Okanogan Family Faire 2014

Published by The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle

Welcome to the

October 3, 4, 5, 2014

We welcome you to the 2014Okanogan Family Faire and the41st annual “Barter Faire.”

We would like to thank all ofour volunteers and all those whosededication makes this Fairepossible every year. This is afamily event that supports,community, health, theenvironment, encourages a slowfood trade, sharing of skills andknowledge, arts and crafts,performance and storytelling.

This is truly a time of reunionand renewal for those that gatherhere. It’s an opportunity for peoplefrom near and far to gather andcelebrate.

With gratitude, we celebratecultural diversity, the earth, thespirit and love of mankind and alllife. Rich in culture, history, trade,music and the arts, we gather asfriends, neighbors and family. It isan experience where lifelongbonds and relationships areformed. It’s a time when hugs

abound. This year, we are again

featuring music on the Amplifiedand Solar stages.

There will be workshops in theSkills Sharing Center at thenorthwest corner of the Faire. TheSkills Center is a place to learn,teach and share.

Artisan Row on Main Streetwill have many interesting andamazing arts and craftsdemonstrations for Faire goers tosee and learn.

Check out the Free Store whereeverything is free. Visit ourinformation booth. Check out ourFirst Aid and Green OkanoganRecycling. And if you want to rest,visit and regroup, stop by one ofour hospitality camps that arelocated throughout the Faire. Thisyear, we will have maps posted in

various locations throughout theFaire marked with “you are here”to help people navigate and ensureyou see all that the Faire has tooffer.

We look forward to seeing youall this year at the Faire andextend a warm welcome to ourfriends, neighbors, family andcommunity.

We hope you enjoy the “BarterFaire” and experience the beautyand excitement of the manycultural offerings.

There is a saying by VirginiaSatir, a respected family therapist:“We need four hugs a day forsurvival. We need eight hugs a dayfor maintenance. We need twelvehugs a day for growth.”

You can easily get enough hugsto last a year at the OkanoganFamily Faire.

Page 2 — 2014 Okanogan Family Faire

2014 Okanogan Family Faire Magazine

©2014 The Omak-Okanogan County ChronicleOwned and operated by Eagle Newspapers Inc.

Roger Harnack, Editor and PublisherBrock Hires, Section Editor

Teresa Myers, Advertising ManagerP.O. Box 553, Omak, WA 98841

618 Okoma Drive, Omak, WA 98841509-826-1110 • 800-572-3446 • 826-5819 fax

•www.omakchronicle.com

The Chronicle

Spectators from across the region gather at last year’s ‘Barter Faire.’

Okanogan Family FairBoard of Directors

President: Debbie Goodrich

Vice President: Leilani Kilpatrick

Secretary: Dave Sorensen

Treasurer: Tim Vallo

Director: Ted Bryant

Director: Zac Gorba

Alternate: Kathy Johnson

Fair ManagerTim Vallo

Welcome to the 2014 Family Faire“

This is truly a time of reunion and

renewal for those that gather here.President Debbie Goodrich

”

FROM THE

FAIRE

PRESIDENTDebbie Goodrich

The Chronicle

A cook serves dinner to volunteers during the 2012 Okanogan Family Faire on Cayuse Mountain.

By Brock HiresThe Chronicle

CAYUSE MOUNTAIN — Anempty field nestled in theOkanogan Highlands will soonbecome the most populatedcommunity in Okanogan County.  

Thousands of people areexpected to attend the 41st annualOkanogan Family Faire —commonly known as “BarterFaire” — at the top of CayuseMountain Road, north of stateHighway 20 between Tonasketand Aeneas Valley 

The Faire begins Friday at 76W. Cayuse Mountain Road. Gatesopen for campers at 8 a.m. Friday,with events and activitiescontinuing throughout theweekend. 

Vendors will be allowed to setup Thursday.

Organizers say the majority ofthe people attending the eventcamp on-site, but day passes areavailable. Fees are charged forentry and camping.

Campfires are allowed onthegrounds with posted permitsunless the state Department ofNatural Resources says otherwise. 

Okanogan County Sheriff FrankRogers encourages all who attendto have fun and be careful.

“Enjoy it,” he said. “Have funand remember it’s still dry outthere. We don’t need any fires.”

Another policy that is still ineffect is the prohibited use ofmarijuana, alcohol and other

illegal drugs on faire grounds.“We don’t allow drugs or

alcohol at the faire,” organizerssaid. “If we see it, you will beasked to leave our grounds.”

