Keene State College Students Riot at Pumpkin Festival

A college party gone awry near the annual Keene Pumpkin Festival turned into a riot scene on Oct. 18, with dozens of people injured, fires in the streets, and mayhem across the city, according to press reports.

According to reports, hundreds of students gathered at a party near the annual festival earlier this afternoon and it quickly got out of hand.

Police in riot gear showed up at the scene to break up the large gathering and students reportedly began pelting them with beer bottles. Tear gas and pepper balls were then shot at the students. As more police showed up, according to reports, more students also showed up. Police from all over the state were called in to assist.

According to posts on social network sites, there was a lull in the rioting at one point in the late afternoon but as the sun set, more students arrived and more rioting occurred. The Keene Fire Department is reporting numerous injuries, according to The Boston Globe.

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At around 10 p.m., the Massachusetts State Police reportedly sent 100 state troopers to the scene to assist. There were some reports that the New Hampshire National Guard might be called in to quell the rioting.

Gov. Maggie Hassan issued a statement saying that first responders were on the scene and were working to defuse the situation.

“I was in Keene this afternoon and met with our public safety officials and visited the medical tent and other volunteers,” she said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide any assistance necessary to Keene.”

Keene State College also issued a statement putting the bulk of the blame on “out-of-town visitors” who had come into the city for the pumpkin festival.

“Keene State College administrators have been coordinating closely with the City, and continue to do so. Keene State is also communicating regularly with students and parents of current students. Incidents in the city, not on Keene State’s campus began to increase again by mid-afternoon on Saturday. One large assembly on Winchester Street drew multiple responses from Keene Police on Saturday afternoon. The College is not able to report on injuries or arrests -- these incidents do involve Keene State students, and also visitors to Keene.”

The pumpkin festival is an all-day annual family event where organizers attempt each year to break the record for the most carved pumpkins in one location. Last year, the event set a new world record of 30,581 carved pumpkins. Next year will be the festival’s 25th year.