Best Of The Fests

    The Starwood Festival is one of summer's best known and best kept secrets. Since 1980, a Cleveland group of computer geniuses, techno-pagans, and irrationaleers (a.k.a. the Association for Consciousness Exploration) have organized parties, raves and events often imitated but never duplicated. Their events have attracted the likes of Timothy Leary, Terence McKenna, Robert Anton Wilson, Paul Krassner and countless others. Starwood is their premier event.

    So what is Starwood? It's a summer camp meets a three-ring circus on acid. It is, as Leary said, the ultimate set and setting, a safe haven for the weird. But it is certainly not a "drug festival."

    Ivan Stang of the Church of the SubGenius breaks it down like this: "About a third of the people here are admittedly the corniest seekers who give New Age a bad name. Another third are earnest but informal Pranksters who give New Age a good name. The last third are fun-lovin', open-minded, psychedelically illuminated, conspiracy researchin', bad-movie appreciatin' good ol' boys and girls."

    "We watch out for each other." says Jaqui, a hyperintelligent straight-edge nymph resting against a Kharman Ghia in the arms of an incredibly fit naked man who calls himself Jim Barleycorn. "It's a place where people can enjoy each other, and that includes a variety of consciousness-expanding experiences in an adult, circumspect manner that does not get out of control, and is sanctioned by our religious freedom."

    Days are filled with whatever strikes your fancy, from workshops in African drum technique (this year led by Baba Olatunji) to massage. A hot tub and pool pointedly grace the near end of the 180-acre site, where gaily-colored merchant booths stretch to the far end of the main field. High-quality, reasonably priced, healthy fast-food is available. At night, local and nationally known performers such as Krassner grace the stage.

    The climactic culmination of the festival is a house-sized bonfire on the last night; it's one of the most awesome spectacles in North America, right up there with Burning Man. Most people agree they're never quite the same afterwards.

    "There's no other place on Earth like this," says Krista, a.k.a. Miss Cassidy, a 24-year old dominatrix as she passes me a joint. She's dressed in a leather dog collar, short skirt, snake jewelry and sandals. "Where else can you walk around naked at three in the morning?"

    Paul Krassner turns to me and giggles, "I keep calling it Starbucks, 'cause I though it was a coffee festival," he muses. "But being here now, I sure wouldn't want to miss this experience. " I inhale the heady incense in the air and agree.