LOVE FESTIVAL REVIVAL ROLLS INTO OLYMPIA

A neo-hippie famous for drug-infused concerts south of Olympia is
throwing his first revival bash after serving a prison sentence for a
narcotics conviction five years ago.

This time, the party's not going to be tucked away in Rainbow Valley.
It will be in the heart of downtown Olympia.

Gideon Israel, self-proclaimed leader of the "peace-love" movement, is
hosting Love Festival, an eight-hour concert, at Heritage Park on Sunday.

He promises the scene will be about peace, freedom and free family fun
- - not drugs or drinking. The 55-year-old advocate for the legalization
of marijuana even has proper city permits to host the event, which he
calls his "gift" to Olympia.

"We truly know it's better to give than receive," he said solemnly.

It's a gift some law enforcement officers would rather return.

"I think any event Mr. Israel organizes will bring illegal substances
and unwanted people," said Thurston County sheriff's Capt. Jim
Chamberlain, commander of the narcotics task force. "And if he does it
again, we'll put him in prison for longer."

Still, Olympia police say they won't take any extra precautions
Sunday.

"We'll sit and watch and see what's going on," said Olympia Police
Department spokesman Dick Machlan. "We've had similar events at the
park and nothing's happened before."

Israel isn't freaking out either.

"Everyone knows you can't just fight or do drugs in a public park," he
said.

He said Love Festival will be like a big family reunion, a chance to
see all his friends from the Rainbow Valley days and bring that spirit
of friendship back to the Thurston County area. He's even ordered
1,000 hot dogs and hopes the attendance matches the free food.

Israel said hosting these gatherings is in his blood. He's been
promoting events since he was 4, he said, when he served as the poster
child for a March of Dimes benefit to raise money for polio research
in Tenino. He said he's been throwing gigs ever since.

He doesn't have a standard job, saying he doesn't need to work 9 to 5
with so many friends. "This is really my life's work," he said.

Israel's communal gatherings peaked in the 1980s and 1990s with four
concerts a summer rocking his property at Rainbow Valley, 42 acres on
the Black River. The Woodstock-like festivals drew thousands from
across the United States and Canada.

Chamberlain said they also brought underage drinking, drug use,
assaults and noise complaints. The sheriff's department spent three
years investigating Israel and tried to get him on everything from
zoning code violations to teenage drug use on his property.

In 1999, Israel served six months in prison after pleading guilty to
three felony counts involving marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and LSD.
Prosecutors dropped more-serious charges after he agreed not to host
another concert on Thurston County soil in 10 years and give up
Rainbow Valley.

The land is now owned by the Nature Conservancy, and it saddens Israel
that his old spot is fenced off and "can't be enjoyed by everyone."

Bill Bakke, 53, attended several concerts at Rainbow
Valley.

"It was a lot of beer, a lot of drugs, lots of good music," he said.

The Olympia resident raised an eyebrow when he was told Sunday's
concert would be drug-free.

"Yeah, that's what they say," he said. "But you know somebody's always
got something."

Olympia resident Rhonda Caldwell, 38, said she'll wait and see if the
love fest becomes a haven for drug use. If it's clean, the mother of
two said she might come to future concerts.

Amanda Havens, 26, of Olympia, said she might stop by and isn't
worried about the party getting out of hand.

"Here, it's in the middle of the city," she said. "It will be a lot
more monitored. I think it will be great for Olympia."

If you go

What: Love Festival

Where: Heritage Park in downtown Olympia

When: Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

Local bands: Planetary People, reggae dance music; Slow Roller,
classic Grateful Dead covers; Max Cash, classic rock; DNA, original
rock

Cost: Free; bring extra food for a potluck

Information: Gideon Israel, 360-705-4589