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.

💭 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.

📥 We want to hear from you: Have you been to a disappointing Columbus festival or event? Reply with your stories and suggested fixes.

Yes, it's been a little chilly this spring — but we may be wishing for these temperatures again once summer heats up.

State of play: This summer has a 33% chance of being hotter than average in most of Ohio, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.

The latest: Columbus temperatures throughout May have been about 1 degree cooler than normal, per NWS data.

• The rain is what's really made it feel less spring-like outside so far: 5.75 inches, well above a normal of about 3.5.
• Yes, but: It beats last year's drought, right?

What's next: In Columbus, a normal day in meteorological summer (June-August) typically has a high in the mid-80s and a low in the mid-60s.

🗳️ Mayor Andrew Ginther will seek a fourth term in 2027.

• Getting reelected and serving out that term would tie him with Michael Coleman as Columbus' longest-serving mayor. (Dispatch)

🎸 "Hang on Sloopy" guitarist Rick Derringer — an Ohio native known for his band, The McCoys, and work with Steely Dan, Bonnie Tyler and Weird Al Yankovich — died Monday at 77. (AP)

🏗️ Planned Muslim community centers in Franklin County remain stalled after years of delays and interruptions. (WOSU)

✌️ Hilliard City Manager Michelle Crandall, the first person to hold the role, will resign this summer after nearly six years. (WSYX-TV)

🏠 Ohioans of Asian descent are speaking out against a proposed state law that would restrict "foreign adversaries" from buying property in Ohio. (WBNS-TV)

It was once illegal to wear "high hats" in local theaters, and there are plenty of other silly ways Ohioans have gotten in trouble over the years.

🤬 1911: Police fined a Ross County man $5 for swearing on a passenger train.

🚒 1927: A Lancaster rubbernecker heading toward a house fire was arrested after he drove over a firehose.

🐇 1938: A Wilmington hunter paid $14.20 in fines and court costs for "possessing three rabbits over quota."

👀 1940: A Cincinnati man told police officers to stop looking at him — and they charged him with disorderly conduct.

📢 1942: Two Columbus newlyweds were fined $3 for disturbing the peace after honking their car horns in celebration.

Can you spell "perspicacious?"

Fifteen shrewd spellers from Ohio surely can, having reached the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland this year.

• Just three reached yesterday's semifinal round, including 14-year-old Avinav Prem Anand from Columbus, an Orange Middle School eighth-grader.
• The others were Rujva Patel, 12, of Cincinnati, and Zachary Yeager, 14, of Akron.

The results: Yeager tied for 36th, while Patel and Anand tied for 20th.

Zoom in: Anand is an old pro by now — this was his fourth year in the bee.

• He's an "avid martial artist" who wields swords and bo staffs, per his bio.
• Reminder: Don't mess with this kid.

How to watch: The finals start at 8pm tonight on ION. Find the channel with your ZIP code.