A Woman’s Guide to Tree Hill: How to Navigate the Fandom Without Going Overboard
A Raven's Guide to the Ultimate One Tree Hill Fan Experience at Hey 23 Weekend
Last weekend, I embarked on an adventure to “Hey 23 Weekend,” hosted by Friends with Benefits (FWB) in Wilmington, North Carolina. This trip had been in the works for nearly eight months with a close friend I met last year in Chicago after attending my first FWB event in memory of my dad’s third anniversary.
One Tree Hill was our go-to show before DVRs existed, and I never imagined how passionate its fans are. People shell out thousands for meet-and-greets, like the “boy toy” audition I heard about last fall. This year, Chad Michael Murray auctioned off his shoes after the basketball game. I thought, “Who would want sweaty shoes?” But someone did, and they had multiple bids. I believe the proceeds went to St. Jude’s, as they did last time.
During the game, the crowd was electric, all trying to catch the attention of James, Chad, and other actors. I stayed calm, soaked in the atmosphere, snapped photos, and recorded videos. Chad ended up right in front of me, even putting his armpit near my face to hand the woman behind me his championship ring as I ducked down. A friend later told me she would have been over the moon with excitement if she were me.
Later, Chad noticed I wasn’t feeling well. I hadn’t had a chance to eat and was lightheaded from all the running around. He asked if I was okay, and I explained that I just hadn’t had time to eat. Even with VIP access, you’d think things would run more smoothly, especially when schedules are off (I get it, life happens). Every time I lined up for food, someone called me over for a photo or autograph. Chad later checked in to see if I was feeling better, which was sweet.
After four or five photos with him just that day and being up close during the game, it was my third One Tree Hill event with him. Most of the cast were incredibly kind, especially when I had my 20-month-old son with me for part of each day.
The pep rally wasn’t what I expected. I expected cheerleaders and ballplayers, but it was quite different. The concert was fantastic, the game didn’t disappoint, and I skipped the press conference.
The fashion show was scheduled for two hours but lasted only about thirty minutes. The female models’ outfits were so short that, as I sat at the end of the runway, even others commented on how much we saw. I wanted to buy a skort at the end of the show; they said a medium would fit, which is fine, but I prefer a large because I’m too old to have my butt showing. The company makes junior to women’s sizes, so I figured they ran smaller. The highlight of the fashion show was Robert Buckley strutting down the runway and shaking it; it was priceless.
I also attended non-FWB events that weekend, like the One Tree Hill Live Tour hosted by Antwon Tanner. It was amazing; they offered photos, gift bags, and merchandise. I promoted the Comet Airbnb, the Lucas house from the show, and visited Hell’s Kitchen to eat, Black Cat to shop, and a souvenir shop to ensure I left with the best OTH items.
If you haven’t been to an OTH event, keep it simple; don’t go overboard and buy a ton of stuff, even if they say volunteers will help you. I learned this the hard way this year and missed out on a lot, even with VIP access.
But what I did learn is that the people you meet, known as Ravens (Tree Hill lovers), are the friendliest folks ever. I made so many new friends. So, if you love One Tree Hill, come to their next event; it’s definitely worth it, and maybe you’ll see me there!
