How was the Fairfax Festival?

Well, how was it?

If you are one of the thousands of people who attended the Fairfax Festival last weekend, we’d like to know what you thought.

We noticed that the  for Saturday had a few more public intoxication incidents and loud party complaints than a typical Saturday in Fairfax. Keep in mind, what we post is the abbreviated version of the complete log.

Fairfax Police Chief Chris Morin told Patch that on Saturday and Sunday there were seven public intoxication arrests - two involving two minor assaults on police officers (with no injuries). Other incidents this weekend included vandalism of a police car, an unruly juvenile party, one drunk-driving arrest, a stolen car report (the vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run collision and physical altercation as the subject ran away from scene) and one open-container violation.

Morin said police gave a number of open-container warnings at the festival and issued a citation if someone was caught after they were warned. “Because of the confusion that you can drink in the venue but you can’t bring outside alcohol in, we allow for people to have one warning,” Morin said.

During the Fairfax Festival weekend, the Fairfax Police made 10 arrests in 2011, eight arrests in 2010, six in 2009, five in 2008 and 12 in 2007.

Morin said the number of arrests and incidents at the festival is always fluid. However, “an increase in arrests can easily be correlated to the weather. If it’s really hot we will have more drinking and more arrests,” he said.

Some readers started a discussion about the Fairfax Festival on Facebook, writing on a police log link about how family-friendly (or un-family-friendly) they felt the event was:

Lauren McLaughlin Hewett wrote: “Yeah, that festival wasn't as family-friendly as I thought it was going to be. Has it always been that way or does it just seem that way to me now that I have a kiddo?”

Jeffrey Gimzek wrote: “I thought the kids area was fine. You stay away from Naves and it's all good.”

Jack Irving, the Fairfax Festival music director, wrote that the festival had its “fair share of debauchery” like any large festival. But he also pointed to all the kid activities at the festival. “We’ve actually received a lot of compliments this year for how “family-friendly” the festival has become. We have a huge "kids area" on the ballfield, and a special teens only "Youth Music Showcase" on Saturday night. We also featured the Drake High School Jazz Band and up and coming teen singer-songwriter Jazzi on the Redwood Stage, and our headliner, Narada Michael Walden, brought two wonderfully talented teens up on stage on Sunday to close the show. It was an incredible ending to an incredible weekend of music, art & crafts, food, and family fun. 

...and yeah, some drunk people.”

Holly Dines Bragman wrote “The Fairfax Festival takes over the entire town for the weekend and there truly is something for everyone. The Ecofest was started 9 years ago so that folks … could bring their kids past 3 on Saturday. Hats off to Jen Jones for making the ball field activities so incredible!”

What do you think? Did you enjoy the Fairfax Festival last weekend?

Also, if you’re wishing the Festival wasn’t over, you can check out our and our .