Watershed 2017 was a sold-out doozy this year. The festival made history in 2016 by making the country festival two weekends instead of one. This year, the festival went back to only one weekend: July 28th-30th.
I was so excited this year to once again to attend the sold-out event with an even larger crew than I had last year. I believe my group had close to 30 people. The venue is gorgeous and always a great atmosphere.
The line-up headliners included Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, and Luke Bryan and their performances didn’t sell short.
Last year when I returned home, I was upset to find that social media had blown-up with anger for the people that attended Watershed Festival 2016 (also known as ‘Shedders’) and the amounts of trash left behind at the Gorge Venue.
When returning home this year, I was shocked to find that social media, especially Paradiso EDM Festival goers, are expressing their anger once again about the way the venue was left.
On Monday, July 31st, Shedders were beginning to pack up and leave the campgrounds, an RV located in General Camping was engulfed in flames. I was located in General overload camping and was pretty close to the fire.
Thick, black smoke caught the attention of a lot of people in and around the venue. Loud bangs from propane tanks were exploding in and near the RV.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdcJemnGqn4?rel=0]
The aftermath of the fire and the festival has a ton of people complaining, even though a lot of them didn’t attend and had no idea what went on or how the venue was actually left. Some people even went as far as to say that Watershed should be canceled.
But, a lot of people defended the ‘Shedders’ and what was really happening.
One person even knew one of the people who owned the burning RV.
Some people even explained what happened from their point of view.
According to 92.9 The Bull, the fire was so bad it prevented many from leaving the campgrounds.
But, the fire wasn’t the only issue people had. It was the trash left behind.
I had a large group and we cleaned up our site extremely well when we left. Just like last year, my camping squad was one of the last to leave. As we drove out, we looked around General Camping and gave props to Shedders this year for actually cleaning up their sites.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo8ZD0-p7sE?rel=0]
People that did attend the festival, did say garbage was left around the camping sites and that General Camping is probably the worst out of the camping sites at the Gorge, but the accident with the RV shouldn’t be held responsible.
I don’t know what the deal with Paradiso people caring so much about what Watershed does at their festival because ‘Shedders’ never criticize the “Ravers.”
All I know is if you pack it in then pack it out. If you have garbage, then throw it away in a receptacle or a trash bag and leave it as close to the can as possible. And when you leave your campsite, help out and pick up. Everyone is happy this way.
Just respect our region!
