FOR over 20 years the Gathering of the Juggalos festival has become the go-to hub for fans of the Insane Clown Posse who are treated to four nights of concerts, wrestling shows, contests, and other events.
The most recent iteration of the festival took place between July 5 to July 9 at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio featuring an intergalactic theme.
"From the deepest reaches of the outer cosmos comes an event unlike any other seen on the terrestrial sphere!" read a description on the festival's official website.
"Scientists are baffled! Government agencies are powerless to stop it! Creatures from every cosmic corner and constellation are descending upon the planet, bringing sights both wondrous and terrifying, with one common goal in mind: to throw an epic non-stop party beyond the Earth's comprehension!
"This is the 23rd Annual Gathering of the Juggalos: The Wicked Clowns From Outer Space! Prepare your feeble human brain for 4 days of out-of-this-world freshness that is so much more than a music festival!"
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The festival is also a space for the die-hard fanbase to let loose with other members of the self-described "family."
Vendors are available on the event grounds including smoke shops, art prints, home decor, clothing, jewelry, carnival games, oddities, and antiques.
There are two main stages where music artists perform - the Intergalactic Stage and the Martian Stage.
Some of the artists include Alien Ant Farm, Riff Raff, The Sugarhill Gang, Big Fluff, HeathenSun, and Kingsmen.
The 16th annual Bloodymania event, part of Juggalo Championship Wrestling - the independent wrestling promotion founded by ICP members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope - is also a featured event.
"Get ready for electrified brutality on a scale seldom seen before, as JCW gladiators enter the steel cage to unleash beastation that will leave you mentally scarred long after the screams of agony have faded," reads the description.
LET LOOSE
It's not just the activities that make the Gathering a beloved festival but rather the dedicated fans that use the opportunity to express themselves such as donning the traditional Juggalo face paint.
Others choose to follow the intergalactic theming to cosplay as aliens or incorporate stars and galaxies into their look.
Photos exclusively taken by The U.S. Sun showcase the myriad of attendees at the festival, including music artist Mac Sabbath.
Compromised of members, Ronald Osbourne, Slayer MacCheeze, Grimalice, and the Catburgler - parodies of Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, Grimace, and the Hamburglar respectively - the band is a heavy metal tribute band that primarily parodies Black Sabbath.
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Ronald Osbourne is seen leading a sermon-like performance as smoke covers the stage and Grimalice plays the bass in the background.
Another image shows a couple posing for the camera as the woman is seen locked inside a cage and partially nude.
The cage has a "Keep Out" sign attached to it, warning others to not interfere.
In a somewhat tamer picture, a man holds a sign advertising free floggings - a punishment where a victim is hit repeatedly with a whip or stick.
However, if attendees want to flog the man, they can do so for $2, according to the sign.
DRUGS AND DEATHS AND FAYGO
The Gathering has made headlines a handful of times since it began in 2000 for a variety of reasons, including drug overdoses and rowdy behavior.
Cory Collins, 24, died at the festival in 2013 after complaining of not feeling well.
Collins had reportedly visited a "drug bridge" that was infamous at the Gathering.
The bridge was a marketplace for various recreational drugs that were used during the festival.
And while there had been reports of overdoses at previous festivals, Collins' death prompted the closure of the drug bridge that year.
In 2017, eight people were arrested when the festival was held in Oklahoma City.
Some of the arrests were drug-related, according to FOX25.
Michael Schintgen, 28, was arrested with marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia, and hundreds of dollars, the outlet reports.
Two people were arrested for setting off illegal fireworks.
There have been no reports of arrests at this year's festival.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
HISTORY OF ICP
ICP was formed by Violent J, whose real name is Joseph Bruce, and Shaggy 2 Dope, whose real name is Joseph Utsler.
ICP operates a music label called Psychopathic Records and also orchestrates the Gathering.
Founded in Detroit in the early 1990s, ICP is known for creating its own musical universe known as the Dark Carnival.
Characters introduced on each of the duo's albums have their own storyline within the Dark Carnival.
Some of the characters include Ringmaster, the Great Milenko, and The Amazing Jeckel Brothers.
Music in the Dark Carnival, while violent, is meant to serve as a metaphor for systematic oppression, Insider reported.
Juggalos maintain that they do not stand for violence.
Instead, they've continuously said that their community is about love and peace.
In fact, the clown-Esque face paint and even the spraying of Faygo known to dominate the festival have been said to help members of the community grow closer.
NON-TRADITIONAL GANG
Despite the fact that ICP's fanbase has existed for decades, the Juggalos remain perplexing to the rest of society.
In 2011, the FBI designated the Juggalo community as a non-traditional gang as part of its National Gang Threat Assessment.
During this assessment, the FBI determined that there are about one million people who identify as Juggalos and Juggalettes, or female Juggalos.
ICP, the Juggalos, and even the ACLU have filed lawsuits and challenged this designation.
But the duo has continued to host the festival and make music.
“We love it,” Violent J told The Daily Beast.
“We're the most hated band in the world, that's our claim to fame.”
