The Ultimate Guide to Oberlin Parties

There seems to be this misconception that Oberlin doesn't have any parties, that it is a dry city, or that we all just sit around knitting every Friday or Saturday night. But I am proud to say that if it's your scene, you're more than welcome to go out, get wasted, and wake up hungover for the remainder of Saturday and Sunday. Here is your ultimate guide to Oberlin parties, which to avoid, and Oberlin's little quirks.

Note: this description is based on Natalie’s opinion and experiences. Someone else may have a different take on these parties or scenes! Please don’t stone me for any of my takes on co-op parties.

First off, we have our athlete parties. These aren't necessarily unique, but they are exclusive, and if you walk around for long enough on a Saturday night, you're sure to hear some Obies complaining that they can't get into the swim party. Some athlete parties are exclusive to athletes, but occasionally they open it up, normally by the end of the night. Some of the most common teams that open it up are the lacrosse team, the football team, or the baseball team. If you know anyone in frisbee or soccer, you can get into their parties; they're more of a smaller crowd but still not entirely empty. Football and lacrosse parties tend to get pretty big, and they're normally held in someone's Union house. When I say big, I mean Oberlin big, which is to say that the entire party's packed, there are a dozen beer cans littered around, and if you were to try to fight your way in, there’s a half chance you’d come out with an illness by the time you leave. But freshman year, I enjoyed my fair share of athlete parties. My biggest recommendation is to be ready to get a little sweaty. And do not try any of the half-empty Solo cups sitting around.

Second, we have our jazz parties (jarties). These are probably our best parties, probably unique to Oberlin. If you are a jazz major, you'll find upperclassmen wanting to have you come in and play for their party. At first, it might start out small, with just the host's friends and roommates lounging around, but not long after, they'll open their doors for everyone. I have never seen a house become so full as at jazz parties. The music is normally amazing, but that is sacrificed by the fact that you are shoulder to shoulder with your biology partner and someone you've somehow never seen before. The music is sometimes hard to hear over the sound of people talking and laughing, but if you can hear the music, you're in luck because it’s normally fantastic. We don't have a conservatory for nothing, and jazz parties are where it's at.

I saved the best for last, because of course I did! Now we have co-op parties. But, Natalie, you say, I want to go to a school that has Greek life so I can join a frat and get wasted on weekends, or better yet, I can join a sorority and pay to participate in social activities. Well, minus the paying part, we have co-op parties. Co-op parties are the closest thing to Greek life we have on campus. Each club party will be held at one of the co-ops. There's Harkness, otherwise known as Sharkness Nightclub, which is held in the basement of Hark, one of the residential and dining co-ops. Harkness parties have generally been known to be lame (sorry), but the lawn in front normally hosts a pandemonium of drunk activity, including smoking, drunk wrestling, and finding each one of your separate friend groups all hanging out. Harkness parties are a vibe if there’s nothing else going on, and I have been to the rare few where there's good music and room to dance. But most of the time, the big basement dining room feels a little too big for our campus population, and I'm pretty sure there are still some people who refuse to enter co-op parties. 

Of course, you could also have a party at Tank Hall. Tank is a converted orphanage about a 5-minute walk from Slow Train and a 10-minute walk from the rest of campus. It's a beautiful, turreted building, and on the first floor, parties can go crazy. Tank parties are normally the most fun parties, and some specials include the “Kiss Your Friend” party held in February of 2023, and also the iconic Porchella, which is a day of musical performances on the massive sweeping porch of Tank while people watch and then enjoy getting drunk afterward. Tank parties are normally the most fun, and if you're out on a random Saturday night, you're likely to see some Obie students stumbling home past Downtown Oberlin.

Then we have Keep parties. Keep Cottage parties are something of a different flavor, and I think they're the quirkiest of all the co-op parties. You're most likely to find the weirdest people at these parties, if I had to say, but I still think that they can be fun. Keep is placed in a quaint cottage next to Stevenson Dining Hall, which makes it pretty central to all campus activities. But these parties don't tend to turn into crazy ragers, at least not until you head downstairs where we have our last co-op, Bike Co-op. 

Bike Co-op is in a pretty small basement space, and during the day, you can normally trade bikes, find bike parts, and fix bikes—all for free (just put in some work). But when you go at night, however, you may find that the space has been turned into a dive bar/basement rave-like environment (I’ve never been to a dive bar or rave). I have only attended a few good shows at Bike Co-op; most of the time, they charge a cover for a charity organization, but it's optional, and if you're there just to enjoy your friend's favorite student band, you'll fit right in. The hosts don't allow the space to get too packed, and there's usually a pretty easy exit if you're looking for that. However, I've seen the space configured into different stages, and I will say that I was most advantaged when the band could be in the front near the door while the rest of the party was in the back. This made it easy to come in and out, and most importantly, scream-sing to the band members (who are my friends) at the front.

Of course, there are your stray dorm or house parties like every college has, but here are Oberlin's three unique types of parties. Of course, we have the Feve bar and restaurant in downtown Oberlin or Mickey Mart if you want to go for a walk. But if you're looking for a student-held party, these are your best options. Whether you enjoy beer pong or getting low with a bunch of people at a Jersey Shore-themed party, Oberlin's the place for you. And if you hate partying altogether, well, you can join my friends on their lesbian movie night, Chabad at Shabbat dinners, or, best yet, curl up in your bed and enjoy Saturday night alone.