Another chaotic Taco Fest highlights need for event safety
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Yet another Columbus festival debacle has city officials grappling with how to fix a recurring problem of disorganized and sometimes dangerous events.
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.
- City Attorney Zach Klein told WBNS-TV the city would review whether Taco Fest will return, but was largely concerned about "fights that originated that then spilled out into a shooting in the Short North."
💠Andrew's thought bubble: Columbus has no shortage of cultural festivals that are actually part of our communities. I'd rather attend those events than haphazard cash grabs.