'It was chaotic.' Residents say fight broke out at packed Mount Sinai carnival

The closure of a carnival in Mount Sinai on Saturday night was caused by a fight that had taken place the evening before.

Although the "Fling into Spring Carnival" at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai has been happening for multiple years, certain parents have expressed their lack of interest in returning.

A News 12 Long Island viewer submitted a video that revealed a crowded carnival. According to comments made by parents on social media, the most significant problem was the number of attendees. When the altercation arose, some of the children were either struck or knocked over. The parents claimed that the previous fun family event was no longer the case.

"It was an extremely packed situation," stated Trevor Diaz, a resident. "Jesse Way was completely filled with cars that went all the way down [Route 83]... A shuttle bus was not available, and the scene was very disorganized."

A report was made to Suffolk police about a disturbance involving a bunch of teenagers at the carnival. However, when the authorities arrived, the groups had already scattered.

The day after, security presence at the park was heightened with increased patrols. The carnival closed three hours earlier on Saturday in response to the previous night's violence.

Saturday's attendees expressed their astonishment at the fact that the violence disrupted the event for other families.

Resident Andrea Schmitt expressed her shock and disgust at the occurrence of fights like this, stating that the world is coming to a disgraceful state.

The North Shore Youth Council, responsible for the park used for the carnival, expressed regret and apologized on Facebook, stating that they were completely devastated and frustrated with the fact that what was meant to be a community and family event spiraled into chaos, resulting in wounds, anguish, and disillusionment for the attendees.

A statement was sent to News 12 Long Island by Mike Newton who happens to be the organizer of the carnival.

We regret the incident that occurred last night, where two teenagers got into a fight at the Heritage Festival, which coupled with a large number of attendees, led to dissatisfaction and disappointment for some of our guests. However, we are thankful for the quick response of the police who were present at the venue. Initially, we were delighted with the massive turnout, especially since it was a beautiful Friday. Presently, we have increased the security measures to monitor everyone, specifically, the ride lines. For 73 years now, our objective has been to raise significant funds for non-profit organizations.

Newton acknowledged that it was a difficult night, but emphasized the importance of moving forward and showing consideration for those who may have been negatively affected. He stated in an interview with News 12 Long Island over the weekend that Newton Shows would take measures to ensure that such violence did not occur again at upcoming carnivals. Despite the fact that the event is free and cannot have reduced attendance, Newton Shows will seek to find alternative methods for improving crowd control.

The carnival will reopen for its last day Sunday at 11 a.m.

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