By: Liam Real
Lead singer of Red Mile Road performing at the event. The music festival took place on March 25 at Paloma Park.
(Photo Courtesy/Jennie Parrish)
In 2021, Ariana Zarse died from a hit-and-run accident in Athens. Her friend, Madeline Arenth, came up with an idea to celebrate her life and legacy with a music festival. After two years of planning, it finally became a reality on Saturday, March 25, from 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Ari’s Battle of The Bands took place at Paloma Park in Athens, and featured several bands, including Red Mile Road and Recess Party. Madelin Arenth worked with Zarse’s sorority, Pi Beta Phi, on the project.
“Right after Ari passed away … I knew that I wanted to do something for her that was gonna celebrate her in the way that she wanted to be celebrated” Arenth said.
Arenth said that the best way to celebrate was to throw a party with live music. Being with people and live music were some of Ari’s favorite things. Arenth said that Zarse would have loved to see it take place.
Recess Party performing at the event in Paloma Park
(Photo Courtesy/Liam Real)
Arenth said it was hard to plan the event and set it up exactly how she wanted it. One of the main people working alongside Arenth was Mary-Kirwin Polite. Polite took over as Director of Social Events for Zarse at Pi Beta Phi and said Zarse was a major reason for getting involved deeper with the sorority. Polite played a big role in planning the music festival.
“Everything we raised today will be donated to a memorial fund in her name that is setup through UGA,” Polite said.
The memorial fund will support a scholarship for Greek life. The scholarship will help people pay for their dues to get into a Sorority. The event sold over 900 tickets, said Arenth, not including day-of tickets and t-shirts being sold.
Arenth said she was so happy to be able to put on this event for a dear friend she lost. Arenth was extremely close to Zarse, describing her in three words: loud, but in a good way, loyal and happy. Arenth said she wants Ari’s Battle of The Bands to become an annual event in Athens to continue celebrating Zarse for years to come.
“I think if she were here today at this event, I think that she would say we did her justice and we got to make sure that her legacy lives on the way she wanted it. Which is all I asked for out of this event,” said Arenth.
Source Info:
Madeline Arenth
678-986-8095
Mary Kirwin Polite
704-488-9381