Sheriff Rogers said the securityat the event is very good, andshould there be disorderlyconduct, people are escorted out.

“They police it pretty well,” hesaid. “We work quite a bit with thefolks up there. They’ve workedreally well with law enforcement.” 

There is also a full line-up ofentertainment, too.

As in the past, there will be twostages, an amplified stage and asolar stage.

One of this year’s performers,BlueJay Hankins, said this year’slineup includes a lot of local acts.

“The music is a good line up ofnorthwest acts and a lot ofhomegrown groups from righthere in Okanogan County,”Hankins said. “I’m lookingforward to going to the Faire. 

“It’s kind of a family reunion ofsorts for me and my crew.” 

Assistant manager of TonasketNatural Foods Co-Op JulieGreenwood said she’s lookingforward to another year. 

“I started working the Faire asone of the volunteer as anorganizer in 1995. You’ll findpeople from all walks of  life”

Though the Faire attractsthousands of people annually,volunteers manage the non-profitorganization.

2014 Okanogan Family Faire — Page 3

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Faire kicks off Friday in highlands

The Chronicle

Randy Battle Bluz Band performing at last year’s Family Faire.

Festivities continue

through Sunday on

Cayuse Mountain

Amplified stage

schedule

FridayNoon Honoring The People, NativeDrum and Song 1:30 p.m. Bryan Warhall3 p.m. Randy Battle Bluz Band 4:30 p.m. Ruby Rust6 p.m. Eb & Flow7:30 p.m. Planetary Refugees9 p.m. Rise N Shine Band10:15 p.m. Fire Dancers 11p.m. The Company Band

Saturday, 11a.m. Honoring The People, Native

Drum and Song Noon Hippies on Vacation 1:30 p.m. Johnny and the Moondogs3 p.m. Lota and Friends4:30 p.m. Outer Space Blues Band6 p.m. Knowbody Knew7:30 p.m. The Medicine Brothers9 p.m. Hybrid Vibe10:15 p.m. Fire Dancers 11 p.m. Sick Donkey Records

Sunday11 a.m. Parade, Raffle and Prizes,Hosted by Buffalo Mazetti1 p.m. Chuck Oakes, The AcousticClydesdale2:30 p.m. Up and Away 4 p.m. Slow Children At Play

2014

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Page 6 — 2014 Okanogan Family Faire

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Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.Breakfast Buffet: Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

One block off Main Street, Omak • 509-826-5836

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Faire-goers call event a ‘reunion’

By Roger HarnackThe Chronicle

AYUSE MOUNTAIN –Call it a family reunion,of sorts.

The 41st annualOkanogan Family Faire isexpected to attract more than5,000 people to the mountain,where the largest “city” inOkanogan County will pop upFriday and fade away Sundaynight.

Gale Hogan of Tonasket hasbeen attending the event years andplans to be an on-site vendoragain this year.

“This will be fun,” she said,noting the event offers her achance to sell her all-natural waresas well as reconnect with “family.”

“It’s a reunion for generations,”she said, noting the Faire hascome a long way since it began asthe “Barter Faire,” whereparticipants traded goods andservices in lieu of selling.

Hogan has been a food vendorfor several previous events. Butthis year, she’s switched to sellingglycerine soaps, lotions and salves.

She’s hoping her TonasketFarmers Market customers willseek her out at the OkanoganFamily Faire this coming weekend.And she hopes her former foodcustomers will stop to pick someof her new products.

Hogan is one of dozens ofvendors who will be among thethousands in attendance.

Other vendors will sell orbarter fresh produce, clothing,hats, music, instruments and otheritems too numerous to name,former event manager Sadie

Cohoe said.“There will be all styles of food

and all kinds of people,” she said.“It’s going to be better than ever.”

Golden Tree Hostel owner IanWoolworth of Orcas Island saidabout 100 islanders will be comingto the event from Orcas, Lopezand Vashon islands.

The group typically handles dayparking for locals wanting toventure into “Barter Town.”

“We’re the first people day-parkers will see,” he said, notinghe’s been coming to the faire formore than 20 years.

In previous years, Woolworthhas had a vendor booth.

“I was the annoying waffle guywith the horn,” he said.

While he won’t be a vendor inhis own right this year, severalislanders will be.

“There’ll be lots of vendingbooths,” he said. “There’ll becoffee and chai from Lopez andchai and baked goods from Orcas.”

Woolworth said he’s lookingforward to the “energy” found onlyon Cayuse Mountain. He’s alsolooking forward to re-connectingwith “family.”

