This past Saturday, about 10,000 students brought coolers, tents, trash cans and kiddie pools filled with alcoholic beverages to a field in Athens to ring in 7Fest, the last fest of the Ohio University school year.
Dominic Petrozzi, organizer of 7Fest, said this year's fest sold fewer tickets than past fests for many reasons, including the move to the new location off U.S. Route 50, about 8 miles from campus.
In the entertainment factor
I'd say this fest was a bigger success (than past years) he said. But I think ticket sales were less. After you've been somewhere for six years and then you pick a new spot you almost have to start over from day one.
Similar to past years, partiers brought outdoor toys to add to the fun.
We're all set up today. We've got a Slip 'n Slide
squirt guns
a beer cannon
a dizzy bat and a keg
said Nick Will, a graduate of University of Northwestern Ohio.
David Goodman, a 2008 OU graduate, has attended all seven fests and said the fests are more organized each year.
There were almost no cops and no control at the first one
he said. It keeps getting better every year.
Agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit arrested 51 people mostly for offenses involving underage alcohol consumption, according to an e-mail from Julie Hinds, the public information officer for the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Transportation to and from the fest was problematic for attendees, but it provided some OU students with a business opportunity.
Ian Klein, a sophomore studying exercise physiology, worked with his twin brother and three friends to make about $600 transporting people. They called themselves the Klein Brothers and Friends Transportation Service and dressed in suits and driving hats.
We had three drivers
but next year we plan to make it a larger operation
he said. I might advertise more and get larger cars. That's an area where we can improve. We'll dress in suits and do it all over again.
A large part of the 7Fest crowd left after the headlining performer, Mike Posner, finished.
The music was done at 9:45. We usually cut the music at 10:30
but we ended earlier this year
