The fields Thursday were filled with campsites, carnival rides, and thousands of Insane Clown Posse (ICP) fans, who call themselves Juggalos, for the first day of the weekend-long Gathering of the Juggalos.

Gravel walks connected various open areas separated by trees. In sections of the Hog Rock campground in Hardin County were carnival-style food vendors, Ferris wheels, Tilt-o-whirls, and music-producer tents.

"There is good music, good crowds, good people and it is just a fun place to be," said Brett Bauman of Loveton, Pa.

Several large stages were spread throughout the grounds. Live music wasn't scheduled to start until Thursday night, but speakers blasted an assortment of music that kept the crowd alive.

At one tent, tattoos were being needled onto willing participants.

At a tented area near a pond, girls danced topless as a crowd gathered around singing the words to the music being played.

One ICP fan told a DJ he was a virgin and was then prompted to get on stage, where he appeared to engage in sexual acts with one of the female dancers as onlookers shot photos and video.

Food vendor Sherry Bolin, of Tampa, Fla., said she traveled to the four-day event to have fun.

"I'm 66 years old and being here has made me feel like I'm 26," she said. "I'm crazy, and my momma always told me that crazy people have more fun."

Attendees dressed in a variety of ICP shirts, clown costumes, corrections uniforms and many in swimwear.

It appeared that some of the participants were smoking marijuana and one concertgoer appeared to be snorting a powder off another person's body, although officials in security shirts and security-labeled golf carts were patrolling the premises.

Local law enforcement officials were heavily staged on roads leading up to the campground but were not seen inside the gates. Some media crews also were required to stand on the roadway and were not allowed inside the gates.

"This is an undergound musical movement," said a participant who goes by the name of Green Vilin and comes from Philadelphia. "This is for the realest of the real."

Green Vilin said he was part of a group that produced musicians and followed the Posse around to promote and support their music.

"We will have non-stop music out here," he said. "It's all night long."

Several of the attendees said they were most excited about seminars that would be presented by the various artists and would allow fans to ask questions and celebrate hip hop.

Food vendor Bolin said the Insane Clown Posse was expected to close out the event on Sunday night with a 10 p.m. concert.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com / 351-5824