Despite early-morning rain, no time is lost for celebrations on Green Beer Day

This is a developing story that will be updated with information throughout the day.

The impending rain may delay a few students from starting Miami University’s annual Green Beer Day (GBD) on time this year, but it won’t stop them completely.

Students can be found in the rain with DORA cups in hand and bedecked in green. The designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA), will be continued from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Check back with The Miami Student throughout the day for updates on how the day is progressing.

Midnight

GBD started with a bang – quite literally, as thunderstorms ended around 12:30 a.m. 

Originally deserted, Uptown began to fill with a small number of students decked out in rain gear. Nightlife was particularly smaller, and side street bars were the most populated.

Harrison Rau, a media and communication major, was standing outside of Oxford Pub. He said he enjoyed the community offerings GBD brings.

“There’s a band here called Under High Street, which is an Oxford-based band,” Rau said. “They’ve been playing wonderful music. I’ve been listening to that music, [but] I plan on staying out at least till the ginger run.”

Rau isn’t the only student who feels strongly about GBD’s community. Peyton Tennebar, an organizational leadership major, also said she enjoys the sentiments GBD brings.

“It’s one thing everyone at Miami can agree upon: that going out and drinking all day is fun,” Tennebar said. “It’s a fun bonding experience.”

While Uptown prepared for the day ahead, several fraternities began to open their doors. Students quickly queued up in lines that stretched onto the sidewalks. Several women had their hair tied up in plastic grocery bags, protecting them from the rain.

Other students were deep in the GBD spirit, decked from head-to-toe in green, leprechaun costumes and innuendo-laden shirts.

Reporting by Asst. Campus and Community Editors Shannon Mahoney and Parker Green

2 a.m.

The rain eased up by 2 a.m., bringing hordes of college students to the doorsteps of frat houses and to the arch of the Phi Delt Gates.

Students began to gather for the third-annual “Ginger Run,” started by a group of first-years three years ago, and by 1:50 a.m. the crowd stretched past the library with more to come.

Founder Quinn Loughrie, a junior sports leadership and management major, said he was inspired by Dayton’s ginger run and decided, with his friends on the third floor of Brandon Hall, to start their own.

“With a couple of our friends and our RA, we decided to do it here at 2 a.m., and we got everyone lined up,” Loughrie said. “And first, there was only probably 30 of us, maybe. And then last year, I made a flyer dressed up as a leprechaun, and there was probably 60 people. This year, there’s a lot more than that.”

He said without juniors Esha Tomar, Maddy Soder and Samantha Federici, this wouldn’t be possible.

“I love being a ginger,” Federici said. “Just for today.”

After hundreds of students lined slant walk’s sidewalk waiting to watch roughly 60 gingers race for their lives, one came out as victor: Bryan Dick.

This wasn’t a shock for him though, as this is the sophomore’s second year in a row winning.

“I love the culture, I love the people,” Dick said after the race. “This is our day.”

Sophomore Isabella Caputo also ran the race for the second time. She highlighted the fact that this year’s race was much better than previous years, as no one got trampled. 

“It was really awesome: nobody fell this year, which was really good,” Caputo said. "It’s just a whole sense of community, I love it."

Many students came dressed up for the occasion. Three seniors used GBD to “go out with a bang” in green inflatable leprechaun and four-leaf-clover suits.

One of the seniors, Emily Fitzgerald, said this is their second year wearing the costumes, and the trio wanted to support their ginger friend running in the race before starting the rest of their day.

“[We will] probably go to some frats, Skipper’s for breakfast and then sunrise at Brick,” Fitzgerald said.

Reporting by Sydney Mulford and Campus and Community Editor Taylor Stumbaugh 

7 a.m.

By now, the Brick Street Bar doors had been open for 90 minutes, resulting in a long line down the sidewalk. Some students were wrapping up their morning, while others were just getting started. 

Just a few doors down from Brick, Uptown Blends and Oxford Donuts held a donut sale throughout the morning on the sidewalk. Elizabeth Siegel, owner of Uptown Blends, said the green holiday brings promotion possibilities. 

