Security measures in place during Celtic Fest weekend

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Dayton’s Celtic Fest is in full swing, and this year, officials took a number of precautions to ensure everybody stays safe.

Dozens of moving parts all come to a point for a fun-filled weekend with good food, drinks and a safe environment. But what does it take for this kind of event to be secure and enjoyable for all?

Months of planning come together to create the three-day event, happening this weekend along the riverfront in Dayton.

With so many people in attendance, security is a must. 2 NEWS spoke with the Chief of Public Safety for Five Rivers MetroParks to learn more.

“We’re very fortunate that year after year this has been a very safe event,” said Mark Hess, chief of public safety. “People come out and have a great time, very respectful of each other, so we’ve been very fortunate.”

Partnering with Dayton police, there are dozens of personnel who watch for medical emergencies and any signs of distress.

Whether it be on foot, bicycles, ATVs or one of their cars, there is always a volunteer, park ranger or police officer that’s close who can help if need be.

Five Rivers MetroParks also partners with the City of Dayton in order to have barricades set up and for streets to be blocked off along Monument Avenue.

Cameras are also everyone, some with live feeds, that are all streamed back to the festival’s command center.

But the security measures don’t stop the fun.

“I’ve seen a pretty regular and constant police presence, but not interfering with the festival at all,” said Kristin Zachman, festival attendee.

“I’ve seen a lot of people walking around with the same shirts on. A lot of security around,” said Evan Morgan, festivalgoer.

Nearly a year of planning goes into this massive event, and with so many previous Celtic Festivals to look back on, officials have a comprehensive plan to make sure everything stays safe and enjoyable.

“I feel 100 percent safe here actually, I feel like there’s a lot of places I could go if I had a problem or was feeling unsafe,” said Zachman.

Chief Hess says they’ve only had a few medical issues so far, mostly due to dehydration. He reminds festivalgoers to stay safe, drink water and come out to enjoy the festival.

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