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The usually quiet hills between Athens and Albany (7755 Williams Road) rang for miles with the event’s music, which included entertainers such as Mike Posner, DJ Edski, Jesty Beatz and Bourbon Kings. The event rounded out OU’s fest season, which had been plagued by violence and arrests. Despite the mud and the alcohol, though, this event was relatively calm, though the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Investigative Unit reported Sunday afternoon that liquor agents had arrested 51 people at 7 Fest. The arrests were mainly for underage drinking, the ODPS release stated. Meanwhile, area businesses and individuals tried to make a buck off the event, with some providing impromptu taxi service and parking spots, and a carry-out/gas station on Rt. 50/32, advertising cold beer with huge banners along the four-lane. Like last year’s 6 Fest at a different location, mud became the fashion-statement of 7 Fest, with revelers taking to mud wrestling and painting their faces and bodies with mud. Many celebrants lost their shoes early on, and barefoot party-goers lined the country roads as they looked for rides home Saturday afternoon and evening. “I came to 7 Fest because we just graduated from college, and our friend from OU is graduating in a few weeks, and this is our last college hurrah,” said Mandy Ahlstrom, who graduated this spring from Bowling Green. Armed with cases of Natural Light, beer bongs and lawn chairs, students began crowding the streets of Athens around 11 a.m. waiting for shuttles to the Alexander Township party spot. Many locals and students took advantage of this chance to make money, charging party-goers $5 to $10 per person for a ride to the event. The normal 15-minutes drive to the location took at least 30 minutes as traffic was routed about three miles farther than the usual direct route, and cars stretched back along Williams Road, which had been made into a one-way route to keep the flow of traffic running smoothly. Those living close to the field where 7 Fest took place also took the opportunity to make money off the partiers, as many along Williams Road charged party-goers $20 a car to park in their yards and driveways. But was it all worth it? Most students said absolutely. “This was about getting drunk with all of my friends before we graduate,” said OU senior Justin Hauenstein. “This is my first number-fest; it took my fest virginity.” Hauenstein said he and his friends took to mud wrestling early in the day, and by the end of the evening had to ride home in the bed of a truck. “I would say that it was calmer than past years,” said Nikki Lawler, an OU senior. “Usually, when I remember the past two years, all I can think about it is beer cans flying everywhere. I saw that for five seconds one time this year, so it wasn’t as bad.” Some partiers, however, did complain about what they characterized as “aggressive” police tactics at the event.

Source:  Athens News

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,” Petrozzi said. “In my eyes, that was a good thing. The earlier we get them home, the safer they are.”  Petrozzi said he appreciated the cooperation from the 7Fest staff and other organizations. ‘All the individuals that helped, between staff and entertainment and city individuals, like the Athens Police Department horse cops, sheriff deputies and (Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services), they really did a great job,” he said. “It’s not just the 7Fest guys. It’s a whole bunch of people.”

Source:  Athens Post