Dottie Eastwood puts the finishing touches on her Halloween costume as she prepares for the annual fall party known as Frat Beach. Eastwood is one of thousands of University of Georgia students who will flock to St. Simons Island on the first weekend of November to celebrate before the annual Georgia-Florida football game.

“This year, my whole sorority pledge class is being 2000s Justin Bieber in his purple and white outfit,” Eastwood said.

“It took forever for the whole group to come to a final decision because we conducted multiple polls to vote, and then someone would suggest a new ‘better’ idea after that vote was cast,” Eastwood added.

 Why It’s Newsworthy: Frat Beach continues to thrive as a well-managed tradition for thousands of University of Georgia students each year. 

East Beach on St. Simons Island transforms each fall into a sea of Halloween costumes as UGA students gather for Frat Beach, an all-day party on the beach the Friday before the Georgia-Florida game. The name comes from the vast number of fraternity and sorority members in attendance. 

The party attracts nearly 6,000 students every year, making it the island’s second-largest gathering next to the Fourth of July. Despite its scale and potential risks, including underage drinking and fights, Frat Beach has evolved into a well-managed, safe celebration through collaboration between local law enforcement, UGA students and St. Simons residents. This shift has turned an otherwise chaotic weekend into a thriving tradition many embrace.

Fostering Safe Celebrations

UGA’s Greek life leaders actively promote safety before the weekend begins. Annelise Onorato, president of Chi Omega at UGA, prepares her members by fostering open conversations well before the weekend to address any concerns. In the weeks leading up to Frat Beach, she balances excitement with risk mitigation, encouraging members to approach the event with both enthusiasm and mindfulness.

“I think that’s the most important thing, is that those conversations go hand in hand,” Onorato said. “It’s so that it’s a proactive conversation rather than a reactive one.”

Onorato emphasizes the importance of sharing locations and contact information in advance and urges members to approach locals and law enforcement for help if needed. Alongside the sorority’s annual programming on alcohol safety and awareness, Onorato reminds members that the sorority’s “open policy” allows them to reach out to leadership during the event.

“It’s a really open policy, because at the end of the day, if they let us know what’s happening, especially like me or the other girls who are there, ready and willing to help, we can mitigate the situation before it may get worse,” Onorato said.

Managing the Crowd

The event also requires significant law enforcement presence, with the entire Glynn County Police Department involved. Shawn Strohl, captain of the Glynn County Uniform Patrol Division, plays a crucial role in Frat Beach each year. His primary concern is ensuring the safety of all participants, which requires strategic planning. 

Preparations for Frat Beach begin four months in advance. Multiple agencies, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Glynn County Fire Department and hospital volunteers, also collaborate to execute a safe event. 

“There’s a lot more students than there are law enforcement officers, so we want to make sure things don’t get out of hand as our biggest priority,” Strohl said.

Local businesses also cooperate with law enforcement, taking a lenient stance toward student disruptions.

“The police and law enforcement out there are not there to really try to get them in trouble, we’re there to help,” Strohl said.

Embracing the Celebration

Frat Beach has become a valued tradition that St. Simons locals anticipate yearly. Linda Olsen, a resident who has observed Frat Beach since 2008, sees the celebration as part of the island’s seasonal rhythm. 

“The kids are really respectful and everything, and I’ve never had any problems,” Olsen said.

As part of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, Olsen helps clean up the island on Saturday following the Frat Beach party to minimize its impact. While she continues to help with post-event cleanups, Olsen also supports the gathering for its economic benefits to local businesses.

The influx of students drives increased revenue for rentals, restaurants and shops. Oscar Patron, CEO of Beyond Expectations Cleaning Professionals and a longtime resident, eagerly anticipates Frat Beach each year. 

The surge in cleaning demands boosts his business across Glynn County, which creates a “better economy and good forces for many,” Patron said. 

Frat Beach also allows Patron to celebrate with students, including his daughter and her friends who attend each year.

“I have to be wearing all these different hats, from a chef to a driver, to make sure we’re providing the right safety and security for all the college students here,” Patron said.

Tradition Continues

Excitement builds as students prepare their costumes and stock up on “borgs,” gallon-sized jugs of drinks, while locals and law enforcement get ready to welcome thousands to the island on Friday, Nov. 1.

Eastwood, a fourth-year business and Spanish major at UGA, has cherished Frat Beach since freshman year and looks forward to upholding the tradition for the last time this November.

“I feel like it’s the novelty of it because we’re, like, going to Florida anyways, it’s just automatically fun,” Eastwood said. “So everyone’s like, ‘why would we ever stop?’”

Emily Slepsky is a fourth-year student majoring in journalism.