Some alternatives to glow sticks
In 2013, the Oregon Country Fair chose to ban disposable glow sticks. It doesn’t take a very sober hippie to think of the reasons why they made this move and it’s a good idea for Zumwalt Campground as well. When glow sticks wear down they become plastic trash and there’s nothing that can be done but put them in a landfill. We don’t need plastic parts like plastic connectors left in the park. And while it’s beautiful at the time, having the glowing contents splattered in the portapotties or on the vegetation is a bummer the next day.
There’s no rule that will get enforced on disposable glow. El Scorcho has burned many, MANY glow sticks, but doesn’t bring them to ZCG anymore. Glow technology has come a LONG way and it makes more sense to buy a cool new glow device and enjoy it year after year rather than buy a case of glow sticks and chuck them. Here are some ideas as you do some last minute shopping before Fair. glow gloves
You might assume glow gloves are merely a toy for ravers, but they should not be discounted so lightly by the discerning glow hippie. While it takes a little skill and no small measure of energy, glow gloves in the hands of even a novice can be pretty freakn’ awesome! When shopping for this item is important to remember to invest in a reasonably good quality product. There are a multitude of low priced (<$15) gloves that will only survive a few uses. Best to make a investment in gloves that will stand up to vigorous partying and have more lighting patterns to take your show to the next level.
Buy on Amazon light whip
Probably the most mind meltingly beautiful device available with a price tag to match. Light whips are comprised of high grade fiber optic filaments attached to the end of an LED flashlight capable of producing many colors in many patterns. The commercial titan in this market is Ants on a Melon, who were the first to really bring light whips into production. Their products are true performance pieces, and are more than up to handling the challenges of outdoor festival glow play.
Buy one RIGHT NOW! glow poi
There really is no parallel with the visual display and intensity of fire dancing. On the other hand, it’s freaking fire dude! That shit will burn you! Fire dancing is best left to the professionals, but fortunately there is glow poi: nicely glowing LED devices safely encapsulated in plastic balls and hanging from cording. Now any kid learn to put on stupefyingly gorgeous light shows with only the risk of occasionally bopping themselves on the head with a ball (and not flaming torch). They are conveniently available on Amazon.
glow hoop
Do it. Just go on Amazon right now and buy the best glowing hula hoop you can afford. But do it with the knowledge that everyone in your family will fight over it. Swirling hips and soft glowing light are festival play perfection. Most people can make a hula hoop do something (even El Scorcho!). Beautiful and healthy exercise. This is a no brainer. You need one. Now.
Amazon...again. psychedelic ice cream cone
It’s a silly name, but that’s what these things look like. Low tech and usable by a person who is blind drunk, these toys for children will keep festival adults in the proper state of mind entertained for hours. These are not very durable devices and fall in the “cheap junk from overseas” category. That said, El Scorcho’s is on it’s third set of batteries and works great.
Yep...Amazon. Orbiter
For those of us that are really old, we will remember button yo-yos, which is essentially what these devices are only with LED’s. For us geezers that played with button yoyos, we didn’t realize that there was some amazing geometry in the motion of the button that is revealed when an orbiter is used in dark. These devices require a bit of skill, but are capable of producing really spectacular light shows with a little practice. Orbiters are typically four LED keychains that are affixed to a central hub, so they are relatively inexpensive and easily fit in a pocket. Cheers to the ravers that found a new application for a Depression Era toy!
Buy one at you-know-where. glow baton/staff/saber
What kid doesn’t want to be a Jedi or a Kung Fu master? Some of the most amazing glow performers use LED illuminated tubes as staves or batons. There are a bunch of products out there in this market, and the visual impact varies. That said, even glowing orbs on the ends of a stick look pretty darn awesome in the dark. The top of the line staves in 2016 “paint” patterned tracers and are sound sensitive to sync to the beat of music. Would love to see someone bring one of these to Zumwalt. Of course, Amazon has some inexpensive kid toys that still look very cool at night, but will not likely hold up to much abuse. There are plenty of DIY options for glow staves as well.
fiber optic thing
I know you’re laughing, but don’t. These fiber optic tree...flower...things were really hip back in the 1970’s and that was for a reason. Get in the right headspace and sit down with one of these in the dark and they are simply magical. The individual filaments behave in unison in response to motion, much like an anemone or seaweed underwater in the ocean. The effect is exquisite and captivating. This battery operated unit will provide entertainment value far beyond it’s $9 price tag. Of course, there is a variety of colors and color changing available. Do shop around, but even a basic model will be loads of fun.
You know Amazon has them. lasers
Sometimes you can get too much of a good thing. Lasers can quickly get beyond the point of visual beauty and into being a hazard. El Scorcho is a BIG fan of lasers. It is so much fun to paint light all over the big Ellemaker maples at the center of camp. And it’s fine if that’s where the light stays (or in the grass). For more information on laser safety, check out this page.
Comments on safety aside, it really is the golden age of laser fun. Lasers are inexpensive and come in a myriad of packages. For the DIY crowd there are oodles of cool things you can do with lasers. For the rest of us, this is where shopping cheap products from overseas makes the most sense. Manufacturers in China have flooded the market with a panoply laser products too voluminous to list here. Check out Amazon or Wish.com for stupidly good deals on portable lasers. electroluminescent (EL) wire
How could I forget! Thanks to fellow camper Kylie Clark for the reminder. More than five years ago EL wire exploded onto the market as a viable glow option, and today there are a myriad of different choices available to the creative hippie. EL wire works by creating an electric charge across a layer of special florescent paint on the core wire. Don't worry, the wire is wrapped in clear insulating plastic making it totally safe and durable. Most kits come with the special power supply you need and run on batteries you can find anywhere. Best of all, these units are really efficient, so you get plenty of bright glow and your batteries will last for multiple nights of fun. There are too many options out there for shopping this product. Of course, Amazon has tons of this stuff.
fairy lights
Thanks to camper Tracy Reed for this suggestion. With the miniaturization of led technology, string lights have become much more subtle and enchanting. LED's consume are highly efficient in converting electricity to visible light, so strings like the one shown here can easily run on a small battery pack, and Tracy claims that they run typically longer than EL wire of equivalent size. Kind of like glitter for night time. Go get your sparkle on!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author: El Scorcho (not his real name)Been camping for Fair at Zumwalt since 1994 and still haven't seen it all. Why else have a blog for something that lasts three days, once a year? I am not an employee of the City of Veneta and have no affiliation with the Oregon Country Fair. Well, I go to Fair and I do volunteer stuff at camp, but that in no way makes this website and blog official. Consume with caution! Archives
April 2024
Categories |