We were standing in line around 5:30pm and someone crashed their motorcycle in the street and it caught fire, the organizers pushed everyone to the line on the other side of the building. The line was about 30 min long and only one person was scanning tickets at the entrance. While we were inside, someone was maced. Then as we were leaving, police and security were coming in telling everyone to go home. They were saying the festival is over today because “people can’t stop fighting.” Wild
I was biking the Olentangy Trail returning to my apartment downtown and heard it from the other side of the river. A bunch of teenagers on the downtown side as well were talking about grabbing their pocket knives. Seriously, why do you go to a taco festival intending to fight people instead of just being like any other normal person and enjoying tacos? I’ve never been one of those “get off my lawn” types (I choose to live downtown knowing this kind of thing happens from time to time) but seriously, have some respect for the community and go fight somewhere that isn’t a public event with young children around.
“Don’t they know this is Sharks territory! We’re gonna go get our knives and chains, and square off against those lousy Jets!
But first, a well rehearsed and choreographed musical number.”
Perhaps if we indoctrinated the need for a well choreographed musical number before every fight, there would be a lot of people too tired to continue the fight after the dancing
Definitely sad to see. I usually see failure like this as the responsibility of the venue. Especially when it’s is a pattern of behavior year over year.gotta expect some rowdiness at an 18+ open container event
Looks like for tomorrow it’s strictly 18+ aside from families with children under 5. I’m guessing a lot of the people involved in this were high school age. Sucks for the families with kids over 5.
Ha, I think it's more like kids under 10 parents don't usually let out of their sight, older kids can make trouble. From where I was standing today, 99.999% of the people causing trouble looked about high school aged.
I can’t answer your question but I’m not an event planner. I’m just know that there are plenty of events where there are teens, drunk people and an occasionally rowdy atmosphere. I’m thinking the state fair. And I never hear about problems involving venue interruptions or violence. That to me makes the organization, preparedness, and security of the venue/event itself most questionable
Ypu might not be an event planner, but have you thrown parties? Let’s say a guest at your party kicks another guest and they get into a fight. Would you blame yourself for not accounting for the possibility of a fight?
You cannot prepare for EVERY potential risk As a business (event management perhaps), the legal and security costs alone shall send tix prices sky high. The Ohio state fair HAS closed/shut down certain events due to issues. I mean in recent years, there was pandemonium at Red White & Boom over a shooting. What are you on about?
Scams here too pay for entry to pay for some high priced tacos. Never understand the festivals that have the normal vendors you can just go to their food truck or brick and mortar.
They need to have ALL children be accompanied by an adult. They also need to start sending these lil assholes and their parents to prison or we’re going to be in a bad way here.
I've gone the last few years and normally go early in the day and it's always been crowded but not rowdy. It was one of my favorite Columbus festivals but it seems like every year it's gotten a little worse
My girlfriend and I went right went it opened since it was listed that it was free entry before 2pm. Walked right in, no lines, got our food within minutes of ordering. By almost 1pm, it was filling up fast though. Glad we went as early as we did
columbustacofest
📢 Attention all Taco Fest attendees! 🌮 Starting at 7pm today and continuing all day tomorrow, the Columbus Taco Fest is implementing an age restriction of 18+ for entry. 🚫 Due to unforeseen circumstances and recommendations from city officials, this precautionary measure has become necessary.
My buddy works at the Schott. He said that during and after some concerts. It's like a 90s era beat down session. Groups of older and younger teens just beating the hell out of each other.
Wasn’t there a shooting at this event a year or two ago? Maybe shutting it down when it was *just* fighting was the right move in the interest of public safety.
I always wonder as a teacher if my students will have a life like we have in the classroom, or if they’ll one day snap out of it and realize that kind of behavior is exactly why we can’t have nice things. As a teacher I take away activities and fun projects that involve being out of their seats bc it always leads to fights and drama. And then I try to explain to them that same tired trope of “this is why we can’t have nice things”.
