Our first festival of 2021 is in the books. The Treetoad Family Farm in Trufant, MI didn’t disappoint. This festival has been held in Kalamazoo, MI for several years in the past but since we were at the tail end of a pandemic, the festival was not going to be allowed in Kalamazoo this year. Tyler and the rest of the Hippie Fest Team would not hear of letting thousands of hippies down so they opened up their beautiful family farm in Trufant and it was a huge success with around 3,500 in attendance. It was about 85 miles farther for us but it was well worth it. I’m betting the festival will continue to be held here for years to come!
My good friend, Shannon, from New Smyrna Beach, FL, flew up on Thursday to go with us. We pulled out on Friday morning for a 6 hour drive north in two buses. The buses ran great, no issues whatsoever other than being a hot ride; no A/C. I drove the Geriatric Gypsy and my daughter, Courtney, drove the Lil Gypsy. What a fun trip. Shannon had never been on a crazy hippie bus nor had she ever attended a hippie festival. It’s a whole new adventure that stories and pictures don’t do justice. The positive and fun attention that these buses get and the great people we meet along the journey just adds so much more to the experience. You’d just have to be there to understand.
We were vendors and Shannon was a huge help setting things up and organizing. She has a store on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach (Gypsy Vibes) and has much experience in marketing and event coordinating. I learned a lot and had a great time.
This year I had 20 times the product in my vendor space as I did at the one and only festival last year (due to the pandemic shut down). I had incense and ash catchers, windchimes, dream catchers, stickers, novelty flags, candles, sage and palo santo sticks, crystals, patchouli oil, jewelry, and awesome bundles with really cool stuff. Courtney had some really neat shirts she made with her cricut and tons of tie dye shirts (kids – adults) and essential oils and also some bundles. We did really well and had fun selling.
I was looking forward to meeting Preacher Steve Carl from Springfield, MO who preaches on Sunday mornings at the Hippie Festivals. I briefly spoke to him online a few weeks before the festival and told him I would be there and couldn’t wait to meet him. I listen to him online on Sunday mornings and there’s just something groovy about a Preacher in a tie dyed suit. It’s quite a reminder that God loves us all and everyone has a story.
I hadn’t had my bus parked for 5 minutes, when up he walked; I immediately recognized him. He’s such a nice guy with a very sweet wife, Donna and a female dog named Bob (long story lol).
One of the highlights of the festival was Courtney and I both won trophies in the car show. I won “Most Far Out” and Courtney won “Most Artistic” with Lil Gypsy! That was the coolest thing ever! My oldest daughter, Jennifer, contributed to the painting of Lil Gypsy and was even surprised she had talent in tie dying a vehicle (but mom never second guessed her talent). Courtney changed some things on the bus and made it more of a bright colored statement with bold black lines between colors but left the beautiful tie dye on the door. It turned out really cool but it’s not totally done yet. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the roof.
I met an amazing woman, Annie (The Soap Gypsy), a few years ago at a festival. She has the cutest covered wagon to haul her stuff in and it’s also equipped with a bed, sink, tons of storage and even a porta potty. The wagon was build by her awesome husband, Dustin and he left no stone unturned. It’s adorable! We became fast friends, and of course, I call her my Gypsy Sister. There’s just something about hippies and gypsies…….we have to stick together. Her soaps and bath salts smell like heaven. Check out her stuff, if you ever get a chance.
I’ve been to many hippie festivals and have met the most down to earth, happiest, kindest people on the planet. People from all walks of life, from young to old, people who have been hippies their entire lives, people who just want to come out for a day and see what it’s all about, people who live off grid, in tents, tiny houses or buses. Everyone helps each other, if needed. Everyone shares anything from coffee to ice to food to rain gear to coolers and anything in between. The music and entertainment is hands down the funnest I’ve ever seen. There’s something for everyone; tye dye stations, huge bubbles, hula hoopers, a drum circle, beautiful girls on stilts, talented aerial artists, vendors with the coolest stuff ever found.
The most amazing thing about it all is there is no judgment, everyone is free to be themselves, everyone talks, there are no strangers. The saddest thing is packing up and going home………………………until next time.
Fabulous.😉 What a groovy weekend.✌️ Everyone and everything looks wonderful.😍 Even the weather helped in your corner of the world.🌅 Wishing I was there.😍
It was so much fun. Hanging out with great people, shopping, listening to music and just being free and living life is always a GREAT time. Wish you could join me some day!