Edge Day is a celebration founded by people who live

straight edge Straight edge (sometimes abbreviated sXe or signified by XXX or X) is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs, in reaction to the excesses of punk subculture. For some, thi ...

lifestyles. The occasion has been observed annually on October 17 since 1999. The inaugural event, originally called Edge Fest, was held in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, Massachusetts. It is most prominent in Boston, but annual events are now held by individuals in U.S. states such as Georgia and California, and globally in cities such as

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaWC a ...

and

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

History

Founding

The first annual National Edge Day was celebrated on October 17, 1999, at the final

Ten Yard Fight Ten Yard Fight was an American straight edge, football-themed band formed in 1995 in Boston. Along with In My Eyes and Floorpunch, they spearheaded the youth crew revival in 1997. Ten Yard Fight's "official" last show was in Boston on Octobe ...

show at the Karma nightclub in

, Massachusetts. The show also featured the bands

Bane Bane may refer to: Fictional characters * Bane (DC Comics), an adversary of Batman * Bane (''Harry Potter''), a centaur in the ''Harry Potter'' series * Bane (''The Matrix''), a character in the ''Matrix'' film trilogy * Bane the Druid, a Gu ...

, In My Eyes,

Reach the Sky Reach the Sky was an American hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, United States. History Reach the Sky formed in 1997, and they released two EPs in 1999; their debut full-length, ''So Far From Home'', followed on Victory Records late ...

, and Floorpunch. This show marked the end of the 1990s "

youth crew Youth crew is a music subculture of hardcore punk, which was particularly prominent during the New York hardcore scene of the late 1980s. Youth crew is distinguished from other punk styles by its optimism and moralistic outlook. The original yout ...

" revival, but arguably started a new chapter in straight edge society by creating an observable holiday in the community. Since the inaugural event, a local Boston show has been organized annually to celebrate Edge Day. Central to the holiday is the organization of local live shows, performed mainly by

hardcore Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to: Arts and media Film * ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film * ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott * ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...

bands who also identify as straight edge. If the 17th day of October does not fall on a weekend, the Edge Day show usually falls on the Saturday before or after October 17.

2009

Have Heart Have Heart was an American straight edge hardcore punk band formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2002. The band recorded a demo that was released in 2003. In 2004, they released the ''What Counts'' EP ( Think Fast! Records), with their debut ...

played one final show prior to their initial disbandment in honor of National Edge Day in Revere, Massachusetts. National Edge Day was celebrated in

, Sweden.

2011

A National Edge Day celebration was held in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, Georgia. Performing bands included Mindset, Foundation, and Break Away. The first UK Edge Day since 2004 was held in London.

2012

The first recognized West Coast Edge Day was held in Santa Ana, California. The second annual UK Edge Day show was held in London at the

Brixton Brixton is a district in south London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th ce ...

Jamm Bar.

2015

Edge day is held in London in DIY Space For London. Edge Day is celebrated in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia in punk space called Rumah Api. Edge-day was celebrated at THE HARDCORE STADIUM in Cambridge, MA on Oct. 16,17,18th. Bands played included Stop and Think, Invasion and Mindset. Edge day is celebrated every year in Novi Sad, Serbia.

References

{{reflist Straight edge October observances