What’s happening in Athens this summer? A bunch of stuff. April might be festival season for OU, but Athens’ festival season is all summer long – even into the fall, if you count PawPaw Fest (September 15th-17th – Don’t miss it.). If you’re looking to get out, socialize, and have experiences unique to our little corner of Southeast Ohio, soak in some culture from the Appalachian foot hills and check out these summer festivals:
Black Diamond Music & Arts Festival (9-10 June)
Kicking off the season is a dynamic music festival a couple towns over in Nelsonville; more of an intimate vibe than Nelsonville Music Festival in July. Black Diamond’s musical acts focus on the region’s folk and bluegrass traditions. In addition, there are all kinds of wares from local artists, and culinary creations by Hocking Students. Black Diamond Music Festival is about Appalachian hospitality – a welcoming introduction to Us.
Boogie on the Bricks (24 June)
This beloved event had a bit of a hiatus after COVID, but it’s back and literally everyone is excited. Kind of like a mini-festival, the two main blocks of Court St are closed to traffic, and we all just get to wander around the streets drinking, dancing to live music, shopping local art vendors – even attending informal talks by local figures in ecological, social causes, and more. Boogie on the Bricks is also family-friendly, with a zone and bounce house just for the kiddos.
Ohio Brew Week (7-15 July)
Athens becomes a hub for beer enthusiasts all over the tristate area during these 9 days in July. You can drink outside, walk from bar-to-bar without having to worry about vehicle traffic, and you get to try all the newest and best craft beers local to Ohio. And Athens has plenty of places to spend Brew Week, whether you’re a fan of fermenteds or you’d rather have a cocktail. Our fave places to check out are JackieO’s, Little Fish, Devil’s Kettle, West End, and Eclipse.
Nelsonville Music Festival (21-23 July)
This one’s the culmination of summer music festivals in Athens. Held just up the highway in Nelsonville, this weekend-long festival draws international acts and attendants from all over the country. It’s family-friendly, with a dedicated kids’ area. Nelsonville Music Fest is also part of the Zero Waste effort, with 92% of festival waste diverted from the landfill to recycling and composting, reflecting our local culture of caring for the earth and our communities.
Starbrick Music Festival (28-29 July)
Starbrick Music Festival is new to the area, and it’s a charity festival, so there enough is a reason to go! Held in Nelsonville and hosted by Hocking College, all proceeds from the festival support TBI and mental health awareness by benefiting The Chris Roell TBI Foundation. Featuring rock music via musical acts with a variety of styles, you’ll also find the area’s most mouth-savoring food trucks here, including Burrito Buggy and Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen.
Hippie Fest (12 August)
Hippie Fest is coming through Athens this August. A fun, friendly and inclusive festival, it’s got art, handmade wares, music, food, and a car show. A family-friendly festival focused on community and featuring our best local creatives, Hippie Fest is a great day to have a one-of-a-kind experience.
Try New Things & Make the Most of What Athens Summers have to Offer
And of course, don’t forget to check out OU’s Calendar of Events, because there’s always something new and cool going on – from fitness challenges to lectures to art exhibitions to therapy dogs.
But the therapy dogs, though.
So if you’re a student spending your first summer off-campus in an apartment instead of back at home with the fam, you can make a super-fun summer happen here without too much effort, especially if you spend your time in between events hiking through our beautiful parks and the geological wonders of Hocking Hills. We always love grabbing a boat rental and hanging out at Stroud's Lake on sunny days, too.
Happy Hot Season; hope your student rental has AC!