LACONIA, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire city of Laconia will host this year’s annual Pumpkin Festival after its long-time host city declined to issue a permit following violence near last year’s event.
At the announcement in Laconia’s historic train station Friday afternoon, Mayor Ed Engler said its experiencehosting an annual motorcycle festival gives officials a good handle on security and public safety.
He says there are no “huge concerns” about security in the city of about 16,000.
Held in Keene since 1991, the pumpkin festival tries each year to set a record for the number of carved and lightedpumpkins.
Last year’s event turned violent, with alcohol-fueled parties nearby leading to injuries, property damage and more than 100 arrests. The Keene City Council rejected a permit for 2015.
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It is a shame that a few people can ruin a wonderful annual event like that. I used to live in that city and it was a fun time every October. I support the decision, though, as it was quite a mess and a safety risk last year…
Laconia also isn’t a college town.
A few!? Since I live near-by it was hardly a few. Keen State students ruined killed the Pumpkin fest.
I thought riots were just that, riots. Didn’t know there was a white riot and black riot.
It was vandalism. It was a**holes. It was a shame, but there were people there who never even noticed it was happening. (I live nearby and out-of-town guests attended and were oblivious to the unrest.) My peeve is calling it “white riots.” That serves no purpose in either reporting on it or explaining it. As opposed to “black riots?” “Asian riots?” Unprovoked vandalism is what it was, and it has spoiled a great event for us all.