Athens’ annual Green Beer Day saw a steady uptick of attendance as attendees enjoyed the warmer weather and let the green beer flow.
Green Beer Day is a well-known tradition for OU students and local bars. The tradition began when OU was on a quarter system and students were away from campus on spring break and couldn’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Athens, according to a previous Post report. OU is now on a semester system, but the tradition of Green Beer Day has stuck.
The celebration kicked off around 2 p.m. but picked up around 4:30 p.m. Some students could be seen doing homework while celebrating, while others were decked out in festive green clothing.
For some, it was their first Green Beer Day experience.
“I like it,” Abby Bentley, a junior studying political science pre-law, said. “I think it's super festive and fun for St. Patrick's Day before spring break.”
The bars were slow at the beginning of the day, but most students said they were sure Court Street was going to pick up at the end of the night.
“I figure it probably will,” Joe Landusky, a senior studying political science pre-law, said. “People are just probably in class right now would be my guess. But I would imagine it's gonna get a little rowdy around here.”
For others however, this was the last Green Beer Day of their college careers.
“This one's I think it's a little bit more bittersweet because it is senior year and it is the last time so I'm kind of sentimental,” Kyleigh Viessman, a senior studying integrated healthcare studies said.
Students also said the weather was a tell for whether people were going to come out or not, as some remembered the cold weather last year.
“I think … people are finally coming out of their seasonal depression,” Viessman said. “They’re like ‘Oh it’s Green Beer day,’ (and we can) go out, have fun.’”
Other students joined the festivities for the novelty of it all.
“It's the only day of the year the beer’s green,” Ethan Gildone, a senior studying sports management and marketing said.
Gildone said he’s sure this year will be just as good as last year.
Many students also debated skipping their classes to participate. Theo Stokes, a senior studying chemistry on the pre-med track, said he had a study group in an hour while out at The J Bar. He was unsure if he was going to attend or not based on how the festivities panned out.
For those working, Green Beer Day isn’t something they dread. Ali Cutshall, the bar manager at Pigskin Sports Bar and Grill, said Green Beer can be hard to schedule workers for, but many employees were interested in working it this year.
“A lot of the employees are students, so they still do have class,” Cutshall said. “But it wasn't too bad this year. I had a lot of people that really wanted to work. They would rather you know, stay out and make money then go to class or party with their friends.”
For many students, it was another fun memory to make before graduation.
“I'm graduating soon,” Alex Vienna, a senior studying nursing, said. “I don't have any classes. So you got to live it up while you can.”
