Accommodations & Meals

Festival Food

For around the same price as those dorm meals of past Zimfests, we’ll all be eating the best of the best at Zimfest 2006, and it will all be prepared with love by a team of first-rate chefs and experienced food servers.

First of all, we can guarantee that all of the produce (fruits and veggies) will be 100% organic, and most of it will be locally grown especially for Zimfest by “Hey Bales! Farm” (approximately 20 miles southwest of Eugene).

Additionally, there will be plenty of natural beef, lamb, free range chicken, and fish for all of us carnivores, as well as healthy, filling vegetarian and vegan options for the rest of us. When you register, please remember to indicate if you will require vegetarian or vegan options.

As in the past, a traditional Zimbabwean dinner will be provided on Saturday night made with love by the Zimfest kitchen and overseen by Ruth Nemarundwe, a Zimbabwean with experience in feeding the masses right! Ruth may also host a food vendor booth. Look for her in the Marketplace.

Breakfasts will be served from 7 to 9 in the mornings, and dinners from 4:30 to 6:30. But don’t worry — if you miss a meal, food vendors in the Marketplace can accommodate you.

Coffee will be available first thing in the mornings and just after dinner. A variety of refreshments like iced tea and lemonade will be available throughout the day.

Also, remember that you can volunteer to help in the kitchen for a few hours during the festival...there’s no job more rewarding!

Camping at Zimfest

During the Country Fair, over 10,000 Fair volunteers camp in and around our festival area. We think there will be enough room for us!

Camping sites will be available in woods and in meadows, close by the action or far away (the Fair site is over 150 acres). Secluded areas, shaded areas, sunny areas, a quiet camp — all there for you to choose.

You can make arrangements when you check in on arrival to camp near your band mates or other friends. First come, first served. Camping areas will be color coded, with easy to follow maps to guide you on the many trails. You may want to bring your bicycles, or rent one of the Country Fair bikes (limited quantity).

Toilets will be nearby throughout the festival site, and showers will also be available when you need them. Water, ice, and snacks will be available in the Marketplace, but you are free to bring as much of your own food and water as you like. There is a hand wash station near the kitchen area, and a drinking fountain in the Marketplace.

You should expect the daytime temperature to be in the 80s, and in the 50s at night. Rain in July is rare. Because of the dryness, open fires are NOT permitted. Zimfest will monitor two fire pits — one for the late night mbira parties and another location to be announced. No open fires anywhere else — no tiki torches, unattended candles, oil lanterns. No open fires anywhere. Should we say it again?

RVs are welcome, though no hookups or dump stations will be available. Generator use is restricted from 8 pm to 8 am. Zimfest has made arrangements with Cruiseamerica.com to offer a 10% discount for RV rental. Outlets are all along the West Coast and more. Please reserve one soon if this option appeals to you. RV parking will be in a variety of areas. Check in when you arrive. See also: RV Rentals (below).

Here is a partial list of items you will want to bring camping:

Water
Tent
Sleeping bags
Sleeping pads
Coleman stove OK
Bikes
Cool weather clothing
Sunscreen

Bug repellant
Flashlight
Batteries
Sun shading hat
Lawn chairs
Hiking shoes
Blankets for sitting
Your favorite beverage cup/mug

A Note About Showers

Showers will be provided at Zimfest. The Oregon Country Fair strives to have a low impact on their land, therefore the showers at Zimfest will be self-contained. That means that all the water that the showers use must be transported in and out and then disposed of. So we will be asking that shower time be held to a minimum (3 to 5 minutes). Everyone will have plenty of opportunity to keep clean; we just need to conserve water. Thank you.

RV Rentals

You can bring an RV to the Zimfest site and live in it for the weekend. However, electricity and hookups for water and waste disposal will not be available at Zimfest.

Cruise America offers those attending Zimfest 2006 a 10% discount off time and mileage charges on motorhome rentals. Cruise America has 128 rental locations, including Eugene (541-684-8728) and Portland (503-777-9833); however, availability is limited. For information and reservations in the US & Canada, call 800-327-7799 or 800-671-8042.

To qualify for Cruise America’s discount, you must reserve the vehicle through central reservations only, at least one week in advance of pick up, and you must mention Zimfest 2006 membership affiliation at time of reservation. Offer not available in conjunction with other discount offers, hot deals, or promotional rates. Excludes other rental charges, deposits, sales tax, and fuels. Normal rental conditions and customer qualification procedures apply.

Hotels and Campgrounds Nearby

See: Accommodations Near Zimfest