| Vortex I | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Various |
| Dates | August 28 – September 3, 1970 |
| Location(s) | Milo McIver State Park near Estacada, Oregon |
| Years active | 1970 |
| Founders | The Portland Counterculture Community with help from Oregon governor Tom McCall |
| Website | (none) |
Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life, more commonly known as just Vortex I, was a week-long rock festival in Oregon in 1970. It was sponsored by the Portland counterculture community, with help from the state of Oregon in Clackamas County near Portland. The festival was meant to demonstrate the positive side of the anti-War Movement and to prevent violent protests during a planned appearance by President Richard Nixon at a convention of the American Legion.[1][2] Nixon ended up cancelling his appearance due to scheduling conflicts, with Vice President Spiro Agnew appearing instead.[3][4] It remains the only state-sponsored rock festival in United States history.
Oregon's 1970 Vortex gathering near Estacada may have been the only government-sponsored festival of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll in U.S. history. About 100,000 people attended the week-long event, remembered by some for its spirit of community. Police and the National Guard were on hand for Vortex, but they were told to look the other way as revelers broke loose during Oregon's version of Woodstock. Although the event had that gathering-of-tribes feel, it also drew some non-counter culture Vortex "tourists." The festival was held in order to alleviate potential demonstrations during a proposed visit by President Richard Nixon.