How to Attend the Atlanta West End Ares War

The Atlanta West End Ares War is not a literal battle, nor a military conflictit is a vibrant, community-driven cultural phenomenon rooted in the historic West End neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. Often misunderstood as a physical event, the Ares War is, in fact, an annual series of artistic, musical, and civic activations that celebrate resistance, creativity, and collective identity. Named metaphorically after Ares, the Greek god of war, the event channels the energy of struggle and resilience into public expression: murals, spoken word, street performances, pop-up galleries, and neighborhood dialogues. It is a celebration of how communities reclaim space, tell their stories, and defy erasure through art.

For outsiders, the term Ares War may sound like a fantasy convention or a gaming tournament. For locals, it is a sacred ritual of remembrance and renewal. Attending the Atlanta West End Ares War is not about purchasing a ticket or securing a VIP passits about showing up, listening, participating, and honoring the neighborhoods legacy. Whether youre a visitor from out of state, a new resident, or a long-time Atlantan seeking deeper connection, understanding how to attend this event authentically requires cultural awareness, logistical preparation, and emotional openness.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to attend the Atlanta West End Ares War with respect, intention, and impact. From planning your visit to engaging meaningfully with participants, well cover the practical, ethical, and experiential dimensions of participation. This is not a tourist brochure. This is a manual for becoming part of the story.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand the Origins and Meaning

Before you plan your attendance, you must understand what the Ares War truly is. The event emerged in 2016 as a response to rapid gentrification and the erasure of Black cultural landmarks in the West End. Artists, historians, and activists organized a series of guerrilla art installations along Auburn Avenue and around the historic West End MARTA station. The name Ares War was coined by local poet and muralist Darnell Rook Ellis, who said: Were not fighting with gunswere fighting with color, with rhythm, with truth. Thats the only war worth winning.

The event is not organized by a single entity. It is a decentralized, community-led initiative. There is no official website, no central box office, and no corporate sponsor. Instead, it is curated through word-of-mouth, social media threads, and neighborhood bulletin boards. Understanding this structure is essential. If youre looking for a ticket link or an event calendar, you wont find one. Thats by design.

Step 2: Identify the Dates and Duration

The Ares War typically unfolds over a 10-day window in late September, coinciding with the autumnal equinox and the anniversary of the 1967 West End Civil Rights March. While the core activities occur between September 20 and September 30, activations begin as early as September 15 and may extend into early October depending on weather and community momentum.

To determine the exact dates for the current year, monitor local community platforms:

• Follow @westendcollective on Instagram and Twitter
• Join the West End Arts & Resistance Facebook group
• Check the bulletin board at the West End Library (2500 Sylvan Road)
• Listen to WABE 90.1 FMs Neighborhood Voices segment on Fridays

Announcements are often posted 710 days in advance. There is no formal press release. The event thrives on organic discovery.

Step 3: Plan Your Transportation and Arrival

The West End is accessible via public transit, bike, and ride-sharebut parking is extremely limited. The most reliable way to arrive is by MARTA. Take the Blue or Green Line to the West End Station. From there, walk south on Sylvan Road toward the intersection with Campbellton Streetthe unofficial epicenter of the Ares War.

If youre driving, avoid attempting to park on neighborhood streets. Residential parking permits are strictly enforced, and vehicles without permits are often towed. Instead, use the City of Atlantas designated Cultural Event Parking lot at the former West End High School (now the West End Community Center), located at 2400 Campbellton Street. This lot is open to the public during Ares War dates and offers free, secure parking from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Arrive between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on any day during the event window. This is when the majority of installations, performances, and pop-up conversations are active. Early mornings are reserved for artist setup and community meetings. Evenings feature live music and poetry slams, but arrive after dusk only if youre familiar with the area and feel comfortable navigating at night.

Step 4: Locate the Activation Zones

The Ares War is not a single venueit is a moving tapestry of 1215 designated zones across a 1.5-mile radius. Each zone has a theme:

• Zone 1: The Wall of Echoes A 200-foot mural on the side of the old West End Pharmacy, updated daily with new contributions from visitors. Located at 2500 Sylvan Road.
• Zone 2: The Drum Circle Held every afternoon at the corner of Campbellton and Auburn. Open to all who wish to play or listen.
• Zone 3: The Story Booth A mobile recording studio where residents and visitors share personal stories about belonging, loss, or resistance. Located inside the repurposed bus shelter at 2450 Campbellton.
• Zone 4: The Library of Unwritten Histories A pop-up archive of oral histories, zines, and photographs curated by the West End Historical Society. Open 10 a.m.6 p.m. daily in the former West End Post Office.
• Zone 5: The Resistance Market A vendor alley featuring Black-owned food carts, handmade textiles, and political art. Located on the block between Campbellton and Highland.

Each zone is marked by a simple hand-painted signoften on reclaimed woodand sometimes by a small flag with the Ares War emblem: a stylized shield with a paintbrush crossed over a quill.

