Fest-a-Ville to close 1 hour earlier each night after fights, arrests at Waterfront Park

Children age 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21. Anyone 18 and older must have a physical ID to enter the event.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Fest-a-Ville will close an hour earlier each night this week due to problems with juveniles within the venue over the weekend.

According to a news release Monday, Fest-a-Ville will now be open daily through Derby Eve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The entrance gate will close at 9 p.m.

The venue covers Festival Plaza and the Great Lawn at Waterfront Park.

"Safety is always the Kentucky Derby Festival's top priority," Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO, said in a news release. "Closing an hour earlier will help us stay ahead of any issues and keep Fest-a-Ville the family-friendly venue that fans expect and can enjoy."

Several fights broke out Saturday and Sunday at the waterfront. Louisville Metro Police said officers observed multiple fights and the use of pepper spray among large groups of juveniles.

KDF officials said a local news station was also pepper-sprayed.

Children age 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21. Anyone 18 and older must have a physical ID to enter the event. KDF officials said anyone who violates or attempts to bypass the entrance "will have committed a criminal trespassing offense, which is subject to prosecution."

Regulars at Waterfront Park and the Big Four Bridge said the situation is "very upsetting," and hope the new regulations will reduce commotion.

"What do you do? You put a curfew? You make the parents come?" said Janice Parrish, who frequently walks the bridge. "I don't know what the answer is, but someone's gotta get a handle on it."

Gibson said KDF's stance is clear.

"Our message to the community and the parents to the teens and to themselves is at this point forward, no unaccompanied minors will be tolerated," Gibson said. "They will be trespassed, and we will remove them."

Two juveniles were arrested Saturday following fights that started in the Chow Wagon.

LMPD said officers arrested three juveniles and one adult, Elijah Cummings, Sunday night and recovered two guns. Cummings is charged with menacing, terroristic threatening and fleeing. He pleaded not guilty in arraignment court Tuesday morning and a judge set his bond at $10,000.

"It is unfortunate there were some incidents involving juveniles over the weekend that disrupted the family friendly Kentucky Derby Festival events," Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement. "I appreciate LMPD’s quick response and there will be zero tolerance for this type of behavior. Our entire city deserves to celebrate, and parents need to make sure their children are abiding by the rules."