How We Spend Our Summer Vacation: Oregon Country Fair

The seeds for the Moisture Festival were planted at the Oregon Country Fair, a three day gathering in the woods outside Veneta, Oregon. Oregon Country Fair has a rich and varied history of alternative arts and performance promotion, educational opportunities, land stewardship and philanthropy.  The fair community rises out of the Long Tom River marsh once year to bring together thousands of of performers, artists, volunteers, vendors and crafters to create "events and experiences that nourish the spirit, explore living artfully and authentically on Earth, and transform culture in magical, joyous and healthy ways".

The Oregon Country Fair is a phenomenon for many reasons. It has been regarded as a Vaudeville Mecca since it was created in 1969. Variety artists have been a cornerstone of the fair’s entertainment, performing for the fair audience then hanging out together late into the night when dreams are born. It was at the Oregon Country Fair that Maque daVis and Ron W. Bailey first dreamed of bringing some of the fair’s fabulous entertainment to Seattle. The dream would unfold to include Tom Noddy and his bubble magic, Hacki Ginda, the DuCaniveaux troupe, Tim Furst aka Fyodor Karamazov, The Fremont Players, Henrik Bothe, UMO and many others who make up the vaudeville community at the fair.

The Fair continues to nourish and inspire the artists that bring their unique magic to Seattle's Moisture Festival ever springtime.  All of them would recommend a fabulous summer vacation plan for a trip south to Oregon, then west from Eugene to this wonderful one weekend a year gathering.

Join Friends and Neighbors to Benefit the Fremont Arts Council’s Solstice Parade

Fremont’s 1st BBQ Competition & Neighborhood Party
Sunday, June 2nd, 10am – 11pm
Corner of 36th and Dayton Ave N, Fremont, Seattle

Longtime supporter of the Moisture Festival, Peter Glick, owner of Fremont’s Roxy’s Diner, The Back Door at Roxy’s, and Pete’s Fremont Fire Pit, invites you to  “go hog wild at the Fremont BBQ Extravaganza,”  a free neighborhood celebration, sanctioned by the Northwest BBQ Association, to benefit the Fremont Arts Council’s Solstice Parade. Beer, wine and spirits will be available in all of Peter’s establishments, as well as at Norm’s Eatery and Ale House, another festival sponsor.

Here’s the exciting itinerary for this can’t-miss event:

BBQ Competition: Sanctioned by the Northwest BBQ Association, the 1st Annual Fremont BBQ Competition will welcome 12 BBQ teams to compete for $2,500 in prize money and the honor of best BBQ Chef in the Universe!

BBQ Demos: Throughout the day there will be grilling demos by Award Winning BBQ Chefs, with whole hog preparation, start to finish, and free samples for all.

Whole Hog Lunch & Dinner: Complete BBQ meals available all day, including a Whole Hog Banquet at Pete’s Fremont Fire Pit, open to all.

BBQ Sauce Tastings: Local and national BBQ sauce producers will be showcasing their wares at the Free Condiment Tent.  Taste them all, including hot sauces, salsas, and BBQ sauces.

Mini Pancake Eating Contest: Roxy’s Diner will be cooking up loads of pancakes with delicious toppings for the kids in all of us. Competitions will feature prizes for all ages.

Bagel Ring Toss: Not your everyday ring toss.  These custom made bagels will be a challenge for all ages. More fun than a bucket of cream cheese.

Costumed Dog Parade: Norm’s Eatery will sponsor a dog parade with fabulous prizes from Petapoluza.
Local Beers and Spirits Tastings: Beer and BBQ or spirits and BBQ? You decide. 

Free Music Stage: Bluegrass to Rockabilly—on-stage and off-stage performances throughout the day.

Funds raised at the Fremont BBQ Extravaganza benefit the Fremont Arts Council’s Solstice Parade. For more information, visit FremontArtsCouncil.org.

Closing Night Video

We want to thank everyone who participated in this year's festival from the bottom of our moist little hearts!

Next at Hale's Palladium: Frank Olivier's Twisted Cabaret!

Now that Moisture Festival is over, are you experiencing vaudeville withdrawals? Never fear, Twisted Cabaret opens May 2nd. This independent production taking place a Hale's Palladium runs Thursdays through Sundays beginning May 2nd.

Frank Olivier's Twisted Cabaret and Pandamonium Vaudeville Show is a one man show with a cast of a dozen characters, each more talented and demented than the last. Frank Olivier has performed around the globe, bringing his world class comedy juggling act to literally millions of people. In this show Frank, deliver's more than just amazing juggling and comedy. Each night Frank takes on a dozen different roles performing a dozen different acts as well as singing and dancing his way into your heart.

The Twisted Cabaret Orchestra accompanies, as Olivier delights with juggling, mind reading, knife-throwing, magic, fire-eating and more, like you have never seen before.

Twisted Cabaret, a Seattle virgin, has played theaters from San Francisco to London with stops in Las Vegas, LA, and beyond. Tickets are priced for the whole family. Hale’s Palladium Theatre is part of Hale's Brewery so you can drink at the show. What are you waiting for? Great music, hilarious comedy, danger, and magic served with a side of delicious beer. Get your tickets now to the funniest show in Seattle.

More Information at http://twistedcabaret.com/
May 2nd - May 26th, Thursday-Sunday

Moisture Festival Week 4 Video Highlights

Highlights from week 4 of 2013 Moisture Festival performances captured by videographer Alan Plotkin. 

Moisture Festival Week 3 Video Highlights

Capturing highlights of week 3 of 2013 Moisture Festival performances via videographer Alan Plotkin. 

Moisture Festival Video Trailer Week 2

Capturing highlights of week 2 of 2013 Moisture Festival performances. Includes some footage of 'Burlesque Undress' panel discussion which addressed the history of the Northwest burlesque phenomenon through the eyes of the performers who lived it.  

via Moisture Festival videographer Alan Plotkin