Overview The Wild Rumpus is Athens, Georgia's Halloween parade, street festival and dance party, and the largest public participation event in town. It is free and open to all ages, and anyone in costume can join the parade. Tens of thousands of people fill downtown Athens for the night, and a nonprofit, Wild Rumpus Events Inc., runs it as a party with a purpose that raises money for a local charity each year. On site The night starts with the Rumpus Rally pre-party at Creature Comforts Brewing, then a parade of costumed marchers, drum brigades and giant puppets winds through downtown. The route ends in a barricaded Festival Zone on Washington Street with multiple stages, DJs, fire and trapeze performers, dance troupes and a street dance party that runs until 11 pm. The Midnight Howl after-party at Paloma Park keeps going past midnight, and the Wild Rumpus Mercantile sells shirts, posters and souvenirs in the zone. Audience Organizers expect 30,000 to 50,000 people, a crowd that mixes University of Georgia students, families with strollers, young professionals, retirees, artists and musicians. Most come from Athens and the region, with a growing number of visitors from across the country. The event is free, and adults 21 and over can buy an open-container wristband for the Festival Zone. Talent and Influencers More than 20 bands, DJs and performance groups play the parade and stages, drawn from the Athens music scene. Recent lineups have included Captains of Revelry, Los Cantares, Alien Funk Academy, Annie Leeth, Empress Mokah, Belli Dance Company and Danza Azteca, with the Booty Boys headlining the main stage dance party. Master of ceremonies and executive director Timi Conley hosts the night. Track record The Rumpus has grown every year since its first parade and generates an estimated $1 million to $1.3 million in direct revenue for Athens. Forbes, Travel + Leisure, WSB-TV and AccessAtlanta have covered it, and press has called it one of the best Halloween parades in the country. Each edition names charity beneficiaries, recently The Cottage, which supports survivors of sexual assault and child abuse, and the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition. Brand presence Creature Comforts Brewing, Downtown Athens and Widespread Panic lead the sponsor roster at the Rumpus Royalty level, with Paloma Park, Union Fare and RubySue Graphics at Diamond. Espolon Tequila, The Finnish Long Drink, Hyatt Place, Visit Athens GA and dozens of local businesses also sponsor. Levels run from Friend of the Rumpus up to Rumpus Royalty, with benefits that include custom activations, banners, logo watermarks on the official photo sets, presenting rights to parts of the event and a spot leading the parade.