Participants took turns attempting to jump through a hoop set up as part of the 6th Annual Skate Jam held at the Athens Skate Park on East State Street, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. The event was shut down by rain, with bands relocating to the Union Bar in Uptown Athens. Photo by Leah Nairn.
ATHENS, Ohio – Festivities were cut short due to rain this past Saturday, Sept. 12, at the 6th Annual Skate Jam 2026, held at the Athens Skate Park on East State Street.
Participants still squeezed in skating before the rain eventually took over, as bands packed up and event organizers relocated the event to The Union Bar in Uptown Athens. Skate Jam picked up where it left off the following day.
Kelton Hutchins, a Marietta resident and nurse at Camden Clark in Parkersburg, W. Va, takes a break during “Skate Jam 2026” held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2026, at the Athens Skate Park. Kelton said that he knows people in his home town that skate, but the Athens skate scene is more vibrant and worth the trip. “I like the skate culture,” Kelton said. Photo by Leah Nairn.
The celebration of skate culture is held yearly and includes music, food trucks, competitions and skill challenges for skaters, and a lively atmosphere. It is always free for kids under 12.
Rain did not dampen the spirits and determination of Skate Jam participants. The sixth annual event was held Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at the Athens Skate Park in Athens, Ohio. Skaters even sang karaoke. Photo by Leah Nairn.
