The 50th Marshall County Blueberry Festival officially gets underway tomorrow in Plymouth. But keeping thousands of visitors safe during the event is a year-round job, according to security coordinator Duane Culp. Festival security involves about 125 officers from various police departments, with 30 to 35 in Centennial Park at any given time.
Culp says plans are in place for every type of emergency. “If you have an active shooter, there is a game plan in for that at the Blueberry Festival,” he says. “There’s a group strategically placed. We will be able to handle it.”
He says they’re also ready to deal with more common threats, like severe weather. “This particular year, we will have a direct line of what’s coming in, to the National Weather Service, and we’ll be able to see on a screen and see what’s going on, so that way we know that we keep the festival safe,” Culp says. “If severe weather does come in, there’s a group of five of us that will make some calls, in conjunction with the City of Plymouth Fire Chief Rod Miller.” Culp adds that members of security staff are prepared to evacuate the park during severe weather, to prevent injuries due to falling tents and tree limbs, as well as other hazards.
Blueberry Festival security personnel are also tasked with reuniting lost children with their parents or guardians. Culp says the festival typically sees anywhere from 20 to 40 lost kids each year. This year, festival organizers will have wristbands available to make sure children can be easily identified should they get separated from their parents.
If you’re planning on attending this year’s festival, Culp has a few tips to keep in mind, “One of the biggest things that we really try to encourage is no large knives and no firearms on the ground. I don’t think a lot of people understand that, bringing firearms on the ground, it is a private festival.” He also reminds festival-goers always to use designated crosswalks when heading to the park, and to plan ahead for the weather.
The Marshall County Blueberry Festival runs tomorrow through Labor Day. For more details, visit BlueberryFestival.org.
