We're Going to the Gathering of the Juggalos

After a much-needed two-year hiatus from the madness that is Insane Clown Posse's annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival, we're happy to report that this year our sister paper, L.A. Weekly, is off to Thornville, Ohio, for the Gathering and will be reporting throughout the week on all the music, facepaint, Faygo, bare-knuckle boxing, and whatever other ridiculousness the Juggalos will permit us to document. Thankfully, L.A. Weekly will be sharing what they find July 20-23 with us over here in South Florida. 

This is the Gathering's 17th year, so L.A. Weekly plans to look at some of the ways it's changed over the years, for better and worse. They'll talk to veteran Juggalos and Juggalettes about the festival's early days (when it was, presumably, much cooler) as well as some first-timers and maybe a few hipsters pretending to be Juggalos, because apparently that's a thing now. They'll delve into Juggalo wrestling culture and the Juggalo economy, which we hear is run mainly on drugs, dirty-water hot dogs, and boob flashes. They'll probably hang out with Gary Busey's nephew Mike again, because why wouldn't they? They're looking forward to catching some music, too — especially Gwar, because Gwar.

Look for the mad-clown-love coverage to begin Thursday, July 21. To tide you over until then, here are some highlights from past GOTJ adventures:

Overheard at the Gathering of the Juggalos 2014: The Best Quotations
Here's What Happens After 5 AM at the Gathering
Wild Scenes at the Gathering of the Juggalos 2014 (Slideshow)
Insane Clown Posse Closes Out the 2014 Gathering of the Juggalos (NSFW Slideshow)

• Gathering of the Juggalos