Ohio University Halloween
O.K. now let’s be honest . . . They are all recovering from the endless hours of lectures and the “big picture of life” discussions from their parents, only escaping to experience an adventure like no other – The O.U. Halloween!
Nestled in the hills of Athens, Ohio, this University carries on a Halloween tradition that leaves city officials speechless. An Athens Halloween night in a nutshell is a jaw dropping phenomenon, a night of pure magic (that is a bit hazy for some) capturing the essence of a time in life when freedom and individuality reign.
As the sun descends and the smell of food vendors fills the air, a sweet emotion spreads across campus and partygoers make their way to the center of town. Court Street, the main street running through campus, lights up with a true melting pot of creative and inventive costumes. Four city blocks swell with enthusiastic collegians parading down cobble stone streets as Athens plays host to 20 to 30 thousand people. The annual street party turns into a full out mardi gras, lined with onlookers hanging off balconies like party streamers. What starts as a quaint collage town doubles in size and transforms into an explosion of pure activity diving into a sleepless, big city night.
A perfect setting for this celebration, Athens has legendary stories to make even a nonbeliever’s skin crawl. With an abandoned mental hospital lingering nearby, O.U. is no stranger to ghosts. Featured on Fox’s Family Channel’s, World’s Scariest Places, the stories of haunted dorms and surrounding graveyards forming a pentagram, makes for an appropriate chilling atmosphere. What could make a traditional Halloween celebration more appealing then a charming small town tucked away amongst age-old ghost stories?
