Excerpt about the event....

A pirate played a garbage can while a fairy danced along to the rhythm. Onlookers watched as the drum circle got bigger and the dancers kept coming. For one afternoon, everyone was marching to the beat of a different drummer.

At Eeyore's 45th Birthday Party, nothing was out of the ordinary except the ordinary. Starting at midmorning and lasting until dark, people dressed in everything imaginable spent the day at Pease Park listening to music, dancing, eating and participating in other activities that help "keep Austin weird."

The spectacle of brightly colored costumes and activities gave the day a carnival-like atmosphere where everyone did their own thing and nothing seemed unusual.

A Statue of Liberty where Eeyore's face replaced Lady Liberty's face was placed in the middle of the park not far from Eeyore's Pen, where children could pet a donkey and play with baby ducks.

"I go just to see if there are going to be a bunch of outrageous people doing outrageous things," said Austin resident Michael Fong. "It is just a fun time to get out and enjoy yourself."

Fong has attended Eeyore's Birthday Party six times and said that he always likes to see if the next year will outdo the one before.

The event was family-friendly, or at least intended to be. A maypole was placed in the middle of the park for children to dance around with bright ribbons, and arts and crafts were close by with face painting and various other activities.

Former UT student Lloyd Birdwell and his friends started the birthday party 45 years ago in honor of Winnie the Pooh's gloomy donkey friend. The tradition has grown over the years but has kept up with its roots in appreciating the free-spirited nature of hippie subcultures and, of course, celebrating Eeyore.

Even as the music ended and the crowd began to dwindle, Pease Park will be left with the spirit of Austin culture till next year when the costumes are out in full display and the drums begin to beat again.