What is the Wild Rumpus Athens?

The Wild Rumpus is many things. It’s a big celebration of all the uniqueness Athens, Georgia has to offer, a gathering of the creative and carefree people who make Athens the best place to live in Georgia, hands down. Each year these wonderful people come together to express themselves freely through costume, dance, camaraderie, and fun.

Rumpus Rally Official Pre-Parade Meetup

From 5-8pm at the Creature Comforts Brewery the Rumpus Rally is the gathering spot for the parade to come. Now, I’ve been sober for going on five years but people do drink here, as it is at the Brewery and it is an open-container wristband location. It’s something about Athens that some love and some (like myself) wish there’d be less emphasis on. But there’s no escaping that Athens is a college town and with that comes a fair amount of alcohol-centered events.

But regardless of your sobriety, it’s a good time to people-watch, find friends, and mingle with other celebrants. Everyone is ready to have a good time, and you’ll find that they are approachable and friendly. Admire costumes, get pictures with favorites, and chat as people continue to gather in larger and larger crowds.

Wild Rumpus Downtown Parade

The Wild Rumpus Parade starts right at 8pm so don’t be late! You want to be there earlier than that anyway! The parade route is the same as last year. From the Creature Comforts Brewery, the route turns left onto Pulaski Street and goes down past the terminus of the event at the intersection of Washington Street and Pulaski and onto Clayton Street.

Street Bands

As you walk the parade route, you’ll see several musical acts performing along the way. The first you’ll encounter are the Captains of Revelry at the very start of the parade route, hyping people up to march along the route.

Next up will be El ChupaSKAbra, a local Athens Ska band self-described as Mexican Gringo Ska-Core. They perform on the corner of Pulaski and Clayton.

Just up the road, you’ll catch Fishbug, another local Athens band with a nice following. Beast Mode will be next, an Athens thrash/metal band that I am looking forward to seeing. Woah Nelly is next. I love their song Evangeline, available on Spotify. Nadia Vaeh is up next as you continue to walk, branded as poptimistic rock on her Instagram. Karma Kat will round out the bands performing on Clayton just before you turn the corner up College Avenue to Washington.

Father Werewolf performs on the corner of College Ave. and Washington St. as you turn the corner on the parade route. LibbaLoops + Bryant Perez and Jiig + Molly2Hott, Squallé, Trepid (featuring Grandfath3er) finish out the lineup of street performances as you enter the final stretch past fire spinners, Canopy trapeze artists and end the parade at the dance party of the year featuring the BOOTY BOYZ and FAIRIEZ in the street! The party goes from 8:15pm til 11pm. (and then there’s an afterparty)

Cut-throughs

If you’re not up for walking the whole parade route, never fear. The last few years I had to find a cut-through because I suffered from plantar fasciitis in my feet and walking long distances just wasn’t happening. If you turn onto N. Hull St you can cut through right to the end of the parade route and watch everyone come over the finish line. It’s as much fun people-watching as people finish the parade as it was to start out the parade in front of Creature Comforts.

A photo dump of the sights from Rumpus will be posted after the big night! I hope you get the chance to experience the Wild Rumpus Athens at least once in your life!

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