Another chaotic Taco Fest highlights need for event safety
Why it matters: Large-scale gatherings will only become bigger and more common as Columbus grows, placing greater importance on event safety and logistics.
Driving the news: The ninth Columbus Taco Fest was abruptly closed early Saturday night after multiple fights broke out at Goodale Park.
Shortly after, two people including a juvenile were shot near the park — it's unclear whether the shooting and fights were linked.
Attendees later posted on Reddit that crowds were "running and screaming in terror," unaware of what was happening.
The festival returned Sunday. Organizers claimed on Instagram: "It became clear that our event was deliberately targeted by a large group of minors whose only intent was to disrupt."
Flashback: Nearly the exact same scenario happened last year. The 2024 edition of Taco Fest closed around 8pm because of fights, and organizers banned unaccompanied minors for the next day — the same steps taken this year.
In 2022, another shooting happened adjacent to the festival when its home was Genoa Park.
Zoom out: Taco Fest is far from the only festival mess in recent memory.
This month, Sonic Temple created such a logistical nightmare that one of its acts almost couldn't make it to the stage.
Last year, celebrity chef and Columbus native Guy Fieri's highly publicized "Flavortown Fest" was canceled in advance with virtually no explanation.
Smaller one-off festivals, including the Margarita Festival and Coffee Festival, have been panned by disappointed attendees.
What they're saying:"Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen problems related to this specific festival," Columbus Department of Public Safety spokesperson Glenn McEntyre tells Axios. "Moving forward, we are seeking a stronger collaboration and coordination with all involved to keep these events fun and safe for everyone."
City Council President Shannon Hardin wrote on X that he had been in touch with police.
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