PorcFest Recap
What can I say about my first PorcFest? It wasn’t some big moment of realization. I knew PorcFest was going to be awesome, and my experience lived up to that expectation. Having been to Liberty Forum in 2009 and 2010, I was struck by the size and diversity of the group compared to the crowd at both Liberty Forums (which I thought had an impressive turnout at the time, too). It’s obvious that the liberty movement in New Hampshire has grown a lot in the last year and a half.
My husband and I aren’t teetotalers, but we are not heavy partiers. Much of what you hear about PorcFest is about the party scene and availability of drugs and drinks. Those things were definitely present, but it didn’t overwhelm the other goings-on, such as talks, live tapings of radio shows, and family events. People who were partaking in mind-altering substances in populated areas were doing so responsibly. I guarantee you can find more belligerent drunk assholes at any California bar than in the crowded Free Keene Pavillion on Saturday night.
There were so many families with kids of all ages, most of whom I noticed selling something or providing a service, or just hanging out with friends, with nary a “helicopter parent” to be seen. I saw a lot of babies, too. We plan to start a family after settling in NH, and I am absolutely going to homeschool our future offspring, so this made me very excited. Our community will grow and support each other as new generations are raised in as state-free a manner as possible.
It was always fun to just stroll through the campground. We mainly looped through Agora Valley, where a new snack, t-shirt, or friend could always be found, but we also enjoyed exploring the less lively camping areas. In a back corner of Roger’s, we were approached by a small boy hawking his wares and left with a sweet hand-folded paper ninja star!
The Stefan Molyneux roast was fun, especially when it was Bob Murphy’s turn. He is such a funny guy, and I was also glad to see him reprise his “Interview with a Zombie” shtick. The Libertopia (http://www.libertopiafilm.com/) screening was probably my favorite moment of all of PorcFest. I can’t imagine a better setting to premiere that documentary. Watching a film about the Free State Project while sitting with hundreds of people who are united in their enthusiasm about this movement, the energy in the room was electric. I think Libertopia is going to be one of the most powerful tools yet for reaching new people about the ideas of liberty.
The food at PorcFest was great! We were big fans of Our Food Your Gullet, who were always in business even when many other stands were closed up for the night. And I’m still dreaming about the iced maple lattes at the Cabra Perezoso and Liberty Bell’s fantastic ice cream – the only thing better than the hilarious flavor names is the ice cream itself!
Because it was my and Adam’s first PorcFest experience, and because we came by way of a long road trip, we participated as observers and customers rather than contributing much ourselves. Being there did inspire us with plenty of ideas for goods and services we’d like to provide next time, and I think this is one of the most exciting things about PorcFest. There’s such a low entry threshold for potential entrepreneurs. Anyone is able and encouraged to sell something, create something, try something new, and it’s this type of environment where innovation really flourishes. PorcFest is a microcosm that shows what’s possible in a world of free-market, voluntary, peaceful interactions. It inspires me to see what I believe we can create in our communities as the Free State Projects continues to grow — not just one week each year, but every day. I’m looking forward to the next PorcFest, but more than that, I’m looking forward to the rest of my life as a proud porcupine in New Hampshire.
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