“There’s this friendship andfamily that you only see there,” hesaid. “It’s built over a weekendonce a year, and grows with time.”

Islanders will celebrate thatconnection Friday and Saturdaynights at a large hospitality fire,weather permitting.

Day-use activities at theOkanogan Family Faire open at 8a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Those who come for the day areasked to depart by midnight, tohelp parking attendants and othervolunteers clean up the grounds inpreparation for the next day.

Faire-goers wishing to staylonger can rent camping spots forthe entire weekend, allowing themto participate in activities andlisten to music during earlymorning hours.

Celebration puts

Cayuse Mountain on

the map each year

The Chronicle

Okanogan Family Faire-goers play the drums together during the 2012 event on Cayuse Mountain.

Marijuanaprohibited

The Chronicle

TONASKET — OkanoganFamily Faire organizers say theuse and sale of marijuana remainsprohibited this year in publicareas.

The fairgrounds are on privateproperty, but the streets, pathwaysand stage areas are consideredpublic spaces, under state law.

She acknowledges that amajority of the fairgoers in thepast “have been green friendly”and accepting of marijuana usage.

Selling marijuana at the barterfaire is strictly prohibited inaccordance with laws set forth bythe state Liquor Control Board.

The same rules apply toalcohol.

Glassware and pipes are allowedon grounds, and can be sold byvendors, organizers said. However,the products must be kept out ofsight of children to help “preservethe family atmosphere,” formerevent manager and volunteer SadieCohoe said last week.

Security personnel will be on-site to help curtail marijuana-related activities. Okanogan CountySheriff’s Office deputies will beavailable, should security officialsneed law enforcement assistance.

Questions regarding other rulesof the Okanogan Family Faireshould be directed to on-sitemanagers and organizers.

Glassware allowed,

but must be kept out

of view of childrenC

2014 Okanogan Family Faire — Page 7

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‘Barter Faire’ stands test of time

By Dee CampThe Chronicle

AYUSE MOUNTAIN –An event that started as aharvest festival forpeople to trade items

needed for the winter and theirhousehold larders has evolvedover the past 41 years into aregional event attractingthousands to Okanogan County.

The Okanogan Family Faire,known over the years by a varietyof names, remains most known byits first name, “Barter Faire.”

It began in 1973 as a venue forfolks who had items to trade.

Founder Michael “Skeeter”Pilarski, 66, said the original goal,as outlined on the event’s firstposter, was to “git your winterstash of vittles.” Over the years,the event became more of amarket, craft fair and musicfestival.

Originally, bartering and givingwere the event’s watchwords.Pilarski, who now lives in HotSprings, Mont., estimated a thirdof the trade is by barter and therest on a cash basis. Hagglingremains strong.

“It’s a lot like a third-worldmarket,” he said.

Despite the changes, longtimevolunteer and Tonasket residentMichael “Buffalo” Mazzetti saidbarter remains an important formof currency. Many people postsigns detailing what they have andwhat they need.

Mazzetti, now 66, has beeninvolved with and attending thefair since 1974.

“There are a lot of doubletrades,” he said. “People will see

something they need and goaround and trade for somethingthat person wants in order tomake the trade. It’s quite a funthing if you go with the intent ofonly trading.”

He said some people try to seehow far they can “trade up.” Whenhis children were little, he said hewould give each a handful of garlicbulbs and send them out to seewhat they could find. One barteredand traded item after item until hecame back with a bicycle.

Music has always been part ofthe faire, but over the years theevent expanded with the additionof food booths, recycling, a kitchenand other site improvements. 

It’s now highly organized, withtraders organized onto labeled“streets,” a security force,sanitation standards and somedisabled access. There’s a formalorganizing committee and awebsite.

In the beginning, though,organizers tried to keep the eventlow-key. 

“For years, we didn’tadvertise,” Mazzetti said. “Wedidn’t want all that many peoplethere.”

“The first year, we didn’tannounce the site until the daybefore,” said Pilarski, who’s beento the Faire every year.

For awhile, posters were putout but then the faire grew andorganizers went back to keepingthe site and the date a secret.Sometimes the site would changeat the last minute, he said.

In 1995, attendance balloonedto around 3,000, partly as a sideeffect of the August 1995 death ofGrateful Dead guitarist JerryGarcia.

“Last year, we were the victimsof Jerry Garcia’s death,” volunteerVirginia Mazzetti told OkanoganCounty commissioners inFebruary 1996 as the countypondered whether to require the

faire to comply with its festivalordinance.

