Lars Eighner's Adult Homepage

Splash Day ^[1]

Do not confuse this event with Splash Days (note the extra s), an event held on Labor Day, but organized differently in spite of involving many of the same venues. Some locals may observe "real" Splash Day (when Memorial Day is observed) informally.

The centerpiece of Splash Day is a beer bust in the gay area (eastern extreme) of "Hippie Hollow." Beer was always served from one or more barges, but the enormous popularity of the event makes reaching the area by land a fabulous ordeal, so (some?) sponsors now transport lucky patrons to the area by barge too. Observance of beverage service laws is now much stricter than in bygone years.

It is best to inquire with your favorite sponsoring venue well in advance. Google Maps can find "Hippie Hollow Park" or "7000 Comanche Trail" Austin Tx. Other devices may need the official name "McGregor Park," a name not one out of a hundred locals will know. The "gay" area is in the eastern extreme of the park (left as you face the water). Approaching roads are likely to be extremely congested.

Many sponsoring venues will have specials and fore or after events. Some events are not listed at larseighner.com because larseighner.com does not promote barebacking or sites that promote barebacking.

History

Splash Day was first celebrated in Austin in the 1970s on the 1st Sunday in May when party barges sponsored by local clubs brought keg beer to "Hippy Hollow" a traditionally clothing-optional beach on Lake Travis, west of Austin. B.K "Bunch" Brittain, a club owner and leader in the Austin (Gay) Tavern Guild is generally credited with initiating the Splash Day tradition. (A "Splash Day" had been observed by not-particularly-gay college students at Galveston on the Texas coast from the 60s perhaps inspired by a similar event in Orlando.)

Eventually Splash Day was paired with "Last Splash" a similar event observed on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Both events were followed by "after the lake" events at local clubs. Brittain stated that Splash Day was always the 1st Sunday in May. Usually the weather is suitable at that time of year in Austin. However, weather postponements occurred a couple of years which seems to have created the impression in some who believe themselves to be purists that the real Splash Day was the Memorial Day weekend. (In a college town, "tradition" is whatever was happening when you were a freshman.)

A number of problems with the events became evident over time. The lake site was distant from the club venues, events became popular outside the gay community, stressing the transportation and sanitation infrastructure of the lake party and making nude bathing uncomfortable for lesbians. As the lake event grew authorities attempted to enforce beverage service regulations. Many other complications arose.

When the university calendar advance the start of the fall semester to late August "Last Splash" became particularly difficult, falling as it did on the first big college party weekend. Today, Splash Days are professionally produced circuit-like events on the Labor Day weekend in venues larger than any of the clubs can provide, although of course clubs have related and tie-in events.

1. Poster from Splash Day Weekend Facebook event