In the Beginning

It all started in 2003 when two college juniors, Dominic Petrozzi and Tim Kehoe, plotted to throw a music festival to celebrate spring in Athens, OH, and to mark the end of the school year. It would be a place where there would be food, music and fun, but would be Bring Your Own Beer. It would be an amazing experience for OU’s students, without breaking the bank. Tickets would be $10; $5 if you knew one of the organizers. Summer ended and their senior year began, word had already begun to spread, but no one really knew what “OneFest” was. By the time spring had rolled around, attention turned to how to successfully, and safely, throw the best party in Athens. The logistic planning went something like this: Step 1) A drink and a smoke Step 2) White board, ideas, check marks There needed to be music, security (Cops!), a stage (definitely need a stage), Port-O-Johns, tickets, transportation, and so much more…. …And it all costs money. The duo secured a sponsorship for $15K that got the idea of the ground and running. Initially tickets were sold by fraternities and sororities, and campus ticket reps. It wasn’t long before the ball got rolling and uptown businesses like Courtside, Yanni’s, and Skippers jumped on board.