A 2007 Rainbow Gathering in Bosnia Credit: Aljaz Zajc / Wikipedia

Up to 20,000 “members” of the Rainbow Family of Living Light will gather in the Green Mountain National Forest in the coming weeks. 

An unofficial website describes the Rainbow Family as the “largest non-organization of non-members in the world.” Since 1972, the loose-knit, peace-loving group has descended on different national forests for annual gatherings that occur around July 4 and are open to all.

The group promotes intentional communities and nonviolence but its large get-togethers haven’t always been conflict-free. There have been violent incidents and controversies over the environmental impact on the parkland where members camp. 

This year, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the Rainbow Family has chosen the tiny Rutland County town of Mount Tabor.

The Forest Service issued a press release Monday morning notifying Vermonters about the incoming crowds, which are expected to arrive in the upcoming weeks. 

In preparation, a National Incident Management Team has arrived in town and “is working with various local agencies to address public health and safety, while managing and minimizing adverse impacts to natural resources.”

“Local businesses can expect to see large numbers of Rainbow Family participants visiting stores, buying food and supplies along routes to the gathering site,” the release says. “Areas are expected to be very congested during that time.”

If previous gatherings are any indications, some nudity, drugs, drum circles, dancing and heady discussions can be expected as well. 

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Alicia Freese was a Seven Days staff writer from 2014 through 2018.

19 replies on “Thousands to Descend on Green Mountains for Rainbow Family Gathering”

  1. Please, please, Rainbow Family, have a supply of Narcan on hand and people trained in administering it. I know you say drugs are not welcome, but you are coming to an area that is currently in the midst of a serious opiate epidemic and I fear your gathering may entice addicts with a free-for-all weekend.

  4. I wonder if we could combine the Rainbow Family and the Burning Man events with Don Littlehands as the Burning Man.

  5. Good Morning wonderful citizens of Vermont! We welcome all of you to come to the Rainbow Gathering and camp with us. The Gathering is non-commercial, free and open to all. We are all volunteers and host the Gathering for everyone. I have been volunteering for 45 years, since the first one in Colorado in 1972. I just drove across country in my ’93 Subaru, Amazing Grace, from Montana where Bernie spoke to us at our town park. We worked very hard to be sure he won Montana!!! Thank you for having us in your forest. We will leave it pristine. I look forward to meeting you all, Feather

  6. I attended a small Rainbow Gathering in Washington State decades ago and really enjoyed myself. I just wish my friends from Washington could come to Vermont. I will think about attending and re-immerse myself in my 60’s roots.

  7. It’s that time of year where i try extra hard to convince people to go to the rainbow gathering.
    Just try to let them know what’s up.
    It’s fun to explain the interfaith multicultural exercise in direct democracy through action prayer for peace! (or a giant family reunion).

    How Can I Help?
    That’s really the goal, to answer that question with the purest expression of your authentic self.
    find what your passionate about doing.
    its a pleasure to watch as people share or gain new skills.
    If you have a trade, knowledge, or ability you can host a workshop to share.
    During seed camp we need help digging and building tables, ovens, hanging tarps.
    I help set up the water.
    then there is lots of cooking and prep for food prep, carrying food, cutting food, chopping wood ,and tending fires. caring for each other / playing / teaching children.

  8. Ha. I have experienced one of these gatherings firsthand. It was a hell of a bonfire and drum and dance circle!!
    But the bathing in the river and turning it green was unfortunate.
    They took the river from us the locals for a summer so they could be free and in love w nature, ha

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