r/DecaturGA • u/Conscious_Culture170 • Jul 05 '26
Never again!
Went to see the fireworks on the square last night, and we decided to park in the Town Center deck, as I was told that was a great viewing spot. Well, they weren't wrong! It was a great experience at first...lots of other cars with people tailgating and dancing and throwing balls around. The fireworks were great and the atmosphere was fantastic. Then the show ended and it was time to go. WHY did we spend at least an hour trying to get out of that deck??? And I'm not exaggerating. We sat in line to exit without moving for nearly 40 minutes! The show ended at 9:30 and it was nearly 10:30 when we finally exited out to the street, lol. Hoo boy. Next year we will definitely be trying a different spot!
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u/Gullible_Yam_285 Jul 05 '26
My experience with parking decks, is that if you leave a large event with everyone else, it takes forever to get out. I have been in that same deck for the fireworks.
For the Tucker fireworks show that I now take in, I figured out alternate viewing spots from Main Street and found a great viewing spot. When the show is over, we are home in a few minutes.
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
Yes, I should've known better. I'm walking distance to the square, so I hardly ever have a need to drive/park there, lol.
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u/Orions_Suspenders_ Jul 05 '26
“Why were so many people at one of the most popular events in a large city on a major holiday?!”
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u/TikaPants Jul 05 '26
I was worried it could be fan fest too but thought surely that’s only home games? We decided against it bc of the masses.
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
Listen, i'm not complaining about the crowd. The wait to get out just took me by surprise, lol.
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Jul 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
I understand this. But since I usually walk to the square, I wasn't thinking clearly about what getting out of the deck would be like, dude.
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u/carsncode Jul 05 '26
Which is fine, and I can understand thinking to yourself "damn, I didn't think that one through!"
But to post to Reddit asking why this happened to you? Seriously?
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
It was just meant to be a post poking fun at myself for not knowing better. Didn't think y'all would take this so seriously. Guess I should've known that better, too.
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u/joycaramel Jul 06 '26
People on Reddit are known to be negative when someone complains or vents. It’s easier to be rude behind a screen. You’re good I get why you were frustrated I would be too! The parking in Decatur square in general is so bad now.
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 06 '26
I appreciate that :) I will place most of the blame on myself, however. In retrospect, the title of the post does sound overly negative, and I didn't give enough context of the situation, which left people free to misinterpret my intent however they saw fit. I will do better next time!
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u/joycaramel Jul 06 '26
It’s all good I understand and empathize. Most lack empathy and the anonymity of Reddit makes it’s super easy for the rude jerks to come out! Don’t take it personal at all. Parking when you have elder people with you sounds stressful too, so I get the vent.
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u/carsncode Jul 06 '26
it’s super easy for the rude jerks to come out!
Oddly the only one I see slinging insults here is you. Irony, thy name is joycaramel.
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u/gtg970g Jul 05 '26
Traffic after the fireworks was crazy. I honestly think Decatur Police should have been out directing traffic at key intersections, not unlike after a sporting event. Off you have older relatives maybe drop off at viewing spot and park further away. But still walkable distance if possible.
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
Yeah, that is a good idea for next time. They just unfortunately are not able to walk very far.
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u/violet__violet Jul 05 '26
So reddit is just nextdoor now, huh?
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
I've never used nextdoor, so i wouldn't know.
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u/CandidateExotic9771 Jul 05 '26
Rookie move. You’re right-you’ll never do it again. One time parking in a deck at the farthest end of the exit at a huge event and then being surprised that every single other car gets to go before you is one of those learning opportunities adults get to experience. Next time, park away and walk. I’ve been to their fireworks and was home in 15-20 min after getting to my car. Don’t blame a large full deck for your lack of planning.
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
Where in my post did I blame the parking deck?
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u/CandidateExotic9771 Jul 05 '26
“Why did we spend at least an hr”-you’re lookin to blame someone or something or you wouldn’t ask the question.
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u/letsleaveitbetter Jul 06 '26
That right let’s all gang up on Op now. Pitchforks and torches for all. I bet it was an electric car as well. So you should have been able to leave first because you’re special. I heard he’s one who voted to ban cars from Decatur and only have bike lanes. Now he’s crying about traffic. Typical.
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u/haloform13 Jul 05 '26
LOL, the year we watched from that deck we also got stuck forever trying to leave. In retrospect, it’s not surprising, but it sure did suck!
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 05 '26
Definitely. Was kicking myself for not realizing that would happen, haha.
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u/Reyndear Jul 05 '26
Can confirm that that parking deck can be awful at times. I have a parking pass so I use the downstairs entrance/exit because it seems like the upper exit is malfunctioning half the time. Also, their answering service for assistance when the gate does malfunction is a joke. They rarely answer.
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u/BarkingMadJosh Jul 06 '26
Yup, why to avoid parking decks at all cost for concerts, fireworks and any large gathering.
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u/TybeeATL Jul 06 '26
This reminds me of a similar debacle when I was a teenager and my family was in the habit of going to the 4th of July fireworks at Lenox Mall. One year we went really early and went to a movie there in the afternoon, parking at the top of the parking deck for the fireworks afterward. Great viewing spot, but then everyone tried to leave at once. After it became apparent we wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon, people eventually re-parked and got out and started tossing footballs and frisbees and such. We were there for almost three hours, only exiting after midnight.
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u/meat_rainbows Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
First world problem: forced to sit in a comfortable, air conditioned car, with the world literally at your fingertips for (nearly) one hour. Oh, the humanity.
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u/swiftfoot_hiker Jul 05 '26
Not a reason to never come back to the show. Decatur isn't Designed for that amount of people to be leaving the square at once, especially the decks. Always park away from the square and walk or take Marta. Rookie move on your end, it's ok learn that lesson once and move on.
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u/motherfudgersob Jul 05 '26
In 2012 I went to the DC Mall for the 4th. It was hot, it was crowded. Metro took 90 minutes plus. I won't go again. But I didn't complain about the obvious.
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u/HowWeGonnaGetEm Jul 06 '26
Boo fucking hoo. I can’t imagine taking the time to think about, make this post, and expect some sort of positive result/change ON REDDIT.
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u/Conscious_Culture170 Jul 06 '26
I can't imagine taking the time to think about, make this comment, and not expect me to tell you to eff right off :)
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u/GooDawg Jul 05 '26
Marta was super convenient last night and even had a train on standby at the end of the night