“I’m just using this as marketing, just trying to get people to see me,” Siegel shared. “I invited Oxford Donuts here. We’re both women owners, and we just want people to have fun and see us.”

Elizabeth Spawn, owner of Oxford Donuts, prepared all morning for the sale. 

“I was making donuts until about 1 a.m., and I came here at 5 a.m.,” Spawn said. “I feel like everybody is starting to finally either come Uptown to the bars or they’re exiting the bar and eating a snack.”

Spawn said that this activity will help bring new customers. 

“I need to reach out to the Miami crowd,” Spawn said. “I feel like I have a lot of townie people that come in and shop.” 

At 7:16 a.m., Aidan Scott, a senior marketing major, said he was celebrating his first year of being 21 for GBD.

“I’ve been out for seven hours,” Scott shared. “I’ve been with my fraternity pretty much all night, and the first bar we went out to was Corner.”

Scott said that the police enforcement is not what he predicted. 

“I’m kind of surprised by [the lack of police],” Scott said. “I was a little worried about myself walking around with beers, but I think the police presence is a little bit overhyped at this point. I’ve heard that they would all be out, and I haven't seen anything.” 

At 7:30 a.m., more students began walking back to their respective homes. Groups traveled back toward campus. Nevertheless, both the downstairs and upstairs patio of Brick remained crowded. Stores like Bagel and Deli and Skipper’s remained busy as well. 

Mallory Marinin, a senior finance major, agreed with Scott that police enforcement is not as strict as others make it out to be. 

“It definitely is overhyped,” Marinin shared. “Years before, I’ve seen [the presence]. This year, I haven't seen it much. I don’t think it’s as bad as people make it out to be.” 

Esther Sung, a sophomore media and communication major, worked the morning shift at Bagel and Deli. Sung said the large crowds are both a good and bad thing. 

“With so many people coming in and it being loud, for me at least, I get very overstimulated,” Sung said. “But also, nobody really goes out like they do on Green Beer Day, so it’s kind of a beautiful thing.” 

Groups of students took to Oxford Memorial Park, where they began getting rowdy with their friends – horsing around, play fighting and even a few vomiting. At this time, students began entering local Uptown shops for something to eat. Fraternity houses were quiet, with little to no students around.  

Reporting by Isabella Olivas

9 a.m.

After a long night of partying, students flocked to restaurants, prepared for class and some simply kept the party going.

Bagel and Deli, OxVegas Chicken and Starbucks all saw the morning rush as GBD participants took the opportunity to grab breakfast and a coffee. Most patrons were still decked out in GBD shirts and other festive attire.

Loud music from bars like CJ’s and Skipper’s Top Deck could be heard in the streets. Brick even had a truck with large speakers parked outside the establishment, blasting songs for patrons in the outside areas.

Joey Schultz, a Miami sophomore and staff member at Brick, was only four hours into his shift by 9 a.m. Schultz said he left campus early last year, so this is his first GBD in Oxford, but he enjoys seeing the students out and about.

“For the most part [people are] well behaved, not really trying to break in,” Schultz said, “but definitely rowdy.”

At roughly 9:30 a.m., Oxford Police Department (OPD) Lt. Adam Price arrived for work. He said the issues police respond to on GBD were similar to what they might see during the midnight hours on a weekend. 

“I think the weather might help us out a little bit,” Price said. “It’s 30 mph gusts this afternoon.”

During GBD, OPD works closely with the Miami University Police and Ohio State Patrol. They also have more officers working on shifts.

Price said he sees GBD as “just another day,” though some unique situations may arise.

“We’re prepared for whatever,” he said.

Reporting by Asst. Campus and Community Editor Shannon Mahoney

11:00 a.m. 

GBD-goers began to hit their midday lull when 11 a.m. rolled around.

The students who traversed Uptown and nearby fraternities hadn’t been up for the early-morning activities, instead choosing extra sleep and exercise before the ongoing GBD celebration. One of those students was Sydney Bell, a senior English major. 

Bell preferred to start her GBD slowly, but intends to have fun with friends for the rest of the day.