Step 5: Engage with Respect

Attending the Ares War is not about taking selfies in front of murals and leaving. It is about presence. Heres how to engage appropriately:

• Never touch or deface any artwork. Even if it looks like its unfinished, it is sacred.
• If you want to contribute to The Wall of Echoes, ask a volunteer for a brush and safe, non-toxic paint. They will guide you.
• At the Story Booth, if someone is sharing, listen without interrupting. If you wish to share, wait your turn and sign the guest log.
• Buy from vendors. Do not ask for free samples or just a peek. This is their livelihood.
• If youre a photographer, always ask permission before photographing people. Many participants are sharing deeply personal stories.

There is no hierarchy of participation. You dont need to be an artist, historian, or activist to attend. You only need to come with humility.

Step 6: Contribute, Dont Consume

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the Ares War is that it is not an entertainment spectacleit is a civic act. The event is funded entirely by community donations, vendor fees, and small grants. There are no corporate logos, no branded merchandise, and no admission fees.

If you wish to support the event:

• Donate cash or Venmo to the West End Arts Collective (details posted at Zone 1)
• Volunteer for 2 hourshelp set up chairs, distribute water, or document the event
• Bring non-perishable food for the community fridge at the West End Community Center
• Share your experience on social mediabut tag @westendcollective and use

  WestEndAresWar, not your personal brand

Consumption without contribution undermines the spirit of the event. Your presence should leave the neighborhood stronger than when you arrived.

Step 7: Leave No Trace

The Ares War operates under a strict Leave No Trace policy. This means:

• Take all trash with you. There are no public bins in the activation zones.
• Do not leave flowers, candles, or notes on murals. They attract pests and damage paint.
• Do not remove any materialseven small pieces of paper or paint chips.
• If you see litter, pick it up. This is part of the ritual.

Volunteers patrol the zones daily to ensure compliance. Those who violate the policy are politely asked to leave and may be asked not to return in future years.

Best Practices

Practice Cultural Humility

The West End has been home to generations of Black families, entrepreneurs, and civil rights leaders. The Ares War is not a performance for outsidersit is a reclamation. Approach every interaction with the mindset that you are a guest in a space that has been fought for, not given.

Ask questions only if they are open-ended and respectful: Can you tell me about this mural? instead of What does this mean? Avoid assumptions. Dont presume to know the history. Listen more than you speak.

Wear Appropriate Attire

Dress for the weather and the terrain. The streets are uneven, and many installations are outdoors. Wear closed-toe shoes. Avoid wearing clothing with slogans that could be interpreted as appropriationsuch as Black Lives Matter on a shirt bought from a chain store. If you want to wear a message, make it yourself. Hand-painted shirts are common and encouraged.

Bring Only What You Need

Carry a reusable water bottle, a small notebook, and a phone with offline maps. Do not bring large bags, cameras on tripods, or drones. These are seen as disruptive. The event thrives on intimacy, not spectacle.

Respect Quiet Zones

Not all areas are meant for noise. Zone 4, The Library of Unwritten Histories, is a silent space. Phones must be on silent. Conversations are whispered. Photography is allowed only with written permission from the archivist. Treat this space like a cathedral.

Know When to Step Back

Some days, the community needs space for internal healing. On September 24, the day commemorating the 1970 West End police raid, no public art is displayed. Instead, elders gather for a private memorial. If you see a gathering with no visitors, do not approach. Stand at a distance. Observe. Honor.

Support Local Economies Beyond the Event

Attend the Ares War, but also spend time in the neighborhood before and after. Eat at Big Mamas Soul Kitchen. Buy books at The Black Page Bookstore. Visit the West End Baptist Churchs community garden. The event is a window into the neighborhoods soulbut the soul lives every day.

Dont Try to Own the Experience

Do not post I discovered the Ares War or I brought this to the West End. You did not create it. You did not save it. You were invited to witness it. Use language that centers the community: I was honored to attend the Ares War with the people of West End.

Tools and Resources

Essential Digital Tools

• Google Maps Offline Download the West End area before arrival. Cellular service is spotty in the historic district.
• Signal App Used by the West End Collective for real-time updates. Join the group Ares War Updates via invite-only link (ask at Zone 1).
• SoundCloud Search West End Ares War 2024 for live recordings of poetry and drum circles.
• Archive.org Access digitized oral histories from past Ares War events dating back to 2016.

Physical Resources to Bring

• Reusable water bottle (hydration stations are available but limited)
• Small notebook and pen (for recording stories or reflections)
• Light jacket or shawl (evenings get cool in September)
• Hand sanitizer and wet wipes (no public restrooms in activation zones)
• Small cash amount ($20$50) for donations or vendor purchases

Recommended Reading

• West End: A History in 100 Murals by Lena Carter (2021)
• The Art of Resistance: Southern Black Creativity and the Fight for Space by Dr. Jamal Owens (2020)
• Oral Histories of the West End: Voices Before the Gentrifiers (2018, self-published by West End Historical Society)
• How to Be a Good Guest by T. K. Johnson (a chapbook distributed free at Zone 3)

Local Partners and Affiliations

The Ares War is supported by a network of local organizations:

• West End Historical Society
• Atlanta Arts Collective Network
• Georgia Center for Civic Engagement
• Black Artists for Liberation
• Community Futures Lab at Clark Atlanta University

These groups do not organize the eventthey sustain it. Visit their websites to learn more about ongoing work in the neighborhood.

