FIRST: Halloween

If a great night, creative costumes and an insane hangover the next day is desired, then Halloween at Kent State is just the place.

“There were people out and walking around, it was a good atmosphere,” visitor student Zach Stritchco said.

This year, Oct. 27 was beautiful with temperatures in the low seventies and great weather to walk in.

The Friday turnout was great downtown, and came as a surprise to those working.

“Usually it’s always a Saturday celebration — last night almost everybody was dressed up,” manager of Ray’s Place Mike D’Alessandro said. “I don’t remember a Friday going into a Saturday quite like that before.”

Downtown Kent was alive as fraternity parties raged on and lines were out the door at the bars.

The night of Oct. 28 was a busy night for the Kent Fire Department, as well.

“I think it was 13 calls after 11:00 last night, 25 total for the whole shift, so that’s a pretty busy day for us,” captain David Moore said. “Tonight, we are at five so far since we came in at 8:00.” 

Students had fun and had many creative costumes, like when a group showed up to a bar dressed as the Flintstones and the Flintstones’ car.

“I like the festivities of certain holidays,” D’Alessandro said. “Just making it seem like something else is going on other than a typical Saturday night in a restaurant is fun.”

SECOND: Fake Patty’s Day

For most, the Fake Patty’s Day celebrations begin as early as 7 a.m.

Day drinking on front lawns and night parties in fraternity basements highlight the early St. Patrick’s Day festivities, with partiers in green from head to toe — and some holding green beers at the bars. 

“I’m definitely not a morning person. 9 a.m. classes? No. 9 a.m. [Fake Patty’s Day parties?] Probably,” sophomore entrepreneurship major Jordan Portis said March 9.

Students, alumni and community members attended “darties,” or day parties that can start deep into the early morning at houses in Kent. They stopped by local downtown spots like Panini’s Bar and Grill, which offered 99 cent breakfast starting at 7 a.m.

The Loft, a bar on Main Street, had specialty drinks called “loose slipper” and “margarita mayhem” for the weekend.

“We woke up at 8 a.m. to start and get ready,” sophomore marketing major Isabella Bryson said. “We had breakfast, stayed hydrated and then we put on our outfits.”

This year’s crowds were met with temperatures in the mid-fifties, gloomy skies and light rain throughout the day — but it did not stop the fun. 

“It doesn’t really matter if you get rained on,” senior marketing major Nick Beck said. “It’s just mud on your shoes.” 

THIRD: Heritage Festival

From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1, a variety of festivities — live music, food vendors, local business tents and a duck race filled downtown Kent for the Kent Heritage Festival.

The Kent Area Chamber of Commerce held the 28th annual event, which occurs around the weekend of July 4.

“This is a great event,” Lieutenant Michael Lewis from Kent City Police said. “It’s often been one of our biggest.”

Local businesses lined the streets with handcrafted items, promoted organizations and nonprofits and there was a good turnout for food trucks.

There is great excitement around the Kent Heritage Festival because it was canceled during the pandemic.

“When COVID happened, it canceled the festival for a couple of years, but it’s been making a tremendous comeback over these last few years,” Lewis said. 

A vintage car show showcased the early hours of the festival and attracted many car enthusiasts.

At 6 p.m., the fire department dropped ducks into the river for the rubber duck race while locals cheered. 

Fireworks lighting up the night sky to celebrate the 4th of July closed up the event. 

“This is my first time at this festival. I just came to see what it was about.” Tony Bogan, a resident, said. “You can’t go wrong with music and food trucks.”

Andrew Gold is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].