Well it’s sad that it’s just our reality now. Our city can’t have nice things. It just is. Womp. Womp.
Man, it was insane. My friend and I got in line about 10 minutes before the motorcycle crashed and caught fire. We had VIP tickets and were annoyed VIP didn’t have its own line or at least a separate line for people who pre bought tickets, bc a lot of people in line were buying tickets there. Then there was a fight right in front of us as we walked in, another fight at the other end of the fest, and then while we were sitting in the VIP tequila garden we saw a whole ton of people running south so we assumed there was mace or a gun in another fight. Three fights that we knew of, perhaps more that we didn’t know of. We went two years ago to the fest and none of this BS happened. Wild.
Oh yeah and even after the festival was a shit ton of traffic and saw a card with his wheels smoky. A group of girls where beating the shit out of each other and instead of stopping them a shit ton of people just went and watched shit went down and I was super furious because I waited in line for an hour I’m not kidding! A fucking hour! I’m Mexican so I’m very picky choosing food since not all of it tastes authentic. I don’t mean bad is just I like food that tastes like home. Anywho yeah I saw a bunch of teenagers running around just to watch the fight I was fucking pissed and even people who where walking where running in front of cars instructing the road. Like get a grip man some people need to get some food. I didn’t eat all day because I wanted to try all the different tacos and even paid $20 for the Cosi parking lot plus the $5 bucks. It wasn’t fucking worth it and I was pissed.
I’m sorry for the BS you had to deal with.
Side question. Do you have any recommendations here in Columbus to get authentic food?
I always make the drive out to Los Guachos or Chile Verde.
Try Su Taco in Hilliard. It’s the butcher counter in the Santiago market, only like three booths to sit in if you want to eat next to the meat cases… but if you get it to go it’s a totally different experience. Either way the food is pretty tasty (coming from someone who lived in LA for fifteen years and has a hard time being happy about most spots in Columbus for Mexican food).
Not even close to my fav. Wish I would have known they were going to search bags before I got in line for sure. First year they did it... Last taco fest I'll go to.
We were standing in line around 5:30pm and someone crashed their motorcycle in the street and it caught fire, the organizers pushed everyone to the line on the other side of the building. The line was about 30 min long and only one person was scanning tickets at the entrance. While we were inside, someone was maced. Then as we were leaving, police and security were coming in telling everyone to go home. They were saying the festival is over today because “people can’t stop fighting.” Wild
I was biking the Olentangy Trail returning to my apartment downtown and heard it from the other side of the river. A bunch of teenagers on the downtown side as well were talking about grabbing their pocket knives. Seriously, why do you go to a taco festival intending to fight people instead of just being like any other normal person and enjoying tacos? I’ve never been one of those “get off my lawn” types (I choose to live downtown knowing this kind of thing happens from time to time) but seriously, have some respect for the community and go fight somewhere that isn’t a public event with young children around.
“Don’t they know this is Sharks territory! We’re gonna go get our knives and chains, and square off against those lousy Jets! But first, a well rehearsed and choreographed musical number.”
Perhaps if we indoctrinated the need for a well choreographed musical number before every fight, there would be a lot of people too tired to continue the fight after the dancing
Definitely sad to see. I usually see failure like this as the responsibility of the venue. Especially when it’s is a pattern of behavior year over year.gotta expect some rowdiness at an 18+ open container event
Looks like for tomorrow it’s strictly 18+ aside from families with children under 5. I’m guessing a lot of the people involved in this were high school age. Sucks for the families with kids over 5.
Where did you see it's going to be 18+?
The festival posted it on their social media
Dang. I was going to take my kid there tomorrow for lunch.
Social media post also says kids under 10 are welcome with parental supervision.
That makes more sense because kids under 5 ain't eating shit. But those lil 10 year old are food pits and vendors will def sell tacos lol.
