The Rainbow Family Gathering is as close to officially starting as a group without leaders can be. Officials estimate nearly 1,000 people have set up camps in the National Forest near Deerfield Lake.
Members of the Rainbow Family sing at the entrance to the main camp. Just up the hill from the musical group lies the Shining Light kitchen. Around the kitchen members chop fire wood, play drums and socialize. The Rainbow Family has multiple kitchens spread through-out the area. Emily Downing, a member of the Rainbow Family working in this kitchen, says they are a vital part of the community.
“No one’s too good to work and you can work in a number and a variety of ways. I mean, young people to do the heavy lifting, older people to show them where to lift it, you know, which groves to turn. And the much older people to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labors,” says Downing.
Downing estimates that over 300 people are fed 3 meals a day in just the Shining Light kitchen.
The Rainbow Family does not have a hierarchy or officials. So everyone who speaks in the group only speaks for themselves. It can be difficult to get a unanimous answer to the questions “why are you here?” But Rainbow member Lucid Chance has one answer.
“It’s a group of people from all over the world. All races and religions, nationalities, colors and creeds that come together primarily to pray for peace on July 4th,” says chance.
Chance says the prayer will involve thousands of people sitting in silence from the time the sun comes up until noon. US Forest Service officials continue to monitor the gathering. Law enforcement can be found parked at the entrances and walking through the campsites. A federal prosecutor says a temporary court is being set up at the counterculture gathering so attendees with tickets can take care of them quickly. The event is expected to reach peak numbers July 4th for the prayer event.