For those not in the know, the annual Halloween Block Party in Athens is one of the biggest events every year, drawing in both students and visitors from surrounding areas. This event is a time-honored tradition in the city, with the first block party starting in 1974 when costumed students and partiers ended up blocking traffic on Court Street for hours—it’s probably a good thing it’s turned into a city-sanctioned block party.
What Can You Expect from the Halloween Block Party?
If a day full of activities and Halloween goodness sounds like your kind of thing, this event is worth checking out. It draws in anywhere from 10,000-30,000 people annually to celebrate the festivities of the spookiest season. Spanning several blocks (the name is a bit of a misnomer and pays homage to the event’s humble origins), the event has run in the past with activities from 1-10pm on the closest Saturday to Halloween.
In years past, the block party has even had activities for families and children—these don’t run until the end of the night, but they are a ton of fun and have included activities like face painting, scavenger hunts, and special Halloween programming on the stage. In 2022, there was even a costume catwalk for the kids!
Later in the evening, the party shifts over to more of an adults-only vibe with amped-up music acts gracing the stage until the end of the night, where party-goers get to decide whether they want to head home for the night or keep the party going past midnight.
Make sure to delve into the crowd in your spookiest costume and check out what is one of Athens’ most crowd-drawing annual traditions.