For students who may be looking to have fun this weekend but in the more traditional, less muddy sense, Alternative Fest might just be the answer. Athletes in Action, or AIA, will be hosting a daylong, free event for students and faculty.
Ian Klein, president of AIA and first year graduate student studying exercise physiology, and Rachel Smith, public relations consultant for AIA and sophomore studying communications, said they put together the fest as a way for students to have fun while staying substance free.
“This was an event that I’ve kind of been spearheading with Rachel, but it’s an event that came about from suggestions from people in our house as something to do for the students at OU,” Klein said.
The event will consist of live music, free food, inflatables, a bon fire and more.
“We have music, games and something called Death Hack which is a new thing which is a mixture of dodge ball and soccer,” Smith said.
“We also have corn hole, hillbilly golf, (and) we’re renting a giant inflatable boxing ring from Athens Inflatables. We’ve got a lot of games and prizes, we’re bringing in live music. But overall, towards the end of the night we’ll have a bonfire and s’mores and food to keep people entertained.” Klein said.
Klein said the event has been fully funded by uFUND, a scholarship fund system that provides means for organization or individuals to put on safe, (substance free) events.
“It is strictly by the uFUND that we have been funded. We told them what we wanted to do, they gave us a few parameters, we stayed within those parameters and they’ve been very gracious to fund us fully for something like this,” Klein said.
The event is mainly targeted towards students, but is open and welcome to staff members, or the Athens public.
If it rains on Saturday, Klein says the event will still take place inside the AIA house with the food, games and music.
“(The event) is absolutely free; I think that was our main goal to have a fun, free, safe alternative that was substance free. People come and have a great time,” Smith said.
ne991410@ohio.edu
If You Go
WHAT: Alternative Fest
WHEN: 1-8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: AIA House, 4 College Terrace
ADMISSION: Free