Many so-called “Deadheads” –followers of the band – were leftwith nowhere to go after the bandbroke up following Garcia’s death.

She said many were down andout teenagers looking forsomething to do after coming froma vigil in Spokane the night before.

“We were the next party,” shetold commissioners at the time.

“It was smaller until 1995, andthen there was a big influx ofpeople and it just ballooned outafter that,” Tonasket NaturalFoods Co-op Assistant ManagerJulie Greenwood said.

“A lot of people who followedThe Dead were looking for placesto be with like-minded people,”she said.

That year, Phish had beenplaying in Spokane, and many ofits attendees headed west whenthey caught wind of the barterfaire. So many people showed upthat Thursday and Friday, thatfaire organizers had to round upas many residents as they could tohelp out, Greenwood said.

After that, the county dustedoff what Mazzetti called “TheWoodstock Ordinance,” whichrequires festivals expected to draw3,000 or more people to obtain apermit. The first permit was issuedin 1998 for the event’s 25th year.

The event continued to grow,with attendance sometimestopping 7,000 and merchants inthe hundreds, Pilarski said.

Event dates are set earlier andannounced on the event’s website. 

Admission has always beencharged, but the first year itconsisted of an open donation boxwith some Faire-goerscontributing and others raidingthe till. Still, the Faire ended upwith a bit of money.

Mazzetti said the group nowlooks at when general firearmshunting season begins and tries to

avoid that weekend, with a view towhether the county infrastructurecould handle all the extra trafficfrom both events.

“We try to fit the schedule ofthe county,” he said.

Hundreds of volunteers areneeded to organize what becomes,for one weekend, the largest “city”in the county.

The Faire’s impact on thecommunity is huge, not just fromthe influx of people but also in aneconomic sense.

“There’s a big infusion of cash,”Pilarski said, estimating 80percent of the gate receipts stay inthe county. “There’s real economicbenefit to the county.”

Mazzetti said one year Faireorganizers tried to demonstratethe impact by encouragingattendees to bring $2 bills and usethem when they purchased itemsdowntown. A number ofmerchants were left with good-sized stacks of $2 bills.

The Faire also has gotten thereputation of being a drug- andalcohol-fueled party, but Mazzettiand Pilarski said organizers havealways encouraged people to keepcontraband off the grounds, or atleast out of sight.

“We’ve tried to keep drugsdown at the Faire,” Pilarski said.“We don’t condone it as anorganization. It’s not our aim.”

The Faire also has had a “verystrong” no-alcohol policy for years,he said. The group’s security forceundergoes training and works withthe Okanogan County Sheriff’sOffice. If there is a problem, theSheriff’s Office is “very quick torespond,” Mazzetti said.

“They are really good to workwith,” Sheriff Frank Rogers said,adding problems have beenminimal.

Over four decades, withthousands of people attending ofall ages, from all walks of life andfrom all over the globe, there have

been relatively few problems,Pilarski said.

“We have a respectful citizenrywho watch out for each other. Wehave not had many bad folks, thecriminal kind. God has been goodto us,” he said, adding that eachyear he sees “probably 500friends” at the faire whom hedoesn’t see any other time.

The faire’s “worst nemesis”over the years has been theweather, Pilarski said.

Rain, snow and an ice stormhave hit, in one instance drivingfestival-goers out early and leavinga huge mess to clean up. 

In another year, when the Fairewas on Tunk Mountain, a blizzardhit.

The Faire also has taken itsplace as a community member andbenefactor. It helped spawn theCommunity Cultural Center,Green Okanogan recycling andTonasket Natural Foods Co-op,and gives scholarships tograduating seniors and grants tocommunity organizations.

“It’s helped make Tonasket agreat place to live,” Mazzetti said.

The event is overseen bygroups known as ON and OFF –Okanogan Neighbors andOkanogan Family Faire. ONmaintains the property and OFForganizes the event.

Mazzetti said the Faire isseeing its third generation oforganizers and attendees. 

“Many of us have taken a stepback. It’s changing, but that’s thenature of it. It’s run by the peoplewho attend.”

Pilarski said there have beenseveral spring Barter Faires overthe year, plus nearly a dozen spin-off events throughout theNorthwest. Some lasted a year ortwo and others longer.

“But, none of them havedemonstrated the sheer stayingpower of the Okanogan faire,” hesaid.

Event-goers have

been attending

festival for 41 years

C

Page 8 — 2014 Okanogan Family Faire

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