Final fest weekend brings sketchy weather and an array of entertainment.
With the school year winding down, students are preparing to celebrate the final street fests: Palmer Place Fest on Friday and Palmer Fest on Saturday.
After a fire broke out at a house party in 2012, Palmer Fest became known as one of the rowdier celebrations, but that may change this year because of expected rain and snow.
Both Friday and Saturday will have temperatures in the 40s, according to the National Weather Service, but Saturday will also have wind gusts up to 24 miles per hour.
Ohio University Police Department Lt. Tim Ryan said people should expect lighter crowds if the weather is not ideal.
"Weather definitely affects attendance,” Ryan said. “We definitely see less of a crowd during adverse weather conditions."
Ryan also said he expects the weather conditions to cause fewer arrests throughout the day.
“I think (the weather) will (deter people) to a certain point,” Jacob Marshall, a freshman studying global studies, said. “But for people who really love going out and partying, it won’t at all.”
One student especially excited for Palmer Fest is Mill Street resident Derek Johnson, a senior studying civil engineering, who just a few weeks ago opened his house to partygoers at Mill Fest.
“It’s always more stressful when the party’s on your street 'cause you have random people in your yard and house,” Johnson said. “So Palmer’s going to be a lot less stressful for me.”
Ryan said police will be on hand at Palmer Fest as usual, and he does not anticipate any changes in patrol style from last year.
"I don't think we're taking any extra precautions,” Ryan said. “We usually have a big meeting before it. I don't think there are any changes — at least none that have reached my level."
As for Palmer Place Fest, Ryan was unsure if OUPD will send extra officers to monitor the parties.
Palmer Place will be different this year in regards to entertainment during the fest. A stage similar to the one at the Athens Halloween Block Party will be present, featuring 14 DJs from noon until 10 p.m. DJs from as far as Columbus will perform at the fest, but the event will also include local DJs such as DJ B-Funk.
Kiser's Barbeque is a sponsor for the fest and gave the group of deejays $1,600, which they decided to use to rent a stage.
“I’ve worked with the city because … it needs to be safer,” Thompson said. “I wanted to make sure that it was going to be safe, but that it was also going to be fun.”
Thompson added that he’s looking forward to seeing new DJs play for bigger crowds than they’re used to.
“I just want people there having a good time," Thompson said. "It just validates you as a DJ.”
Zachary Crandall, a junior studying music production and recording industry, has deejayed around Athens and was part of the group that coordinated the stage for Palmer Place Fest.
“It was just all about bringing people together rather than doing our own thing,” Crandall said.
In the past, Crandall said DJs would be spread out at different apartments and small house parties during fests.
“I took the initiative and contacted everyone and just reached out,” he said.
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Harrison Mbemba, a senior studying music production and a DJ for the fest, said the he tossed around the idea of organizing a fest with his friends in the past, but they never attempted it.
“Once we saw how many people were really passionate about it, we decided we had enough resources to go through such an endeavor,” Mbemba said.
— Bailey Gallion contributed to this article.
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