Poor morning weather and competition between Arkfest and High Fest drove down attendance at Athens' first major spring block parties.
The weather really limits people from coming out early
I think said senior education major Audra Van Hoose. Storm clouds late kept High Street relatively quiet until about 3 p.m., but the weather stayed clear from the afternoon onward.
A long one-way street, High Street's festival has a better atmosphere than other block parties, said Danielle Nowicki, a junior journalism major.
It was just a big party which was what I was looking for
said Viv Stock, a freshman chemical engineering major.
While most of Athens' other streets fests are closer to campus, High Fest is one of the few uptown, said junior John Dimario, a history major.
Some residents, like Van Hoose stamped drinkers' hands and marked property limits with orange plastic fencing to control the crowds.
Nowicki said she was primarily concerned about undercover officers.
So long as you're not stupid and stumbling with an open container or something in the street
it's not too bad
she said.
Saturday's poor weather decreased attendance at Arkfest's, which took place on Stewart Street, though a few partygoers attributed the smaller crowd to competition with High Fest.
Although the fests were not as well attended, there was no lack of beer. Arkfest included 35 kegs this year, said Tyler Blue.
It was a good time; beer was really easy to get
said Kim Elliot, a freshman at Ohio State.
Arkfest was scheduled for this weekend to accommodate Caleb Davidson, who recently returned from his second tour in Iraq, said Davidson's friend and Arkfest organizer Pat Murphy. Davidson's tour inspired this Arkfest's theme, Saving Private Ark
Murphy said. There seemed to be fewer police officers at Arkfest this year, Murphy said, adding about 2:30 p.m. that he had yet to see a police car.
Last year
(some guests) were trashing the house and people were peeing outside
Murphy said.
Without a noticeable influx of out-of-town guests, the crowds seemed smaller and milder than previous years, Athens Police Lt. Ralph Harvey said.
We haven't had problems at High Fest for years and Stewart Street fest has never really been a problem
he said.
