‘Significant’ security changes made to SantaCaliGon Days after 3 teens, adult shot last year
Organizers made “significant” security changes at SantaCaliGon Days this Labor Day weekend in Independence, a year after three teens and a young adult were shot at the festival’s carnival.
“We don’t want anybody to fear coming to SantaCaliGon and so we’ve made some changes this year, pretty significantly, we think will make it not only a better event, but a safer event,” said Tom Lesnak, president of the Independence Chamber of Commerce in a video outlining the changes.
One of the biggest adjustments that festival-goers will notice is that the entire carnival is enclosed by a six-foot fence. There’s a central entrance at the corner of Liberty Street and Kansas Avenue, Lesnak said Friday.
“At that point, you either have to purchase an armband or purchase individual ride tickets to enter,” Lesnak said. “Before, the carnival was wide open.”
Adult chaperons are required for those under 18 years old, but chaperons do not have to have a wristband if they are not riding the rides.
With the carnival sitting on a full city block, people previously could enter at multiple locations around that block. The change will allow security to provide more control over who is going in and out.
“The problems we had last year were related to kids who weren’t riding rides,” he said. “They weren’t playing games. They weren’t buying food. They were just causing trouble.”
Three teens and a young adult were injured when gunfire erupted late on the Sunday night of the festival, prompting police to post on social media pleading with parents to pick up their children as the carnival shut down. All of the victims were taken to the hospital and released by the next day.
When the shooting occurred, people scattered in all different directions.
The chamber worked with Independence police and the carnival provider to develop a strategy for this year.
“The fencing has been one concept that worked very well and made it a very safe environment for people in the carnival,” Lesnak said.
Two private security officers will be stationed at the entrance to enforce rules. Police officers will also roam through the carnival to make sure “everyone is behaving themselves.”
The festival will have 12 to 15 members of its security staff on at any given time. Independence police will also have around a dozen officers on site as well. They will also use security cameras as well as drones to monitor for hot spots.
People will not be allowed to carry large backpacks or bags into the carnival, although exceptions will be made for diaper bags.
On its website, the festival said that no smoking, weapons, animals or cycling, skateboarding or other recreational transportation are allowed on festival grounds.
“You know, we are on public streets, so because of open carry regulations in Missouri, it’s a suggestion at best,” he said when it comes to weapons allowed at the festival. “We can’t enforce that because it is public streets and sidewalks.”
The festival, which runs through 5 p.m. Labor Day, attracts an average of 300,000 people a year over the holiday weekend.
