With fall in the air, every Ohio University student’s favorite event is fast approaching. The Halloween Block Party returns to Athens on October 25th, 2025. If you’ve never attended, you’re in for a treat—and a few tricks. It’s arguably one of the biggest events in Athens, and it recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.
On the afternoon of the 25th, tens of thousands of people clad in costume and drunken merriment will take over Court Street for the rest of the night. If you’re planning on being one of those, here are five things that you can’t miss during the Halloween Block Party.
Attend One of the Many House Parties
It’s Halloween weekend in Athens—of course there’s going to be tons of huge parties happening in the student rental homes down the road from the university. Chances are, if you’re the type to go out for the block party, a rager in one of the college rentals is exactly your speed too.
If the day of the block party is around the corner and you don’t have any parties to go to, get in touch with some friends. Chances are, you won’t need to ask around too much until you find someone who knows someone who’s throwing a party.
Once you’ve found a party to go to…
Take Part in a Costume Contest
Do you have a unique idea for a costume? Do you know exactly which pieces you’ll need to pull off what, in your opinion, might be the greatest costume? Try attending a costume contest. It’s not uncommon at all for one of the student apartments in the area to hold a costume contest, especially if there’s already a party going on.
Depending on the party, there might be prizes for ranking in the top three costumes. Even if there’s not, you’ll secure yourself some major bragging rights among your friends. Just don’t forget to take pictures of your costume before you’re suddenly five drinks in.
Hit Up the Haunts Along Court Street
Chances are, you’ll probably never see tens of thousands of people in downtown Athens again. Or at least for another year until the next Halloween Block Party. While you’re out for the night, take a break from the parties at the student rental housing and hit up some of your favorite spots along Court Street. The bars will surely be packed, but it’s all part of the spirit of the night.
Once you’ve thrown back enough drinks with your friends, head back outside to Court Street to listen to the pulsating music coming from the stage that the block party sets up every year. Local DJs and bands play from the evening into the late hours of the night for roaring crowds, and the live music is certainly part of what makes the night legendary in Athens.