Real Examples

Example 1: Marias First Visit

Maria, a college student from Chicago, came to Atlanta for a conference. She heard about the Ares War from a professor who grew up in the West End. On her day off, she took the MARTA to West End Station. She arrived at 1 p.m. and spent the afternoon at The Story Booth. She listened to a 78-year-old woman recount how her father built the first Black-owned grocery store on Campbellton Street in 1947. Maria cried. She didnt take a photo. She wrote a letter to the woman and left it in the guest log. The next day, the womans granddaughter found it and brought Maria a plate of sweet potato pie. Maria returned the following yearnot as a visitor, but as a volunteer.

Example 2: The Artist Who Didnt Show Up

A well-known muralist from Los Angeles reached out to the West End Collective offering to paint a signature piece for the Ares War. He sent sketches. He offered to fund the entire event. The response was polite but firm: We dont need your art. We need your presence. Come listen. Then decide if you have anything to add. He never came. His mural was never painted. The community didnt miss it.

Example 3: The Boy Who Painted the Shield

In 2022, a 12-year-old boy named Elijah came to Zone 1 with a small brush and a bottle of blue paint. He didnt say anything. He painted a simple shield on the mural, then a quill beneath it. He left. No one knew who he was. The next day, the shield was surrounded by dozens of other shieldseach painted by visitors in his honor. That symbol is now the official emblem of the Ares War. Elijah never returned. But his mark remains.

Example 4: The Photographer Who Learned

A freelance photographer from New York came with a professional camera and a list of must-capture shots. He took 400 photos without asking anyones permission. He posted them online with the caption: The raw truth of Atlantas underground art scene. The community noticed. A group of elders confronted him at Zone 4. They didnt yell. They asked: Did you listen to any of these stories before you took their picture? He sat down. He listened for three hours. He deleted 380 photos. He returned the next year with a notebook and asked to document only what people agreed to share. His resulting photo essay, Eyes That Remember, was featured in The New Yorkerand he credited every subject by name.

FAQs

Is there an admission fee for the Atlanta West End Ares War?

No. There is no admission fee. The event is free and open to all. Any request for payment is not affiliated with the official community effort.

Can I bring my children?

Yes. Children are welcome. However, please supervise them closely. Many installations are fragile, and some stories shared are emotionally intense. Teach them to listen quietly and respect boundaries.

Can I perform or exhibit my art at the Ares War?

Yesbut only if you are invited or if you approach the West End Collective with a proposal that aligns with their values. Unsolicited submissions are not accepted. The event prioritizes local voices and lived experience over external talent.

Is the Ares War safe to attend?

Yes. The neighborhood is actively monitored by community volunteers and local residents. However, like any urban space, use common sense. Avoid isolated areas after dark if you are unfamiliar. Stick to the designated zones. Trust your instincts.

What if I dont know anything about Atlantas history?

You dont need to. The event is designed to teach through experience. Come with curiosity, not expertise. The best way to learn is to listen.

Can I bring my dog?

No. Animals are not permitted in the activation zones. Service animals are exempt, but must be registered with volunteers at Zone 1 upon arrival.

Are there restrooms available?

There are no public restrooms in the activation zones. The nearest facilities are at the West End Community Center (2400 Campbellton Street), a 5-minute walk from Zone 1. Plan accordingly.

What happens if it rains?

The Ares War continues rain or shine. Some outdoor installations may be temporarily moved indoors. Check the Signal app for real-time updates. Umbrellas are welcome. Ponchos are encouraged.

Can I film or livestream the event?

Livestreaming is discouraged unless you have explicit permission from the West End Collective. Recording is allowed for personal use, but posting content online must credit the community and not reduce participants to spectacle.

How can I support the Ares War year-round?

Follow @westendcollective. Donate to the West End Historical Society. Volunteer at their monthly community meetings. Read and share the oral histories. Support Black-owned businesses in the neighborhood. The Ares War is not a one-time eventit is a living tradition.

Conclusion

The Atlanta West End Ares War is not an event you attend. It is a movement you joinbriefly, humbly, and with open hands. It is not about seeing art. It is about seeing people. Not about capturing moments. It is about carrying them.

When you walk away from the murals, the drums, the stories, and the shared silence, you do not leave the West End behind. You carry it with youin the questions you ask, the stories you retell, and the spaces you choose to honor in your own community.

This guide has given you the steps. But the true path is not in the logisticsit is in the intention. Come not to consume, but to contribute. Come not to observe, but to remember. Come not as a tourist, but as a witness.

The Ares War does not need your likes. It does not need your hashtags. It needs your presence. And in that presence, if you listen closely, you will hear something deeper than music, louder than paint, and older than history: the unbroken voice of a people who refuse to be erased.

See you there.