Though it’s not officially spring until March 20, it’s already spring fest season in Athens.
This year’s festivities will kick off Friday with Milliron Fest, followed by Mill Fest on Saturday.
Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said because Milliron Fest is almost exclusively on private property and has not been problematic in the past, it’s Mill Fest that will require all of the department’s manpower in order to maintain order.
He said APD will start bringing in extra staff at 11 a.m. and continue to intensify its presence until 3 p.m., when all of APD’s law enforcement officers are to be on duty. As the event starts to calm down, which typically is around 7 p.m., APD will slowly recede its forces.
“It’s the same approach as last year,” Pyle said. “We will have a strict nuisance party enforcement throughout the day and hopefully everyone will be cooperative and there won’t be any problems.”
The Ohio University sponsored “green jacket” team will not be working the fest this season, Pyle said.
Instead, OU Police will work in conjunction with APD during Mill Fest and will provide assistance during Milliron Fest if requested by the neighboring department, OUPD Chief Andrew Powers said.
“They’re starting at 11 a.m. with us, and they’re going to be doing the same thing, bringing everyone in across the period of hours,” Pyle said. “They will have a certain number of officers assigned to the same area of the fest with us.”
Mayor Paul Wiehl said the city has become better at controlling Mill Fest.
"We're rolling out the usual playbook,” Wiehl said. “We'll be making sure everybody spends time being safe, being legal, of course watching the noise and the public intoxication or drinking.”
Wiehl and OU President Roderick McDavis put out a release to students Wednesday highlighting the increase in law enforcement during fest season as violations regarding nuisance parties, open containers and disorderly conduct will be at the forefront of the police focus.
During last year’s Mill Fest, 29 people were arrested on 42 charges by APD and OUPD. Charges included underage consumption, open containers, obstruction of official business and possession of marijuana, according to an APD news release.
At one point in the day, there were 26 active house parties on the street, and about 10 had to be shut down because of rowdiness and violations.
Yet, Wiehl, Pyle and Powers all said Mill Fest is milder than some of the other street fests, such as Palmer Fest.
"Mill Fest tends to be one of the larger of the unsanctioned parties, but it is usually less problematic because Mill Street is longer and wider than other streets, so the crowd remains dispersed and thinner," Powers said.
Wiehl said he will be in attendance during the weekend’s festivities.
"I'll be there just to check things out,” Wiehl said. “I don't think I'll be wearing a party hat.”
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