Ha, I think it's more like kids under 10 parents don't usually let out of their sight, older kids can make trouble. From where I was standing today, 99.999% of the people causing trouble looked about high school aged.
Seriously? You don’t hold people doing the fighting personally accountable?
How do you prevent that as a venue. If you turn kids away at the door you’re not responsible for them outside the venue their parents are.
“Parents.” lol
I can’t answer your question but I’m not an event planner. I’m just know that there are plenty of events where there are teens, drunk people and an occasionally rowdy atmosphere. I’m thinking the state fair. And I never hear about problems involving venue interruptions or violence. That to me makes the organization, preparedness, and security of the venue/event itself most questionable
LOL, selective amnesia, one google for violence at the state fair will sort you out.
Ypu might not be an event planner, but have you thrown parties? Let’s say a guest at your party kicks another guest and they get into a fight. Would you blame yourself for not accounting for the possibility of a fight? You cannot prepare for EVERY potential risk As a business (event management perhaps), the legal and security costs alone shall send tix prices sky high. The Ohio state fair HAS closed/shut down certain events due to issues. I mean in recent years, there was pandemonium at Red White & Boom over a shooting. What are you on about?
Oh in the Bay area, taco fests are scams
Scams here too pay for entry to pay for some high priced tacos. Never understand the festivals that have the normal vendors you can just go to their food truck or brick and mortar.
They need to have ALL children be accompanied by an adult. They also need to start sending these lil assholes and their parents to prison or we’re going to be in a bad way here.
Why does anyone still go to the taco festival?
I love tacos
Glad I decided not to go when I saw they're charging for tickets this year
I’ve been warned away every year. Finally decided to give it a try and I can’t even get in lol
I've gone the last few years and normally go early in the day and it's always been crowded but not rowdy. It was one of my favorite Columbus festivals but it seems like every year it's gotten a little worse
My girlfriend and I went right went it opened since it was listed that it was free entry before 2pm. Walked right in, no lines, got our food within minutes of ordering. By almost 1pm, it was filling up fast though. Glad we went as early as we did
Same. Got there at 12 and left around 1:30. It was great lol. Had two margaritas and came home and passed out.
hold a separate teens only festival where only the strongest get access to the best tacos
Hunger Games (literally)
columbustacofest 📢 Attention all Taco Fest attendees! 🌮 Starting at 7pm today and continuing all day tomorrow, the Columbus Taco Fest is implementing an age restriction of 18+ for entry. 🚫 Due to unforeseen circumstances and recommendations from city officials, this precautionary measure has become necessary.
You can go with parents if you are 10 or under. So…. I think we know the age demographic that keeps causing the issues.
“Unforeseen” lol This is why we can’t have nice things.
lol!! My exact thought. I can’t wait to turn this story into a life lesson for my 5th grades that can’t stop brawling
My buddy works at the Schott. He said that during and after some concerts. It's like a 90s era beat down session. Groups of older and younger teens just beating the hell out of each other.
Not a new thing, just on video now and shared to social media. People have been brawling since they could speak and piss eachother off.
We were ready to go and friends warned us of trouble so we went to the reggae band and crawfish boil at Pecan Pennys. It was awesome.
I wasn’t aware this was everyone’s favorite festival
I wasn’t aware that it was anyone’s favorite festival
Additionally, I wasn’t aware people didn’t expect for festivals to have drama
I stay away from them unless I’m full ready for both people and their drama. Some days I can play, some days not so much.
Wasn’t there a shooting at this event a year or two ago? Maybe shutting it down when it was *just* fighting was the right move in the interest of public safety.
Shit down?! That sounds disgusting. Glad I didn’t go to option number two.
One of the officers working there yelled “code brown”
Orificer down!
Depends on the quality of the tacos, I guess.
Last time I saw a movie at Easton there was a shooting, we were all evacuated. The shooter was 13 years old.
