Today we’d like to introduce you to Timi Conley.
Hi Timi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a musician and artist that’s called Athens home for 30 years, and I’m the founder of the Wild Rumpus Parade & Spectacle- an all-inclusive Halloween costume parade in downtown Athens.
I moved to Athens after college at University of Massachusetts where I earned a BFA in oil painting and logged a side degree in throwing Halloween parties lol!! As soon as I moved south, I started throwing Halloween events with my bands, loving the whole vibe of the costumes and wildness that ensues when people are transformed into characters.
In 2009, I started the Wild Rumpus Parade & Spectacle on a whim… It was on Halloween that year, and that night was cold and rainy. I had gotten a blurb in the local paper and made a Facebook post about it to my then 100 or so new Facebook friends. Figuring it would be a flop because of the weather, I nonetheless headed downtown to lead the parade. Lo and behold hundreds of people had showed up ready to go! There were so many people, I got a citation for blocking traffic.
In the next few years, the event took off exponentially in terms of attendance, and we started giving a share of our proceeds from fundraising to local charity nonprofits. Now after 13 years, the Wild Rumpus is one of Athens’ top 3 annual events and draws people regionally, nationally, and internationally. Last year, we became a nonprofit ourselves and in 2021 had one of the biggest events in our history, with multiple stages, bands in the streets, a huge DJ dance party and thousands upon thousands of attendees all in costume!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
People and the City of Athens have really embraced the Wild Rumpus, so that has paved the way for doing whatever we set out to do- It’s been totally great. The pandemic was a huge roadblock over the last year and a half, but even so we created a “Rumpus Show” online and did a virtual event! The biggest challenge has been managing our growth and getting it all done!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At this point, I am Wild Rumpus’ Executive Director as well as Master of Ceremonies, so it’s a never-ending river of emails, spreadsheets, financial work, and so on…. It has made the artist in me learn to be a business person! Essentially I am a creative though, so I still do the theme and vision work for the event, and that is very colorful and inspiring!
I also continue to make music with my band Wonderland Rangers, as per my original mission in moving to Athens in the first place. Music is central to my heart and what I love, and I’m super proud of my amazing band. Check us out at www.wonderlandrangers.bandcamp.com This band is known for elevating a crowd with its genre-blending mix of rock, new wave, soul, psychedelic, disco, retro, and space flavors.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The Wild Rumpus is here to stay. People tell me all the time- It’s an Athens institution. People have literally told me they decided to move to Athens because of my music and because of the Wild Rumpus. My goal is simply to keep it going and expanding to do more wild stuff and create more good for the community. Currently, I am envisioning more playgrounds all over the place… and playgrounds for adults too!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildrumpus.org
- Instagram: @wildrumpusathens
- Facebook: facebook.com/wildrumpusparade
- Other: www.wonderlandrangers.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
Personal: Ed James Jason Thrasher Elizabeth Meraki JoLynn Gillikan Mike White
