Bumbershoot flashback: Hippies, 'fros and toplessness Once upon a time, Bumbershoot was a festival for the people

Bumbershoot, 1979. Copyright MOHAI.2002.46.2022.006 Bumbershoot, 1979. Copyright MOHAI.2002.46.2022.006 Photo: - Photo: - Image 1 of / 63 Caption Close Bumbershoot flashback: Hippies, 'fros and toplessness 1 / 63 Back to Gallery

Once upon a time, Bumbershoot shared more in common with the Northwest Folklife Festival than the Capitol Hill Block Party.

RELATED: Rock on: Bumbershoot is this weekend, see who's playing



For starters, it used to be free, until 1987. Imagine that. Now you gotta blow your entire concert budget on a three-day pass.

And the scene is now more corporate than free-wheeling.

RELATED: Back to the future: Capitol Hill, then and now





Let us reminisce about Bumbershoots past with this collection of shirtlessness and afros.

Is Bumbershoot worthwhile anymore? Sound off.