Ohio University and the surrounding Athens area aren’t strangers to a festival that brings the community together. Make sure to check out these festivals and community gatherings this year in Athens.
Ohio Pawpaw Festival
For those who are not native to the Southeastern Ohio area, the pawpaw fruit might be a foreign concept. Pawpaw is North America’s largest edible native tree fruit and is abundant in Southern Ohio.
In the past 25 years, the Ohio Pawpaw Festival has taken place at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio. However, this year, the festival is moving to Snow Fork Event Center in Nelsonville, Ohio — about a 20-minute drive from OU.
The Ohio Pawpaw Festival is an Athens favorite because it celebrates local culture with local food, live music, a pawpaw-eating contest, pawpaw-flavored beer and ice cream and more.
Whether looking to appreciate the culinary power of pawpaw or just wanting to relax, the Ohio Pawpaw Festival will take place Sept. 18-20.
Athens Halloween
OU and Athens as a whole are widely known for their exceptional Halloween celebrations.
Student-run events, more commonly known as “HallOUween,” are common, as students roam in costume during Halloween weekend.
Additionally, Athens Halloween is a city-wide celebration that takes place on Court Street with live music. The block party is just one part of the day’s festivities, as Passion Works Studio also hosts its Honey for the Heart parade earlier in the day.
Passion Works events
Passion Works Studio is a local art studio that works to create opportunities for people with developmental differences and people of all abilities to create art and participate in inclusive communities.
Throughout the year, Passion Works has several events that are a lively part of the Athens area. In September, Passion Works creates art to support and raise awareness for Turn it Gold, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting childhood cancer.
Also in September, Passion Works creates pawpaw-themed art to display at the Ohio Pawpaw Festival.
As previously mentioned, before the Athens Halloween Block Party, Passion Works’ Honey for the Heart parade shows off repurposed art and puppets the community comes together to help create, through a pop-up studio in October. Honey for the Heart is a great way to be connected to the local Athens culture during the Halloween season, with around 2,000 people helping at the pop-up studio in the weeks leading up to the parade.
Fest Season
OU is famous for its party scene, and the end of the spring semester is a peak time for that aspect of campus culture. “Fest season” takes place over several weekends in spring, with different streets throwing house parties each weekend.
The streets involved in the fest season are Milliron Street, Mill Street, Congress Street, High Street and Palmer Street. It is important to stay safe during those events, but fest season is certainly a remarkable part of the OU student culture.
Nelsonville Music Festival
For those who stay on campus over the summer or who are interested in visiting the Athens area over the summer, Nelsonville Music Festival is a major event not to be missed.
Featuring national, regional and local music acts, Nelsonville Music Festival showcases live music on multiple stages across three days and offers nearby camping and lodging.
Anyone who has an interest in music, camping or local culture can find something to appreciate at Nelsonville Music Festival.
