The Grateful Dead concert in 1972 brought traffic on Highway 126 to a standstill

“Rock Concert Traffic Clogs Highway 126,” read the headline in Section B of the Register-Guard on Sunday, August 28, 1972.

Billed as a “potluck picnic,” The Grateful Dead performed a benefit concert in Elmira this weekend to raise money for the Springfield Creamery.

The dairy was owned by Chuck Kesey, brother of author Ken Kesey.

The event took place in a parking lot on the site of what would become the Oregon Country Fair west of Eugene. At the time, it was known as the Oregon Renaissance Faire.

Organizers had expected 5,000 participants, but Lane County Sheriff’s officials estimated the crowd to be closer to 30,000, according to Register-Guard reporter Don Mack.

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After the dusty parking lot filled with cars, concertgoers instead parked on both sides of Highway 126 near Veneta, clogging the road for miles.

Dairy staff distributed free yogurt and food. There were also reports of widespread nudity and drug and alcohol use.

Between the opening act of the band New Riders of the Purple Sage and the show by The Dead, the concert lasted until early Sunday evening.

As the sun went down and music fans began to leave the venue, traffic was backed up “halfway from Florence to Eugene,” according to Mack.

The article ended with the message: “Apart from traffic and complaints from residents, authorities said there were surprisingly few problems as a result of the event.”