The Rainbows are descending on Cuba, N.M.

The Rainbow Family of Living Light has chosen a site in the Santa Fe National Forest near Cuba for the group's annual gathering. Many have already begun to arrive in the little town east of the Jemez Mountains, preparing for the main event from July 1 to 7.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected to attend the gathering. "July 4th is the main day when they pray for world peace," said Santa Fe National Forest spokeswoman Dolores Maese.

The gathering will be about 22 road miles northeast of Cuba and southeastof the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. It will not be in the wilderness. The group has applied for a commercial use permit, according to Maese.

The Rainbow Family has no official spokesperson and no members. Some refer to the Rainbows as the "largest nonorganization of nonmembers in the world" who come together through shared traditions and beliefs.

The decision on where to hold the gathering is made by a loosely organized "spring council." Small groups called "scouts" scope out likely spots on public lands in various states each year. The Forest Service knew in November that the Rainbow gathering might take place in the Gila National Forest or the Carson National Forest. Then in late May, the Santa Fe National Forest learned it was a possible site as well.

Agency staff met with the Cuba community June 3 to let them know the event might occur nearby and how the influx of people might impact the town. "The numbers are just sometimes overwhelming to a community," Maese said.

They plan to meet with the community again next week to address any concerns.

The Forest Service will use a National Incident Management Team to monitor the event because it is expected to involve so many people. The team will coordinate with local and state law enforcement and other agencies to minimize impacts from the event, according to the agency.

"Local businesses from Bernalillo to Cuba can expect to see large numbers of 'gathering' participants visiting stores and buying food and supplies along routes to the gathering site," according to a news release from the agency. "Roads leading from Cuba to the gathering site are soon expected to get very congested so the public should use extra caution while driving."

The Rainbow Family has held annual gatherings since 1972, in the U.S., Europe and around the world. This will be the first one in the Santa Fe National Forest, according to Lawrence Lujan, public information officer with the agency.

The gathering was held near Tres Piedras in the Carson National Forest in 1995.

The relationship between the Rainbow Family and the Forest Service hasn't been an easy one. Because the group was a loose affiliation of people with no official representative, they for years said they didn't need to have a permit for the annual gathering. In addition, they've said in the past Forest Service and law-enforcement officers have harassed their members.

The Forest Service insists the Rainbow gatherings require a permit for more than 75 people.

Living Light refers to the Rainbow family's belief in living lightly on the land, according to the group's Web site, www.welcomehere.org.

Contact Staci Matlock at smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.