What Is Recycled Rainbow?

Since 2002, people from Northeast Ohio and beyond have gathered in a private residence twice a year and still there is no strong definition of what Recycled Rainbow is. It is a community of friends and strangers. Last year, Recycled Rainbow moved to the outdoors changing everything and yet changing very little. It is a four-day festival in a large outdoor space. It is a modern experimental salon. It is a “no spectator” event. It is a festival where anything goes. It is a local experiment in community and expression. It is a place to try out that new idea you have for a sculpture or performance. It is difficult to describe.

It is, in few words, what you turn it into. You have the reigns as much as anyone else does. Does it have a drive-in theater? If you build a drive in theater, it will. Does it have a stage for experimental performance art? It does if you build one. Does it have clowns? Do you know a mob of clowns and can you bring them?. Recycled Rainbow challenges you to do what you’ve wanted to do within a set of 10 guidelines. One of those guidelines is Participation.

Mutation? What’s with that?

Every Recycled Rainbow since the first in 2002 has had a theme. Themes offer a starting point for some people, some people hate the theme and create their own theme. Great! We love that! In a private residence the theme can be very obvious (like an aquarium projected in a room for “Oceans”, or everyone dressing in ancient dress for “Ancient Worlds”. The theme gives flavor and a springboard to the event, but is by no means the be-all, end-all of an RR. We try and pick fun, open ideas that can be used by everyone and that everyone will enjoy, but don’t feel constrained to them!

Here’s a list of our past themes:

1. No theme (ok, I lied)


2. No theme


3. Salon/1920s - 2002


4. Las Vegas Oct 2002


5. Religion - May 2003


6. The Future - ?


7. Illumination - October 18, 2003


8. Non Human Terrestrial Creatures


9. Classic Literature - October 15-16, 2004


10. Myths and Legends - May 27-28, 2005


11. Paranormal - November 18-19 2005


12. Ocean - May 26-28, 2006


13. Elements - October 6-7, 2006


14. Ancient Worlds - May 25-28, 2007


15. ARMAGEDDON!!! - September 28-30, 2007

You Guys Are An Exclusive Club, Right?

First of all, anyone can be a part of Recycled Rainbow. Conservatives, liberals, farmers, artists, partiers, engineers, philosophers, bums, millionaires, cowboys, freaks, christians, students, pagans, introverts, clowns and all others are encouraged to join this community and share your gifts. Does this cause friction? Absolutely! Can these people exist together peacefully? You bet! As we learn more about each other, getting to know each other and what we have to offer each other we each grow.

Of course, in this spirit, we all ask that you respect the rights of others to be a part of RR.

RR is a member of the greater community, the greater Cleveland community, Northeast Ohio and The United States. We respect local, state and federal laws and everything we do acts in accordance with those laws. We believe the RR experience fits within the frame of civic resposibility in the same way a canvas fits in a frame, or music within a space of time. Every RR since 2002 has been visited and enjoyed by local law enforcement and we plan to enjoy their company well into our future!

There Are No Stores, So Bring Everything You Need…

RR is by nature an experience of the moment- we bring everything we need, we do what we can for three days, and then we pack everything we made out. Nothing stays behind. There are no trash cans at RR. There are no dumpsters. There are no stores to buy food or drink. What you need, you bring and what you create (art, garbage, friendships, memories) you take with you. It is this part of RR that is both the most noticeably responsible and most wonderful. RR lives in the moment- it deals with what happens as it happens and it leaves no trace afterwards.

Nobody sells anything at RR. You will see no sponsors, no logos, no advertisements, no money traded. In a sense, what you will see, hear, read, feel and taste cannot be purchased with money. What you “purchase” when you buy a ticket is the opportunity to do and experience what you and everyone else offers. Money from ticket sales go into renting and insuring the land. In a sense, you aren’t really “buying” anything- you’re renting a space that everyone shares to make RR possible.

Hey You! Do Something!

Participation means not just sitting by and watching everything go on around you- it means getting in there and doing something! Your participation is a gift to everyone at the event- whether you make pancakes for people, dress in fabulous costume, create aural landscapes, offer the people you meet free hugs, shoot lasers into the woods or build a dance club, you are giving the community something by creating Recycled Rainbow.

Recycled Rainbow has always encouraged its participants to bring their gifts, whether concrete, like CDs, DVDs, jewelry, books or artwork or ephemeral- spoken poems, conversation, teaching someone something, song, dance, tea, pancakes or backrubs! More importantly, nothing should be expected in return. We gift because we have something to give.

I’m Not Your Mother. Clean Up After Yourself, And Others!

Recycled Rainbow is a LEAVE NO TRACE event. No trace on the ground, in the woods, on trees, on rocks and on existing structures. Considering that it will for the first time ever take place among the trees and open air, it is of utmost importance that these natural resources are guarded and maintained. We will leave the land we share in better condition than when we left. This often means cleaning up after the people who shared the land before us.

One of the first people you will meet, other than RR greeters are Earth Guardians. These are RR volunteers who will teach you what you need to know about the land, what to look out for, what not to do but more importantly what TO DO. Once again, there will be no trash cans or dumpsters and certainly, no litter afterwards.

We look forward to hearing from you! You can commuunicate better by joining our tribe on tribe.net. Remember, even if you can’t attend, you can participate..