When people think of wild parties, their minds probably go to college frat houses or Vegas nightclubs. What about Amish teenagers on Rumspringa or Ohio’s underground goth and punk scene? One group parties hard for a short, rebellious phase before returning to a strict religious life. The other embraces a lifetime of late-night shows, warehouse raves, and underground culture. So, who parties harder?
Rumspringa: The Amish Party Phase
For Amish teens, Rumspringa is a rite of passage. Between 16 and 21, they step outside their sheltered communities to experience the modern world before deciding whether to be baptized into the Amish church. This often means partying, sometimes harder than you’d expect.
Some Amish youth keep things relatively tame, but others dive headfirst into drinking, smoking, and even experimenting with technology, music, and fashion. In larger Amish communities, like those in Holmes County, Ohio, underground parties with loud music, alcohol, and even motorcycles are common. While it might seem out of character, this period of rebellion is often short-lived. Studies show that 80-90% of Amish teens return to the church, leaving their partying days behind.
Ohio’s Goth and Alternative Scene: Rebellion Without an End Date
Unlike Amish teens, Ohio’s goths and punks are committed to nonconformity for life. Cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati have thriving underground scenes, with legendary venues like Now That’s Class, The Shrunken Head, and The Southgate House Revival keeping the alternative music culture alive.
The party scene here ranges from goth clubs and punk dive bars to full-blown warehouse raves and DIY shows in abandoned buildings. Unlike Rumspringa, where rebellion is temporary, Ohio’s alternative scene has lifers: people in their 40s and 50s still going to shows, proving that this isn’t just a phase.
Who Actually Parties Harder?
When it comes to alcohol, Amish teens on Rumspringa often drink heavily, knowing their party phase has a time limit. Once they return to the Amish community, drinking stops completely. In contrast, Ohio’s goth and punk scene has a more moderate but sustained relationship with alcohol, with bars, clubs, and house shows serving as social hubs where drinking is common but not necessarily the main event.
Drug use varies between the two groups. Some Amish youth experiment during Rumspringa, but it is not a universal experience. In Ohio’s underground alternative scene, substance use tends to be more prevalent and, for some, remains a long-term part of the culture.
The types of venues also reflect their differences. Amish teens party in fields, barns, and rented halls, where they can be loud without attracting too much attention. Ohio’s goths and punks take over dive bars, underground clubs, DIY spaces, and even abandoned warehouses, creating a scene that thrives in the shadows.
The Final Verdict
If partying is about intensity over a short period, Amish teens on Rumspringa could take the crown. Some go all out, knowing they have only a few years to experience life outside their community. If partying is about dedication and longevity, Ohio’s goths and punks win without question. While Amish teens eventually put away their leather jackets and beer cans, Ohio’s underground community keeps the music loud and the party alive well into their 40s and beyond.
Both groups know how to have a good time, but only one keeps the party going for life.
Sarah Johnson