For more than 50 years, thousands of people have gathered to party almost every summer in Veneta, a small town 13 miles west of Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Country Fair is an annual art and music festival that looks at the region's counterculture movement and environmental history as a nonprofit, family-friendly event. However, like many public events, the rapid spread of COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of the Oregon Country Fair this year.

It was cancelled, at least privately.

"Oregon Country Fair in the Clouds," the festival's first virtual screening, is more than just a webcast. The entire outdoor venue is recreated in stunning low-poly, including multiple stages and walkways that stretch across Oregon's forests. There are thick, cauliflower-like trees and blurry grass and dirt that look like they came out of EverQuest. What's more, you can explore all of it from a first-person perspective.

Performers stream their sets to virtual screens set up in each scene, while participants walk around and gather around the stage, chatting amiably. Microphones are turned on by default, but can also be used to block anyone causing a ruckus. Frankly, this is an upgrade from a regular concert.

You can also "attend" for free from your web browser, whether local Oregon or not. There is no need to download a client, all you need is an Internet connection and a computer capable of displaying pristine 3D graphics. Just head to the festival portal and you'll be there in no time.

Music, dance, craft workshops, and talk shows will be held throughout the weekend. It's worth checking out, if only to chat with other attendees and walk around to check out the wild multimedia collages that make up the festival's creepy but surprisingly cozy facsimile.

I got lost on my way to the Peach Stage and was stuck in Zavanadu among the artisan booths following the variety show. I heard that someone was doing bubble art. But I didn't mind getting lost. The fair in the clouds is endless surreal fun. Actual trade fair stalls are reproduced in 2D cutouts. Some of the stands are actively cared for by the artisans themselves.

I didn't find the man in the bubble. I ended up teaching an orb named Bat Chakra how to fly, and heard one of the festival curators talk specifically about how the regular artisans wanted their "usual place," sometimes setting up next to their favorite tree. Buskers, puppeteers, and circus performers are all still there, albeit in solid 2D cutout form, marching down the paths on stilts, usually in the guise of smirking beasts. The only thing missing is the smell of sweat and food swirling together in the summer heat.

Having lived briefly in Eugene, I am simply overjoyed by the "Fair in the Clouds." This virtual recreation is a simple but admirable community activity that keeps the spirit of the show alive.

You can check out the schedule for the July 10-11 "Fair in the Clouds" here. Have fun and don't forget to stay hydrated.