A long-standing counterculture festival, the Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering, which was set to be held over the July Fourth holiday in California’s Plumas National Forest, has been shut down by U.S. Forest Service officials due to a lack of appropriate permitting and concerns over environmental impact. The Forest Service ordered individuals to leave the area, with potential fines or jail time for those who refuse.
The Rainbow Family gathering, with roots going back over 50 years, is a self-described hippie commune that gathers annually, attracting up to 10,000 visitors. However, the U.S. Forest Service has described this year’s gathering as an “unauthorized noncommercial group use incident” that can have negative impacts on traffic, communities, and local resources.
While some attendees work to minimize their impact on the environment, past gatherings have seen incidents and arrests related to drug use, sanitation, and damage to forests. Local officials and the U.S. Forest Service have expressed concerns over the potential risks and impacts of the gathering on the surrounding communities and environment.
Lassen County Supervisor Jason Ingram praised the Forest Service’s decision to shut down the event, highlighting concerns about the illegality, fire risks, environmental impact, and disrespect shown to local tribes. The Forest Service aims to minimize adverse effects and work with the incident team to address any additional impacts to the local communities and environment.
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