% of the bad apples that gives the whole thing a black eye. The same as with NASCAR races, the Kentucky Derby, football games, or any other popular gathering that draws a large crowd. When an event is open to the public, anybody can just walk in. It's part of living in a country that is still Free. At least for the moment.

[Karin]

All information on the East Coast 2010 Gathering blog can be freely shared. I would appreciate credit being noted as to who authored what. Please copy and distribute freely.

[editor]

That last link does not work. Try this one for local news updates:

http://www.alleghenyalmanac.com/2010/06/local-residents-comment-on-previous-rainbow-gathering.html

[editor]

Thanks for the comments. I am trying to run updates from area news sources at http://www.alleghenyalmanac.com/2010/06/local-residents-comment-on-previous-rainbow-gathering.html. Welcome to Pennsyltucky!

[Mosparx]

And thank you Karin for giving a more realistic projected attendance figure than the Rangers and newspapers have. You write good words. The east coast gatherings do not get the large numbers like the west coast gatherings do. I doubt that there were more than 10-12K in 2005 in W. Va.
And to our excellent Editor/Host (sorry, I could not find your name) you are most welcome to come out and visit with us, have some food, walk around and meet some of the folks! Seriously, we do not bite, and we do not smell bad. I invite everyone to come out and see for themselves. You may love it or hate it, but you will never see anything else like it.

[Mosparx]

Glad to hear some positive input toward the Gathering for once, on a local basis. The newspaper in Bradford has a website set up with people telling tales of doom and gloom about the gathering, and "Hitting the Rainbowers with firehoses" etc. Not very neighborly if you ask me. We encountered the same negativity in Monongahela West VA in 2005. That is until the MAYOR of the town and his staff and family spent a day with us, and had dinner with us. The Mayor had the gumption to come out and inspect the gathering first hand, and loved what he saw. To all the Haters and naysayers- Come out and see for yourselves before you start casting stones. I have seen worse behavior at a Bluegrass festival than at a Rainbow Gathering.

[editor]

Thanks Karin! I enjoyed reading your blog at http://eastcoast2010gathering.blogspot.com/. Any chance I could re-post your entries about the Rainbow Gathering to keep people around here informed with first-hand info? Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[Karin Zirk]

Our numbers will probably be in the 5,000 to 10,000 range. There was a town hall meeting in Sheffield this evening. I'm not sure if any media representatives made it or not. We invite everyone to come out on July 1 and stay through July 4 - for the silent prayer/meditation for world peace. Check out my blog below for more detailed information.

[editor]

Thanks for the update, Karen. If you get any more news please fill us in. Thanks!

[The Other Karen]

The Rainbow Gathering is a free event.

Going to the wiki site will help you understand more about what it is and how it works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Gathering

This short video will give you an introduction as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLj8qsXt0ZE

Be advised that the 15-30,000 person estimate is likely WAY off. Eastern gatherings tend to be smaller, attracting about 8-10 thousand folks.

[joyce appel]

Do we camp in Hearts Content? How and when do you pay to go to this event?