What is "palmerfest"

Palmerfest is an annual block party in Athens, Ohio, usually taking place annually in May on Palmer Street near the city's eastern edge. Palmer Street is a major student neighborhood of Ohio University. The event regularly attracts regional attention as tens of thousands of students from universities around the state gather on the street, and has attracted controversy over reported binge drinking and other disruptive behavior.

Founded in 1981 by the self-proclaimed legendary Front Porch Monkeys of 21 Palmer Street in response to the cancelled Ghetto Bash. The first Palmerfest was a Potluck Banquet invitation only event for Selected V.I.P.s. The street fest's original iteration included only 500 friends and neighbors of the street residents. After 35 years of annual parties, the attendance of the fest has grown to around 8,000 people. Substantial police presence is required each year, and the event attracted attention throughout the state as the 2009 and 2010 iterations of the party had to be shut down by riot police after "near riots" erupted with intoxicated attendees setting fires to furniture in the streets and throwing debris at officer and fire department crews attempting to control the crowds. Subsequent backlash saw the city crack down on party ordinances, though Palmerfest has spawned spinoff parties in town and around the state.