Pumpkin Fest Riots

There was a surplus of people in Keene this past weekend, including students from various schools as well as families who came to enjoy the festivities. The excitement among the festival goers was evident with so many people in attendance. Events like Pumpkin Fest are well known for attracting visitors from all over the nation, giving people a chance to mingle with communities they wouldn’t have had the chance to meet otherwise.

People all over the country are sympathizing with the events that happened in Keene, NH this past weekend. The riots resulted in quite a mess for the town; cans and shattered beer bottles littered the streets. Most of the PSU student population felt that if this had happened in Plymouth instead of Keene, the Plymouth townspeople would be very angry. The anger coming from the town of Keene is understandable after what transpired. 

The destruction following the hours of the riot warranted a passionate outcry from the community. Voices from the community spoke out in protest of the scene, believing the majority of the riots to have been committed by visitors rather than their own neighbors. Complaints ensued regarding the lack of assistance offered for clean up after the town was vandalized. Having thousands of visitors in Keene over the weekend hints that the number of participants in the riots was much larger than reports initially estimated. 

While at Pumpkin Fest, first year Plymouth State University health and wellness education and promotion major Felecia Muse met kids from various schools including UNH, Franklin Pierce, and UVM. Muse witnessed the progression of the riots firsthand.

The riots consisted of car flipping and people “throwing glass bottles through the air and lighting things (umbrellas, couches, shirts, etc.) on fire,” said Muse. She saw a guy with a huge gash down the side of his leg from one of the many broken bottles in the vicinity. Muse admits to going to Pumpkin Fest and having a good time but she said, “[she] did not flip cars, light items on fire or throw glass bottles through the air.” 

Police in riot gear came to break up the violence and ended up needing to use tear gas to accomplish their goal. Another PSU student was hanging out with her friends a couple of blocks away from where the riots were held. When their eyes suddenly began to tear up she said she and her friends realized it was tear gas and ran for it.

PSU dealt with similar events last year after the World Series on a much smaller scale. Keene State College senior and communications major Kenny Hadley posted a status following the events of Saturday afternoon which said, “KSC Students: 10am Klean up Keene State college and let’s show Keene that we care! Wear Keene State apparel and represent our school in pride and not the way it was tonight! Spread the word!” KSC hopes to continue these festivities in the future, hoping to avoid a cancellation due to the uncalled-for destruction.