Sara C. Tobias / Staff Photographer / st939605@ohiou.edu
Lt. Randy Gray checks on Halloween visitor Chris Heltzel, 21, from Cleveland, while Ohio University freshman Jordan Pierce, 19, looks on. Gray and Heltzel parted ways from the BP station without incident.
The festive atmosphere of Athens’ Halloween street celebration warmed the spirits of partygoers Saturday, though some participants had to deal with the cool breeze and spine-chilling consequences of their costume choices.
“Halloween at OU just can’t be ruined,” said Ohio University student Chris Heller. “It can be freezing and everyone will still have a good time.”
“I love Halloween. The more beer the better,” said 21-year-old Jeremy Lewis from Eastern Michigan University. “I came for the hot chicks wearing no clothes.”
People roamed Court Street and its two stages for live music until about 2 a.m. “This is my first time here for Halloween and it’s what I expected,” OU freshman Kelly Kraus said. “It’s such a big deal, and you can tell that everyone puts a lot of time in to make original, creative costumes.” Some students chose their outfits to grab attention from fellow partygoers and Court Street strutters.
“I’ve been walking around checking out the costumes,” said Troy Akins, an OU sophomore. “I don’t know how people think up some of this stuff.”
“I’m Bob Ross — He’s like the best painter ever,” said Jeff Brown, a 23-year-old from Hocking College. “You want to see some happy trees? ... He is so mellow — the kindest, gentlest human being. I’m not trying to get arrested, so I thought it would be a good (costume) idea.”
Colin Russo, a 19-year-old OU student dressed as a shower, said he’d taken pictures with lots of other partygoers. “I’ll be in the newspaper, on Facebook, everywhere — it’s my goal!” he said.
Other observers were less enthusiastic about the evening. “I think (Halloween) is overrated,” said Christina Lindeman, an OU junior. “ It’s just a lot of people from out of town going crazy.”
“I’m kind of sick of them,” said Jeff Hanneken, a senior at OU. “This is my fifth one, and once you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it all.”
Still, the party will always have its loyal attendees. “This one is the best one I’ve ever attended,” said Phil Stephens, a junior at OU who dressed as a pirate. “I’ve been to six, and this one is pretty good.”
— The Post’s city staff writers contributed to this report.
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Rob Hardin / rh124104@ohiou.edu
Ben Fleischer, a sophomore from the University of Cincinnati, dances with Ohio University junior Kayleigh Spicer near the corner of Court and Union streets Saturday night.
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Rob Hardin / rh124104@ohiou.edu
The crowd on Court Street, seen here in front of the courhouse steps, was noticeably smaller this year than in years past, and there were fewer arrests.
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Susie Shutts / Assistant Photo Editor / ss316904@ohiou.edu
Athens city employee Jim Secoy picks up cardboard to prepare Court Street for the sweepers and leaf blowers early yesterday morning.
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Rob Hardin / rh124104@ohiou.edu
Laura Sojka applies stage blood to fellow OU junior Eric Hornbeck’s face. Hornbeck went as Harry Whittington, who was wounded by Vice President Dick Cheney in a quail hunting accident.
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Rob Hardin / rh124104@ohiou.edu
West Virginia University senior Nick Hornbeck (far left) takes his shot during a beer pong game as his teammates, Ohio University juniors Elliot Casal and Eric Hornbeck, look on.
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Kristin Eberts / Photo Editor / ke277604@ohiou.edu
Ohio University freshman Matt Emmons, 18, repairs his moustache with Elmer’s glue during the block party.
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Kristin Eberts / Photo Editor / ke277604@ohiou.edu
University of Akron junior Mike Henkel, 21 (right), holds up fellow drinking team member, Akron junior Cale Canoles, 20, for a kegstand from Ohio University junior Brett Mann, 21, who attended the block party dressed as a keg.
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Kyle Grantham / For The Post / kg116806@ohiou.edu
University of Rio Grande students Thomas Maginnis, Adam Mathews, Joe Jackson and Brad Bell dress up as toy soldiers for the Halloween bash on Court Street on Saturday.
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Natalie Boydston / Staff Photographer / nb397205@ohiou.edu
Matt Hassman, 26, from Athens, dressed as Jesus, sings songs from Jesus Christ Superstar as Ohio University senior Ian Fraser, 21, pretends to praise him on Court Street during Saturday’s Halloween party.
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Rob Hardin / rh124104@ohiou.edu
Jade Morgan from Urbana, Ohio, rests on the courthouse steps Saturday night during the Halloween block party.
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Brittany Bott / Staff Photographer / bb211605@ohiou.edu
Starting the Halloween festivities early, Andrew Clunk, 20, from Alliance, Ohio, dresses up as Hulk Hogan and entertains friends on Palmer Street.
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Kyle Grantham / For The Post / kg116806@ohiou.edu
Ohio University students Eric Baum and Josh Harbert duel on Court Street during Saturday’s block party.
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Kyle Grantham / For The Post / kg116806@ohiou.edu
Ohio University Students Becky Mcatee, Julie Lockwood and Jackie Geil, dressed as the Jamaican bobsled team, “sled” down Court Street during the Block Party on Saturday.
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