A swathe of students were busy throughout the weekend, starting their Congo Fest celebrations Friday by traveling in droves to the houses on Congress Street and finishing their celebratory weekend Saturday at High Fest on High Street.
After making it to their destinations, students passed the time playing alcohol drinking games, hanging on porches with friends and laughing with other party goers as music blasted.
Those who decided to party at Congo Fest were seasoned fest participants and transitioned to hosting the parties in recent years, continuing the celebration. Ellie Nuspl, a senior studying exercise physiology pre-physical therapy, started hosting Congo Fest celebrations at her house two years ago, but has participated in Fest Season for four years.
“I honestly love the opportunity to just get together with my friends in a place that's not the bar,” Nuspl said. “To just hang out, and I love hosting, especially for Congo, hosting at this house. I love a party where it's a more chill vibe, and you can definitely have more space to get away and talk to people.”
Nuspl said she started celebrating Congo Fest at 4 p.m. Friday.
Other students were enjoying the sun, having conversations or tossing a football. Greta Gunderson, a junior studying journalism, was sitting on the sidewalk during the fest having a lively conversation with her friends.
Gunderson said she and her friends participate in Fest season every year and take care of any academic work before the fun.
“I'm from Athens, so I grew up here, and I feel like it brings such a light in the springtime, when seasons are changing, it's just super exciting to witness everyone being outside and everyone having fun,” Gunderson said.
Gunderson said the nice weather was not the only thing keeping her and her friends entertained, but being in a different setting made the day worthwhile and interesting.
“I feel like OU is very much a bar school (and) this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy house parties,“ Gunderson said. "Just hanging out with friends and not being so bar culture."
With the house parties came live music and performers walking throughout the street, lugging their band equipment and instruments to the crowds. Two bands, Coyote and Ditch Witch, played their show titled the “Church Congo Congression" on Friday night.
Cooper Tussey, a junior studying middle childhood education, is a guitarist and vocalist for Coyote.
Tussey said he started the band with his roommate in April when they threw their own house show during Athens Fest.
During Friday’s show, Tussey said “free baptisms” were offered because the party, at a friend’s apartment, was “church themed.”
“We didn't really know what we were walking in on, not going to lie, but we had a good time,” Tussey said. “We thought it was funny watching the people with the spray guns and the other festivities going on.”
Tussey said Friday’s performance was Coyote's last scheduled show.
In addition to local music, Fest Season can bring new friends and potential romantic partners together. Milo Murray, a junior studying applied nutrition, hosted his own party during High Fest on Saturday, claiming it as the “best fest” for a multitude of reasons.
Murray said he met his current girlfriend during his freshman year High Fest after having too much to drink and being taken care of by her.
“We weren't even dating,” Murray said. “That was like a few weeks into knowing her. So she stayed home and took care of me, and that's when I knew I fell in love with her.”
Murray said he had around 20 people at his house by 6 p.m., but there were nearly 60 attendees just a few hours prior.
As for the rest of Murray’s night, he was focused on spending time with his siblings and hanging out at the bars on Court Street. Murray said this was his first year throwing a party on High Street, and he will most likely be throwing a party next year, too.
With two Fest Season weekends completed, OU Bobcats now anticipate Athens and Palmer Fest on April 17 and April 18.