“I actually went to a spin class this morning,” Bell said. “But we [went] to Patterson’s for green mimosas [and then] we’re going to Church Street to try the cute, fun drinks there.”

She said her favorite part of GBD is the fact that it feels like a “senior skip day” and for the sense of community it creates. 

But, current students aren’t the only ones who have come out for GBD.

Ava Williams, a recent Miami grad, still lives in Oxford and decided to take part in the GBD tradition despite no longer being a student.

“I woke up at 7 a.m., came out and will probably go to sleep again,” Williams said. “Then I might go out a little more. It’s nothing crazy.”

Others, like Payton Wilson, a political science and interior design major, said that GBD transcends generations, connecting the Miami community past and present.

“I kind of like that it’s just a Miami thing,” Wilson said. “Both my parents went here, so they [know] about Green Beer Day and always ask if I’m going out or not.”

She said her parents are “disappointed” if she doesn’t go out, but overall she thinks the tradition is fun whether she makes it Uptown or not

Reporting by Sofie Terlesky and Asst. Campus and Community Editor Parker Green

4 p.m.

As classes finished for the day, GBD festivities were back in full swing. 

Several students stood in a small line outside of Brick, while others walked towards fraternity houses with their homemade borgs. 

Addie Finn, a junior political science major, said as she walked to her next GBD party that she enjoys the concept of GBD, but not the pressure that comes with it. 

“If you’re not doing [GBD], you’re seen as weird,” Finn said. “I don’t like that aspect of it. It can be a fun thing without having to drink, you can just show up for it.” 

While many Uptown restaurants were packed with students throughout the day, retail stores saw less business from the locals and students they usually rely on.  

Amy Schlake, the manager of The Apple Tree, said she noticed a negative impact on sales during GBD. 

“Locals tend to stay away from Uptown on Green Beer Day,” Schlake said. “So it’s not a great business day; it’s a slower day.” 

Another local business owner, Rhett Bilski of the College Artisan Shop, said he wanted to get his store more involved with the GBD spirit with charm-bracelet making. 

“It’s crowded for restaurants Uptown, but for me, it’s a little bit less than an average Thursday,” Bilski said. “I also have an event going on that I specifically made for today, but it hasn’t impacted my customer base that much.” 

Reporting by Venezia McHenry and Asst. Campus and Community Editor Parker Green

5 p.m.

Despite the frigid wind, a few groups of students were still celebrating Uptown. Few people were outside, with most taking cover in local bars and restaurants. 

Brick had a steady, if meager, flow of patrons. Nick Lewis, a Miami undergraduate student, was waiting outside the bar with his friends after one of them had been denied entry. 

“My friend here didn’t go to college after high school, and they won’t accept him here because you need two IDs. They won’t accept a debit card or credit card.” 

Lewis and his friends decided to try to enter Brick one more time before going to Sidebar instead. 

Just down the street at Bagel and Deli, co-owner Gary Franks was busy making bagels for a small group of customers. Franks, a Miami alumni, said GBD has become calmer over the years. 

“Way back, Green Beer Day used to be the biggest day of the year, now it’s like a moderate Saturday … it used to go all day," Franks said. "It started the night before and went until bars closed on Thursday; now it’s more of a morning thing.” 

Mike Ethridge, a bartender at OxVegas Chicken, had just started his shift after celebrating last night at Sidebar and spending the day relaxing at home.

“I love the spirit behind it … it’s something that’s really unique to Oxford and we’re all proud to be a part of it," Ethridge said.

sullivei@miamioh.edu

10 p.m.

As the night drew to a close, activity Uptown was virtually nonexistent. 

While there were a few stragglers grabbing a late dinner, the line for bars, including Brick Street and Side Bar, were empty. 

Junior nursing major Abbey Steed said that while she enjoyed her Green Beer Day, she was ready for the day to be done. 

“My friends and I had a lot of fun, but I’m ready for bed,” Steed said. “I’m not surprised that Uptown is dead right now. I know most people have been up and drinking all night.”

While the weather may have caused a slow start to the day, students still found a way to celebrate GBD accordingly. The 24 hour drinking holiday might be calmer than years past, but the tradition lives on. 

reieram@miamioh.edu