The iconic party of the 90s, Freaknik, is making a comeback on the silver screen. Hulu announced its latest documentary, Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, chronicling the history of the infamous event. The documentary aims to explore the cultural significance of Freaknik and its lasting impact on Atlanta. It will delve into the rise and fall of the small Atlanta HBCU picnic that turned into an influential street party, bringing ATL into the cultural spotlight. The synopsis poses the question, “Can the magic of Freaknik be brought back 40 years later?”
Executive producers for Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told include showrunner Geraldine L. Porras and director P Frank Williams, as well as Jermaine Dupri, Luther Campbell, Peter Bittenbender, Melissa Cooper for Mass Appeal, Eric Tomosunas for Swirl Films, Terry Ross, and Alex Avant. Nikki Byles and Jay Allen are producers of the project.
Originally spelled Freaknic and conceived in 1982 as a small end-of-year party for HBCU students, Freaknik quickly grew in popularity and became an annual event, attracting partygoers from all over the country to Atlanta. By the 1990s, the festival had evolved into a massive street party featuring dance contests, concerts, parties, sporting events, rap sessions, job fairs, and more. The event had become a cultural phenomenon, putting Atlanta on the map as a major cultural stage.
However, the event’s success also led to its eventual downfall. In 1998, the Associated Press reported that the Atlanta Committee for Black College Spring Break should no longer welcome Freaknik, citing “sexual assaults, violence against women, and public safety concerns.” The festival eventually came to an end in 1999, with the city citing traffic problems as the main reason for its demise.
Despite its controversial end, Freaknik remains a beloved cultural moment for many people who remember the festival fondly. In fact, in recent years, there have been several attempts to reboot the event, from celebrities hosting Freaknik-themed birthday parties to festivals and public events.
With Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, Hulu is taking viewers on a trip down memory lane to revisit this iconic event and explore whether the magic of Freaknik can be brought back 40 years later. As the documentary chronicles the festival’s rise and fall, viewers will be transported back to a time when Freaknik was the biggest party in town and Atlanta was the place to be for HBCU students and partygoers from all over the country.
While this documentary is being called The Wildest Party Never told, there in fact was a documentary-episode on it in a 1998 episode of MTV’s True Life. Watch it below:
Photos via Buzzfeed:
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