A spring carnival in north suburban Lake in the Hills was abruptly shut down on Saturday night following reports of multiple fights and unruly crowds, authorities said.
In a Facebook post, the Lake in the Hills Police Department said it was initially called to the area of Randall and Algonquin roads for reports of people running across the road. The Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce's Cabin Fever Carnival was occurring in a nearby parking lot at the time.
Officers arrived on scene and reported multiple fights were taking place, authorities said. As a result, police dispersed the crowds and the carnival was shut down. Contrary to reports on social media, no gunfire was reported, police said.
In a Facebook post, the chamber apologized for the sudden closure, saying the decision was made "with the utmost concern for the safety and well-being of our attendees, community and surrounding businesses."
"The unexpected surge in attendance, fueled by the beautiful weather, unfortunately led to overcrowding," the post read, in part. "Additionally, a significant number of unchaperoned teenagers, with intentions to disrupt and cause trouble, descended upon the Carnival and shopping centers in the area."
The three-day carnival began Friday and was slated to continue through Sunday. Organizers didn't specify whether the carnival would be open or closed on Sunday.
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The chamber's complete Facebook post can be found below:
Dear Community Members,
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We extend our sincerest apologies for the early closure of the Carnival today. It was a decision made with the utmost concern for the safety and well-being of our attendees, community and surrounding businesses.
The unexpected surge in attendance, fueled by the beautiful weather, unfortunately led to overcrowding. Additionally, a significant number of unchaperoned teenagers, with intentions to disrupt and cause trouble, descended upon the Carnival and shopping centers in the area.
Regrettably, in the interest of safety, we chose to close the Carnival earlier than planned. We understand the disappointment this decision may have caused, especially to the children and families who were looking forward to a day of joy and fun.
We also want to extend our apologies to the surrounding businesses that may have been impacted by the behavior of those individuals intent on causing trouble.
Please know that the safety and enjoyment of our community are always our top priorities, and we will take measures to ensure that future events are better equipped to handle unexpected circumstances.
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this may have caused. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Sincerely,
Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce
