Where to begin with the weekend that I experienced in Eugene, Oregon? So many things run through my mind from the amazing performances that had me dancing and singing, despite the heat. The incredible costumes that must have taken so much time for people to create. The wonderful performers, Wotan the faerie smasher and his rivalry with Nimble, the real mermaids who had the best spot in their pool in the shade, the giant luminous jelly fish and lanterns that continues to float around during performances all night. The fire twirling, poi spinning, hula-hooping talents and the amazing Mythmakers.
The transporting effect of Omnia on stage who were able to create such a wonderful space that you knew you were making magic while you danced. (I also have had their music stuck in my head now for days).
The food and drink vendors who spoilt us with great coffee, beer, ciders, vegan cupcakes, bacon waffles in the morning and all sorts of amazing goodies. The water spraying Faeries who ensured that we all didn’t get too wilted in the sun. The team of wonder warriors who entertained and enchanted all of the children this year all weekend. FaerieWorlds is really something so special and unique it is hard to put into words but I am going to try and I hope that the photographs I managed to take do it some justice.
I left Vancouver early at 7am and took the Amtrak Cascades all the way to Eugene with a three hour stopover in Seattle. Travelling with my wings and headpiece (can’t pack those delicate items) did get me a lot of attention and a lot of people commented on how beautiful they are. The train ride was great and it was well worth the $30 upgrade to Business Class for the room. It is however a LONG day and spending 14 hour again on a seat was not overly fantastic. BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.
Seatlle
After arriving in Eugene I got a Hybrid Taxi to my hostel and I immediately knew I was staying in the Hippie part of town. Most houses are adorned with paintings, mixed media art, signs, and mini altars and the Whittaker Hostel where I stayed had a massive painting of Thor on the outside. (Points for being totally AWESOME, Thor is pleased with this) It was really hot 35 degrees that day so my room was a little on the baking side and there is no fan but I managed to at least have a hot shower (after having to ask how the tap works, honestly there should be something universal man I am not stupid but there are TOO MANY ways to turn a tap on, anyone who reads this who has been to Peru will know what I am talking about).
My room at the hostel
The Hostel – Whitaker Hostel Eugene
The next morning I went for a wander to get some bug spray and some toothpaste and found this glorious Organic shop which meant I could also buy some fruit. When I was checking out the lady there told me that Michael from Eco Faeries was already at FaerieWorlds. I couldn’t believe it, all the way on the other side of the world and there was someone I already knew there! At 9am my new friend Maria picked me up and we collected the rest of the gang and drove out to Mount Pisagh to FaerieWorlds. It is such a great site near a river and kind of tucked away. After setting up my Tent in the Inner Grove (which I am so not doing next year it is too exposed and everything gets too hot) we headed into the Realm.
Me and Maria
I wondered around the entire grounds wanting to see everything, even though I knew I had all weekend to do so I was just so excited to be there. Vendors had all sorts of beauties and I am actually impressed that I took some money home with me (I know shock horror) because I could have easily spent a lot more than I did.
At 3pm there was an opening ceremony which was beautifully sung and the biggest Spiral Dance I have ever seen and been a part of. I didn’t even think about my knee as I went running around the field with hundreds of other people. It was crazy!
At about 4pm poor Maria’s boy go unwell and they went home (he did well all things considered) and I purchased some purple ribbon poi. I was walking around spinning away when a tall dark haired Pirate spinning Octopus poi came running up to me from the other side of the field. It was Michael, who looked fantastic all weekend and performed with the MythMakers on Sat night. We had a quick catch up and then I went and watched Vancouver artist Kytami perform. I love me some Violin and I danced a lot. After her set was done I hydrated and asked if I could perch down in the shade near some people.
That was probably one of the best things that happened to me all weekend. I made some great friends. Adam and Trina were a blessing. We ended up talking all night while watching the rest of the performances on the main stage and it was so nice not to have to carry everything with me all of the time. I am so going with people next year. Sarah…..you hear me! The last performance closed near midnight and I went to bed and made plans to see Adam and Trina the next day. After fighting like a mad woman in my tent to get changed I woke up the next day and could barely see.
I thought that my eyes were just itchy because of the hay fever (which apparently everyone was suffering from)but I knew from experience that I had an eye infection. Slightly freaked out and in a different country, on my own and the last thing I wanted to do was leave the festival I went to the First Aid station where the best they could do was give me some eye drops to clear up my eyes for the moment. Joel and I messaged back and forth about going to a doctor and I had to resign to the fact that I would have to wait for Adam and Trina to arrive and pray they could help me. After some kick ass waffles for breakfast (Mum I finally understand what you mean about the Bacon being different in Australia to the bacon in North America) I hung out until about midday when my friends arrived.
After a massive adventure of driving around trying to avoid going to the emergency clinic Trina remembered that she may have had some medication for my eye at home. Of all of the odds, she did and that saved my weekend for sure. A quick stop for some Rum and we headed back to FaerieWorlds. Sat was another great day, even if the start was a little slow and miserable. The musical highlights of the day were Vancouver band, Delhi to Dublin who I never really got until I saw them live and now I totally get it and Omnia who journeyed all the way from the Netherlands to play for all of us. Pagan Folk Rock at its best. Fantastic time.
Green Man
MOST OF MY PHOTOS ARE TOO BIG FOR BLOGGER – Check out my Gallery HERE for all of the photos from the weekend
Adam and Trina were gracious enough to let me stay at their place that night as the camping was not kind on my knee and we left before we could part on all night (next year!!) as they had a baby sitter looking after their little one. I got so sun burnt. I missed a few spots on my back so I was Tired, dirty, had a gross infected eye that made me look like a troll, sore knee and red like a lobster. Yep I was one sexy beast that weekend. I was so happy to have a shower and be sleeping off the ground I fell asleep very very quickly.
Jelly Fish
Sunday in the Realm is Family day where children can attend for free and in the morning we all went out for breakfast before heading back into the festival. We managed to find a spot in NeverWorlds (the children’s area) which is always under shade and stayed there pretty much all day. Every time I went out in the sun my back felt like it was on fire and there is so much to do in Neverworlds you don’t really need to leave. We saw Nimble’s show, Wotan and his crew invaded a number of times only to be splashed by the Mermaids to go away (great way to keep in character and get cool). There was a Tea Party going all weekend, children’s performers and a whole lot of magical children running around it was pretty great. I met a little guy who gave me a Faerie door and another little boy who has been going to FaerieWorlds since he was born, he was dressed up like a blue glittery dragon and he is so well known in the community there is a song about him. Adam and Tina’s son, Sky was the coolest to hang out with. He learnt sword fighting with the other lost girls and boys, juggling and danced when Omnia played again at night.
The Faerie Door that I was gifted
After Omnia’s second performance we were all done and I was very kindly dropped off at the Hostel again where another shower, quick phone call and then bed. Another very long train ride home I was picked up at the train station by Joel who was such a welcome site.
This is how I managed to get all of my camping stuff back to Canada, it actually held.
Union Station – Portland (3 hour stop over)
Little pretties I found in an art gallery window while walking around Portland
So back to reality at work which was nice to come back to a job but I am already planning to return to the Realm of FaerieWorlds next year and maybe even FaerieCon West in the Winter in Seattle.
Train ride home
1 thought on “My First FaerieWorlds”
Wow! What an incredible weekend 😀 Aside from the eye infection, sore knee and sunburn it sounded amazing! xx