On the weekend of June 24th, the city of Athens became a beacon for live music, local vendors, and tasty food – thousands of people eagerly and excitedly strolled the streets in search of a wild and wicked weekend.
In the late afternoon of June 24th, Washington Street, Hull Street, and Lumpkin Street were shut down to accommodate the thousands of students, families, parents, and performers who attended the annual AthFest in downtown Athens, Georgia. The festival is a yearly three-day arts and music festival that showcases mainly local talent in the heart of this city. It celebrates its lively and diverse culture with its food trucks, vendors, painters, musicians, entertainers, and supporters. Tents lined the streets with art, jewelry, food, candles, tee-shirts, and most of which were made locally.
In the early morning and afternoon, a KidsFest took place along Lumpkin street. Artists such as Allegro, Camp Amped, Merry Sunshine Band, and Smith Larrison all performed on stage alongside other engaging events, such as The Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance, the Full Moon School of Music, and Oconee Music. At the Kidsfest, carnival games and treats were available, and families spent the day on water rides, eating snow cones, and playing games.
Down the street, the rest of Athsfest was a world wind of excitement! During the day, two outdoor stages, “The Wicked Weed Stage” and “The Hull Street Stage”, were set up. These concerts were open to the public and many flocked to see their friends and favorite local artists perform. The line up included A.D. Blanco, Hotel Fiction, Lighthearted, Neighbor Lady, Zac Crook, Blunt Bangs, Kadillak, Ashes to Omens, Bichos Vivos, and the Wonderland Rangers to name a few. Each performer had their own individual style and genre, and they all put on a great show!
At night, the outdoor stages closed and the festivities continued over at the 40 Watt Club, the Georgia Theater, and the Georgia Theater Rooftop. The performances ran into the early hours of the morning and no one left unsatisfied. Some artists that performed that night were the Woggles, Fishbug, Underground Springhouse, Night Palace, Monsoon, and Wieuca.
On Sunday afternoon, a Gospel Brunch was held at Hendershot’s Coffee Shop. Ansley Stewart, Marco Hull and Sharmar Stevens all performed around noon while locals energized with coffee before heading back to the main festival. The rest of the day was full of laughter, singing, dancing, and enjoyment! There was entertainment for everyone of all ages.
Many Athenians look forward to this annual event and it will be hard to top such an amazing experience after this year’s turnout.
I am a currently a student at the University of Georgia studying Entertainment and Media/Film Studies. With my extracurriculars here at UGA, I like to get involved with production, such as UGA Miracle, Entertainment and Media Industries Club, my sorority Chi Omega, and Grady News Source. I enjoy taking photos and videos, attending concerts, creative writing, hiking, and traveling!
