I was reading about the Rainbow Family Gathering at Allegheny National Forest that is getting underway this week. While controversial whenever they are hosted, it is kind of an interesting back to nature party, informally celebrated, though people also have concerns with the large number of people who gather and the impacts on the land – maybe somewhat overblown but still out there.
The Rainbow Family Gathering is an annual, week-long counterculture event where a loose-knit community of thousands of people—collectively called the Rainbow Family of Living Light—congregate in a remote U.S. National Forest to practice ideals of peace, love, unity, and alternative community living. [1, 2, 3]
The movement trace its roots to the late 1960s and early 1970s hippy culture, culminating in their first official national gathering at Strawberry Lake, Colorado, in 1972. [1, 2]
How the Gathering Works
- No Central Leadership: The group operates with absolutely no official leaders, hierarchy, spokespeople, or formal organization. [1, 2]
- No Money: The gathering functions as a completely moneyless, barter-based society. Food is provided for free by communal kitchens, while other goods are exchanged at a central “Trade Circle”. [1, 2, 3]
- The Big Ritual: The climax of the gathering occurs on the 4th of July, when thousands of attendees gather in a giant circle for a silent morning meditation to pray for world peace, followed by drumming and celebration. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Internal Teams: Order and health are managed entirely by volunteers. A group called the Shanti Sena acts as non-violent peacekeepers, while C.A.L.M. (Center for Alternative Living Medicine) handles basic first aid and homeopathic healing. [1, 2, 3]
- Low-Tech Lifestyle: Modern technology and commercialized entertainment are actively discouraged. There is no amplified music, electricity, or running water. Attendees are famously greeted by others on the trails with the phrase, “Welcome home!” [1, 2, 3, 4]
Controversy and Criticisms
While the participants value a utopian lifestyle, the gatherings draw significant scrutiny and friction, particularly from federal and local authorities: [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Permit Refusals: The U.S. Forest Service requires permits for any group event exceeding 75 people. Because the Rainbow Family claims they have no leaders to sign a contract, they historically refuse to obtain a permit, rendering the gathering unauthorized. [1, 2]
- Environmental Impact: Local communities and conservationists frequently raise concerns over the ecological damage caused by thousands of people camping out, building open-fire kitchens, and digging temporary latrines in pristine federal lands. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
- Gritty Reality: Though rooted in peaceful ideals, the open-door policy (“everyone is a member”) means gatherings can attract unstable individuals, drug abuse, or criminal elements who exploit the lack of police presence, sometimes causing tension inside the camps. [1, 2, 3]
