The Okanogan Family Faire: Mission, Impact, and Community
The Okanogan Family Faire (OFF) is a unique event that blends tradition, community, and purpose on a sprawling 200-acre site in Washington’s Okanogan Highlands. Whether you’re new to the Faire or a longtime fan, here’s a straightforward guide to what it’s all about, how it runs, and the good it does.
What Is the Okanogan Family Faire?
The Faire is an annual gathering at 76 West Cayuse Mountain Road, Tonasket, WA, where over 400 booths showcase vendors, musicians, artists, and craftspeople. It’s a lively celebration of rural life, held on land owned by the organization since the 1990s. Think of it as a vibrant mix of trade, music, and connection—all rooted in a mission to educate and inspire.
The goal? Promote traditional, rural, economic, and spiritual values while embracing diversity in people, wildlife, and the environment. It’s public education with a community twist, hosted by a nonprofit that’s evolved over decades.
How It Started and Grew
Picture this: it’s 1974, and a group of friends launches a harvest swap to prep for winter. That spark grew into the Faire we know today. After years of moving around and hauling gear, the crew leased land in 1993, tested it with an event, and bought it via OHUG, Ltd., a for-profit outfit formed in 1994. Over time, the unincorporated Barter Faire Association became the Okanogan Family Faire, now a 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to its community-focused vision.
Who Keeps It Running
The Faire thrives on a lean, passionate team:
Year-Round Crew: A small group of volunteers and a seven-member Board of Directors (plus two alternates).
Event Helpers: Hundreds of seasonal volunteers and about 50 coordinator crews tackle tasks like parking, cleanup, and feeding the team.
It’s all volunteer-driven—no corporate cash here. Want to join? Volunteering offers perks like membership hours, event meals, or a sweet T-shirt. Check for year-round opportunities, especially at pre-Faire work parties.
Making a Difference Local
OFF isn’t just an event—it’s a force for good in the Okanogan region:
Community Cultural Center (CCC): Launched by OFF, this Tonasket spot hosts year-round classes and events on art, sustainability, and more. It’s a local gem.
Okanogan Neighbors: A sister group that manages the Faire land and boosts broader community efforts.
Education Focus: Every Faire event doubles as a learning hub, with workshops on rural skills and eco-living.
By pouring energy into education and culture, OFF strengthens the area’s roots and spirit, one gathering at a time.
Why It’s Special
The Okanogan Family Faire is a living tradition—born from a simple barter idea, secured on its own land, and powered by volunteers. It’s a place to trade, learn, and connect, all while supporting the community it calls home. Whether you’re there for the booths, the music, or the vibe, you’re part of something bigger: a 50-year legacy of respect for people and the planet.
Quick Highlight
* Where: 200 acres in Tonasket, WA.
* What: 400+ booths, music, and education.
* Who: Volunteers and a small board.
* Impact: Supports local endeavors via Grants, local students via Scholarships and local culture.
* Mission: Celebrate rural values and diversity.
History Of The Okanogan Family Faire
The Faire was started by Skeeter (Michael Pilarski, Friends of the Trees Society) in 1974 to help folks be able to trade their surplus produce and goods for things they needed to help them through the winter. The first faire was near Lake Chelan because a large communal community (Antakarana Circle or Circle A.) had grown near Manson. After that first event, the Faire moved farther North into the Okanogan Highlands. Overtime, the organizers of the faire formed an unincorporated group that called itself The Barter Faire Association. As the Faire moved around, it became obvious to organizers that hauling the infrastructure was a tremendous challenge of logistics. Moving outhouses, water barrels, signs, gate houses, etc, seemed like too much work for a three day festival. Also there was the issue of finding a site that was large enough and landowners who were willing to allow this event to occur on their property.
A core group of folks decided to purchase land, thereby eliminating the need to find a willing landowner, negotiate terms of land use and move all that stuff around! The Barter Faire Association entered into a lease with an option to buy the site on the Cayuse Mountain Road in 1993. That year the first Okanogan Barter Faire was held on the current property and it was decided that this site could work for future events.
According to Washington State Law, the "Barter Faire Association" could not purchase the land. We had to create an incorporated entity recognized by the state. Thus, in 1994, the OHUG, Ltd., a Washington State corporation, was born. We chose at that time to become a 'for-profit' corporation both because it was expedient (hippies and paperwork rarely mix well) and because we didn't know what we were doing. Now we could legally enter into a contract to buy and own the Barter Faire land. However, the first hurdle facing us was, "who are the stockholders" of this Corporation? Our interpretation of "stockholders" was revolutionary. Probably for the first time in Washington History, stockholders in a "for profit" corporation existed without the exchange of cash. Our definition of "stockholders" meant those folks who volunteered 40 hours of time each year to events held on the land. Each stockholder held one share for one year. An effort was made to inform members, who volunteered all those hours; they were qualified to be stockholders. However, we garnered very little response from volunteers. Essentially, that part of the plan fell apart because no one really saw any value in exercising a stockholder's vote. People didn't have the time or energy, besides everything was working fine... The Board of Directors meet regularly, the land got paid for, noxious weed control is maintained, improvements are made and most importantly, an annual faire is held!
