Atlanta is known for many things. It has the Georgia Dome, a very lively music scene, and we’re known as a strip club capital of the world. The city has a few claims to fame but none of them can compare to Freaknik. Many have heard stories from our parents, aunts and uncles about Atlanta’s ultimate city wide party. Since Freaknik has been eradicated, clubs and party promoters have been trying to replicate the event, but have failed to recreate the scene. Atlanta traffic is already bad, but imagine gridlocked streets with every car blasting Uncle Luke and scantily clad dressed women twerking on cars, while large amounts of liquor were consumed.Depending on who you talk it can be described as a great time or debauchery at it’s finest. Either way, Freaknik is ingrained into the history and heart of Atlanta.
There are many origin stories but it can be agreed that Freaknik started out in 1983 as a small picnic in the Atlanta University Center. It was usually held the third weekend of April before finals. As time went on, other HBCU’s would attend the picnic. During that weekend events like a basketball tournament, and a job fair took place. Freaknik started out as an innocent event for college students to get together before closing out the semester. By the time the 90’s hit, Freaknik became a different type of party losing whatever innocence it had. The simple college picnic, became a spring break oasis, then developed into an urban street party for any and all to attend.
By 1992, Freaknik turned "Hotlanta" into the place to throw morals out the window and let your freak flag fly. Fueled by liquor and bass music, anyone looking for a good time was able to find a party at every turn. All the major clubs in the city were packed as well as all the major roads and highways. Freaknik was more than just a party though. It was were many new artist and labels like Outkast, UGK, BadBoy and SoSoDef were able to increase their fanbase.
Freaknik attracted over 250,000 people to Atlanta each year. With all those visitors and the residents, Freaknik proved to be very beneficial economically. By 1994, the city of Atlanta raked in as much as $20 million, which briefly helped the local government turn a blind eye to the mayhem that was going on. Business’ were being obstructed, and gridlock traffic prevented everyone from getting to their destination. Residents began to file lawsuits against the city which pushed the local government to take action. Crime was another reason why Freaknik came to an end. Women were being rapped, large amounts of drugs were being sold, and increased violence caused former Atlanta mayor, Bill Campbell shut down Freaknik for good.
In 1996, when the Olympics were coming to town, the city of Atlanta increased security and did everything to deter party goers from the city, making Freaknik ‘96 the last one worth talking about. The legendary Freaknik party was over. The city of Atlanta makes it a mission to prevent any similar events from happening. Freaknik had it’s perks. Many people seen Atlanta in a new light. The city’s notoriety as a place to live increased causing a great migration, especially among black people. Unfortunately, Freaknik became too dangerous and disruptive to continue, but that doesn’t stop others from trying to create similar events and tribute to one of the greatest events to ever happen. There are even songs and an animated musical dedicated to Freaknik '96. Maybe we can get something like Freaknik back, just with a little more order.
