Atlanta’s Freaknik — the massive, 1990s spring break party for the wild at heart — has reemerged as a topic of conversation thanks to Hulu’s forthcoming documentary chronicling the controversial gathering. Several past attendees are now shaking in their boots over whether or not they’ll be spotted by family members or co-workers who may not have known of their formerly freaky ways.
While many are concerned their past will come back to haunt them, several snaps taken of the actual festivities showcase so much more than just scantily clad college kids looking for a good time. Black culture — ranging from iconic hairstyles to Black Greeks repping the Divine Nine — was also put on full display, and is something worth revisiting almost three decades later.
Check out the time capsule that was Freaknik below.
Freaknik
Fly hairstyles were part of the Freaknik scene along Mitchell Street on Saturday, April 19, 1997.
Freaknik
Freaknikkers ride down Marietta Street Friday trying to get the attention of some women on April 17, 1998.
Freaknik Festivities
A woman gives an impromptu dance while traffic along Lenox Road comes to a standstill after Lenox Mall closed at 6 p.m. in Atlanta.
Some guys will do anything to attract the attention of females during freaknik. This male dropped his pants at South DeKalb Mall Saturday, April 18, 1998.
Mark Whitehead of Baltimore checks out the ladies as they check out his car. Left to right: Tracey Burnett, Victoria Milligan, Sonya Stanishewski, Linda Bagley, Kellie Mahone, and Dana Jacobs in April 1996.
Darrian Malone of Newark NJ taunts Mary Strickland of Greenville, S.C. with a snake on Peachtree St. near Marietta St. as part of the Freaknik cruising prior to the closing down of Peachtree.
Michelle Marshall (R) and her friend (no further id, the car drove off and the photographer was mugged) show off their Freaknik fashion sense during a sunroof ride through downtown on April 19, 1996.
Late night Freaknik party goers flood the parking lot of the Catfish Station around 1:30 am Saturday. The club is located across from City Hall East on April 20, 1996
Capturing the true essence of Freaknik 96, Morehouse grad William Simkins (R) tries to sell Spelman student Celeste Springer a pair of Freaknik souvenir boxer shorts for $5 during the Sweet Auburn Street Freedom Festival 4/21. Simkins, partners Yusuf Spears, and David Norwood wore the shorts to promote their 1/2 price last-day special.
Posing for a polaroid along Lee Street are, from left, Missy Moore,16; Shaune’ Leonard, 20; and Toia Williams, 20. All three are from Hammond, Indiana. Gordon Green is the photographer. Shown on Saturday, April 19, 1997.
Freaknikers crowded Mitchell around the Russell Building on April 19, 1997. Photo taken from the Techwood overpass
Freaknik
The back of a minivan provides a good vidoetaping spot for these women from Missouri who were cruising the parking lot at Lenox Square Sunday, April 20, 1997 during Freaknik.
Freaknik participant Richard Gray (L) of Northeastern University in Boston shoots a picture of his buddy Dwayne Moore (C) posing with Kentucky high school students Shanell Perkins (2-R) and her sister LaRonda Perkins (R) outside Centennial Park as the party begins just past midnight April 17, 1998. A band inside the nearby Tabernacle provided the draw for early Freaknikers.
Atlanta Police Officers remove Freaknik revelers from the back of a pickup truck from Tennessee on Friday Evening near the intersection of Forsyth and Marietta streets allegedly for violating the noise ordinance on Friday April 17,1998.
Freaknik ’99 participants engage in a photo session on Peachtree Street on Saturday evening, April 17, 1999.
Izola ‘Pee Wee’ Garnet (cq), left, 29, from Augusta, Ga., starts to dance with a passerby at Underground Atlanta on Saturday, April 17, 1999. Moments later police broke the dance up and keep the crowd moving
Freaknik celebrants enjoy the music, atmosphere and the crowd at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Saturday, April 23, 1994.
Freaknik visitors get their photos taken outside the sign of Underground in downtown Atlanta, April 23, 1994.
Open container violations were not enforced during the Freaknik celebration downtown, as partiers drove down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in downtown Atlanta near Underground, April 23, 1994. A security officer directs traffic.
