For newcomers, the Rainbow Gathering can be hard to picture: there's no ticket, no stage, no organizer in charge, and no money changing hands. The videos in this section work as a front door. They range from short primers made in the early 2010s to recent guides by longtime gatherers, and they describe the gatherings as temporary intentional communities built around peace, cooperation and prayer. Several are practical, explaining how the site is chosen, how to find directions, and what to expect on arrival. Together they give a common starting vocabulary, including Main Circle, kitchens, 'Welcome Home' and the July 4th silence, that the rest of the collection builds on.
What Is a Rainbow Gathering? (visionontv, 2011) - A short introduction to Rainbow Gatherings as temporary intentional communities built on peace and love, made with images from a Greek gathering.
What Is a Rainbow Gathering? (HD Edition, 2013) - An HD re-release of visionontv's short primer on the ideals and atmosphere of Rainbow Gatherings.
What Is a Rainbow Gathering & Why Was It Shut Down? - Gabriel Traveler hikes through a northern California forest while explaining the U.S. gatherings and why the 2024 event was closed by authorities.
What on Earth Is a Rainbow Gathering and Why You Need to Go - An enthusiastic pitch for attending a Rainbow Gathering as a way to meet real people and experience communal living.
The World's Biggest Hippie Gathering (Portuguese-Language Guide) - Soraya Hara walks viewers through everything about the World Rainbow Gathering (Encontro Arco-Íris) in Portuguese.
Rainbow Gathering 2025: What Is It? Where Is It? - TaiStar42 explains the gathering and announces the 2025 U.S. National Gathering site in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest.
How to Get to a Rainbow Gathering (2020 Guide) - TaiStar42's practical guide to finding, travelling to and arriving at a Rainbow Gathering.
Directions to the 50th National Rainbow Gathering (Colorado 2022) - Step-by-step directions for reaching the 2022 50th-anniversary National Gathering in Colorado.
What Happens at a Rainbow Gathering? Experimental Village - Gabriel Morris of Inner Quest describes the gathering as a temporary experimental village run without leaders or money.
What Is the Rainbow Gathering? (Van Boys, 50th Anniversary) - Two first-timers interview interesting people at the 2022 gathering to explain what it is all about.
Rainbow Gathering Structure (Rainbow Circle UK) - A talk from Rainbow Circle UK on how Rainbow Gatherings are structured.
What Should I Bring to the Rainbow Gathering? (Part 1) - WaterInTheWoods runs through the essential gear and supplies for living at a gathering.
What Should I Bring to a Rainbow Gathering? (Part 2) - A second packing guide from WaterInTheWoods for first-time gatherers.
What I'm Bringing to the Rainbow Gathering (Jade Stone) - A pack-with-me video covering sleeping bag, water bottle and other gathering basics.
What to Bring to a Rainbow Gathering (2023) - Rainbow Oracle's practical checklist for attending the 2023 gathering.
Graell's Rainbow Gathering Prep - Graell shares tips for having a positive, well-prepared Rainbow Gathering experience.