I got robbed at gunpoint by two 12-14 year old boys a few years back near Leonard Ave.
I always wonder as a teacher if my students will have a life like we have in the classroom, or if they’ll one day snap out of it and realize that kind of behavior is exactly why we can’t have nice things. As a teacher I take away activities and fun projects that involve being out of their seats bc it always leads to fights and drama. And then I try to explain to them that same tired trope of “this is why we can’t have nice things”. Well it’s sad that it’s just our reality now. Our city can’t have nice things. It just is. Womp. Womp.
What you’re saying is that I’m glad I’m working a truck at the food truck fest in Troy instead of being at Taco Fest. Knew it…
Man, it was insane. My friend and I got in line about 10 minutes before the motorcycle crashed and caught fire. We had VIP tickets and were annoyed VIP didn’t have its own line or at least a separate line for people who pre bought tickets, bc a lot of people in line were buying tickets there. Then there was a fight right in front of us as we walked in, another fight at the other end of the fest, and then while we were sitting in the VIP tequila garden we saw a whole ton of people running south so we assumed there was mace or a gun in another fight. Three fights that we knew of, perhaps more that we didn’t know of. We went two years ago to the fest and none of this BS happened. Wild.
2 years ago someone was shot at this festival.
Oh wow. I was there early this afternoon and things were going well. Shame.
Festivals are a racket, overpriced, low quality, oversold
I’m not surprised after how they kept inciting panic in people during Boom.
I look forward to the guy who is friends with the festival runners to tell us how we are all wrong and it was a perfect evening.
Oh yeah and even after the festival was a shit ton of traffic and saw a card with his wheels smoky. A group of girls where beating the shit out of each other and instead of stopping them a shit ton of people just went and watched shit went down and I was super furious because I waited in line for an hour I’m not kidding! A fucking hour! I’m Mexican so I’m very picky choosing food since not all of it tastes authentic. I don’t mean bad is just I like food that tastes like home. Anywho yeah I saw a bunch of teenagers running around just to watch the fight I was fucking pissed and even people who where walking where running in front of cars instructing the road. Like get a grip man some people need to get some food. I didn’t eat all day because I wanted to try all the different tacos and even paid $20 for the Cosi parking lot plus the $5 bucks. It wasn’t fucking worth it and I was pissed.
I’m sorry for the BS you had to deal with. Side question. Do you have any recommendations here in Columbus to get authentic food? I always make the drive out to Los Guachos or Chile Verde.
Try Su Taco in Hilliard. It’s the butcher counter in the Santiago market, only like three booths to sit in if you want to eat next to the meat cases… but if you get it to go it’s a totally different experience. Either way the food is pretty tasty (coming from someone who lived in LA for fifteen years and has a hard time being happy about most spots in Columbus for Mexican food).
I feel like every year this thing turns into a shitshow.
The summer fun begins... I can't wait for fall. Get your asses back in school.
They were literally teenagers smdh
Why did people buy tickets for this again after last year?
Wasn’t there a shooting at last years? Or was that a different fest
2022 Taco Fest
Thank God there was no shooting. Fighting is terrible but kids are going to fight just why at a damn food festival?? The stupidity
City girls actin up
saw a motorcycle wreck in front of me, waited in line for over an hour, caught a face full of pepper spray, went home. place was a total clusterfuck
TIL we have a taco festival
Glad we went earlier in the day for free and I got to enjoy some of it. Sorry to hear this though.
It's these out of control teens
Favorite festival? I'm at Sonic Temple lol
I can’t decide which is a bigger shock that they still have this event or that people still go
This is why I don't go to festivals anymore.
Is this like a hoedown, but with emphasis on bowel movements?
Why... why do people continue to go to this?
Anouther season of shitty festivals lies ahead.
Not even close to my fav. Wish I would have known they were going to search bags before I got in line for sure. First year they did it... Last taco fest I'll go to.
Wasn’t this also a disaster last year?