Neshaminy Mall Carnival Canceled For Safety Reasons

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —It's become an annual rite of summer.

But after "unacceptable activity" that led to a heavy police presence and reduced hours at the carnival last year, the annual Neshaminy Mall Carnival won't take place this summer.

It's been canceled due to safety issues, officials said.

"After consulting with the police department and building and planning, Mayor DiGirolamo decided not to allow the carnival to return to Bensalem this year," Sgt. Glenn Vandegrift told Patch. "Mayor DiGirolamo made this decision in the interest of public safety."

"We had issues for the last few years," the mayor told Patch."So I cut it off."

Vandegrift said that over the past few years, the "escalation of unruly juveniles and many other public safety issues" have prompted the change.

He said that last year, Bensalem Police attempted to "quell some of this behavior by implementing an age restriction: teenagers had to be accompanied by an adult.

"Unfortunately, this did not solve the problems," he said.

Vandegrift said the carnival's cancellation had nothing to do with the behavior of Bensalem residents.

"Most of the issues were caused by juveniles who lived outside of the township," he said.

Issues at carnivals have been prominent across the Philly region so far this year.

NBC Philadelphia recently reported that the Exton Square Mall Carnival has been canceled following an assault.

A 16-year-old was also killed and another teen injured in a shooting outside the Concord Mall, NBC Philadelphia stated.