An Atlanta promoter's plan to resurrect Freaknik and take it to Miami Beach in March has raised the ire of residents and suspicions of city leaders.
“Coming in spring 2012 we are bringing you a Freaknik experience bigger, badder and sexier, than you have ever known before,” boasts the website, Freaknik Miami. “Only this time, we are taking Freaknik to a place that it has never been, a place that can only house a Freaknik of this magnitude … MIAMI, FLORIDA!" the website says.
But promoter Otis Bailey told the Miami Herald that the city need not fear his Freaknik, which will be nothing like the raucous -- and raunchy -- Atlanta Spring Break event that attracted thousands of partyers and that Atlanta eventually banned in the '90s.
“It’s not like we’re taking over. We’re basically booking rooms and having parties,” Bailey, 27, told the Herald.
He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he and other promoters hope to attract about 3,500 college students from historically black colleges and universities. The Freaknik Miami website is promoting a $350 package that includes hotel, bus charter and alcohol during the bus ride. Buses would leave Atlanta on March 8 and depart Miami Beach at noon on Sunday, March 11.
Bailey told the AJC that the event will have a community service component. Promoters are asking attendees to donate to the Toys for Tots program for Miami children, and promoters say they plan to provide three $500 book scholarships to Miami seniors who plan to attend an historically black college or university.
The Herald writes that residents who want to do away with an already-established Freaknik-like event called Urban Beach Week are complaining to city leaders about the proposed Freaknik event. Urban Beach Week has regularly attracted thousands of black visitors around Memorial Day since it began in 2001. This year, the event turned deadly when police killed a 22-year-old man during a car chase after the driver allegedly ran into a police officer. Four bystanders were shot and three police officers were wounded during the incident.
Assistant City Manager Hilda Fernandez told the Herald that the city will monitor information on the proposed Freaknik event.
“There are no city-approved special events permits that have been requested or issued for that period associated with anything called ‘Freaknik,’ and at this time we are not aware of events occurring on private property,” Fernandez told the Herald.
About the Author
