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Oregon Country Fair goes on virtually

By Madison Smalstig, oregonlive.com
Published: July 11, 2020, 6:01am

The Oregon Country Fair, a music and art festival typically held along winding paths through the woods, will take place in an interactive, 3D virtual world this weekend.

Due to COVID-19, the fair shut down the physical event, but the organization still wanted to create a gathering space for its loyal fans.

“It is such a community that we wanted to find a way to at least, a tiny bit, recreate that sense of ability to connect with one other and support each other during this time,” Operations Manager Crystalyn Frank said.

Executive Director Wally Bomgaars also said it was important to provide a place for the artisans and crafters who have been struggling during COVID-19 to sell their goods.

While the online event will not feature the typical food and craft booths, the website will include access to the websites of artisans and the ability to purchase fair clothing. The online fair will also feature live music and recorded performances from previous fairs.

There are three different ways visitors can use the oregoncountryfair.org site. People can interact with different vendors or view performances by clicking links, like a traditional website. The participants can also use a 2D map of this year’s virtual booth setup to search for and click on the vendors or performance areas. Or, using the Fair in the Clouds 3D experience, visitors can create an avatar and walk through a virtual recreation of the fair.

Those who participate in the 3D experience can also interact with other attendees by having their avatars stand next to each other with their microphones on. The program uses 3D spatial audio, so the closer your avatar is to another, the louder their voice is.

The Fair in the Clouds features stages with various music acts. If a musical group is playing a screen will appear over the stage. Attendees can listen to the act by hovering their mouse over the video and adjusting the volume on their device.

The virtual event will also include recognized staples of the fair such as the main stage and the White Bird Clinic station.

Alesha Adamson, lead project manager for the 3D experience, said many people who have viewed the program ahead of time have cried because they are so connected to the fair and their memories there.

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