The smell of burning incense fills the air. Indie music blares from the main stage. A man walks by, dressed as a giant marijuana leaf.

No, this isn’t Woodstock. This is Tucson’s 26th Annual Peace Fair and Music Festival.

Hundreds of mellow Tucsonans gathered Saturday to unite in a celebration of peace, love and harmony. Although the event boasted its fair share of hippies in tie-dye, the goal of the fair was more noble than simply providing a free venue for meatless cuisine and meditation.

The festival, sponsored by the Tucson Peace Center, featured about 50 booths that lined the perimeter of Reid Park’s DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center. Crowds moved in and out of the center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., all the while gaining a greater understanding of issues affecting peace, social justice, labor and the environment.

Each table at the fair was hosted by a different organization, artist, cause, or project. The range of different issues represented was vast. Knowledge about anything from marijuana legalization at the Marijuana Policy Project Foundation booth, to human rights at the Border Action Network stand, could be gained by taking a walk around the center.

Many of the vendors sold crafts for donations. A couple dollars for a colorful woven bracelet at the Bridges Across Borders display benefited the Wayuu women of Northern Colombia by helping to protect the culture from genocide. A bright green octopus finger puppet for $3 supported The Guatemala Acupuncture and Medical Aid Project.

Other tables explained projects, most of which were geared toward uniting people in the common purpose of helping others.

Los Desconocidos, a non-profit artist and sewing cooperative committed to environmental issues, gathers migrant items left around the border and recycles them. A ripped pair of jeans becomes a funky purse.

The quilt project Los Desconocidos promoted at the fair allows a contributor to purchase a 4 x 4 scrap of immigrant clothing for $4 and decorate it with the name of a migrant who died crossing the border, which is provided, then send it back to the organization. Eventually, a quilt will be assembled with all of the collected pieces of fabric. Funds go to preventing border deaths.

The 2008 Global Art Project connects people around the world through art. After applying to be a part of the project, the organization matches the participant with someone else from a different location. Each person creates a piece of art, and then they are exchanged and kept by each recipient.

Diane Feigelson, a volunteer for The Global Art Project, explained that the project helped her find peace with diversity.

“It’s a great project,” she said. “It’s really something anyone can be a part of and learn a lot from.”

All different kinds people packed the festival. A group greeted newcomers with signs that read “FREE HUGS!,” and others held fliers encouraging participation in the next Peace March and Rally, to take place in March.

Although the booths were the main attraction at the fair, many people came simply to spread their blankets out on the lawn and enjoy the sunny weather and performances taking place on stage.

Some of the bands included Mitzi Cowell, Spirit Familia, and The Raging Grannies- to name a few. Families gathered and children with their faces painted ran around the grass barefoot, dancing to the music and braiding each other's hair.

The fair was a success, giving Tucsonans of all ages a reason to come together and celebrate being peaceful in every way. Of all the different things to see at the Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival, a frown was nowhere to be found.

Please click here to view a slideshow from the festival.