Where & When was your first barter faire?

[megan]

I thought it might be fun to share experiences about our first barter faires!

My first faire was a small one in Usk, WA, I believe in 2001 or 2002. So I guess that makes me a relative newbie in the barter faire world... but after that first one, I was hooked, and now I go to as many as I can.

Where & when was your first barter faire?

[soreal]

my first was a spring northport back in 96 or 97, i only got to stay for one night but had a blast. then i attended the tonasket that same year and it blew my mind, havent missed a tonasket since. cant wait, this will be my 12th strait in the okanogan highlands.

[drummagick]

Spring Northport of 1999. I miss Northport!

[megan]

I miss Northport, too! I only went to one faire there and it was one of the last at the site. It was such a perfect place for faires and the view from up on the hill was amazing. Maybe one day we'll reclaim it as barter faire land...

[tanya]

Ione WA, 1978 Yes that was a long time ago, I was pregnant with my first child and we have been going every year since to at least the Okanogan because we live in the Okanogan HIghlands but we also go to Northport and any others I can get away for. It's a family reunion of sorts and even though my kids are grown and gone I still expect them "home" for that. Many times Ihave run into peole from my own early years who haven't even met my younger kids. It is pretty fun to see my teenage pals all grown older and still livng the free life we are all meant to live. Most of you seem younger here but that is great because it isn't the age that matters it is the outlook.

[soreal]

i think my first was a spring northport in 96, then it has been all great memories of faires for the past 12 years. late 90's faires were great, slowly changing with time now. but still fun in its own way.

[ghoti_family]

My first faire was when I was 6 or maybe 7 either 1980 or 81. My main memory is noticing a woman hugging a horse, I went around the small circle and saw her still hugging the horse. At the time I had no clue!
Im not even sure where it was as the "tonasket faire travled back then" It was eather near Chesaw or in Tunk Valley.
Great Memories! And also to Great Future Memories!

[primordialstuff]

My first was actually the Reggae Fest at Tonasket 1995. I don't remember much from that one. It was shortly there after that the Spring Tonasket Faires were canceled. Things at the Faires in those days were very interesting; a journey through the dark times for some. The Faires, for me, were an opportunity to open my consciousness in ways that were not possible in daily life. I truly feel like I was born/forged out of the fires of the Faires. The Newport and Santa Faires were always my favorites, for different reasons. Newport was an opportunity to really drum on a scale that was just perfect for drum circles. The Tonasket Main Circle is always so large, and many other Faires were just not 'there' for me, but the Newport Fire Circle was without a doubt my favorite. So much magic, fun, and lessons were experienced there for me. I love SB also because of the sweet energy and kind love that is infectious there. Also, my wife and I met and connected at the fire there in 1997 and are still together. Much love, peace and blessings.
Grey Hawk