Freaknik
was an annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, primarily of students from historically black colleges and universities. [1] Begun in 1982 as a small picnic near the AUC, it was initially sponsored by The DC Metro Club
Atlantans' reception of the festival was mixed. In its heyday, the fest attracted upwards of 250,000 revelers to the city. Many residents attended and enjoyed Freaknik, and others complained about traffic congestion due to street parties. [3] City leaders eventually took measures to curtail Freaknik's accessibility, and hence its popularity. As a result, Freaknik moved to Memorial Drive in Dekalb County then Daytona Beach, Florida.
The Freaknik festival is referred to in Tom Wolfe's 1998 novel, A Man in Full
, where a spontaneous street party breaks out while one of the primary characters is trying to cross Atlanta in his car.
Jermaine Dupri reminisces about the Freaknik in a remix of Welcome to Atlanta.
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FREAKNIC TICKETS
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