Photo: Marshfield Harbormaster Mike DiMeo near the command post.
Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares says preparing for the Levitate Music Festival takes a “total team effort,” from numerous agencies. This includes local police, fire, and even the FBI.
The Levitate Festival at the Marshfield Fairgrounds has grown from a small celebration in 2013, to a three-day event that includes music, vendors, and artists. It draws about 15,000-20,000 people to town each day.
Marshfield Police Lieutenant Artie Shaw invited WATD to show how the town ensures safety at the event.
Police say there have been two arrests in the history of the event. They both happened this year.
On Friday, a man refused to leave after the first night ended. After sparking up a cigarette and taking his time, he was charged with trespassing and disturbing the peace.
On Saturday, a man on the taller side was easy to spot as he tried to rush the stage, and got into an altercation with security. He was arrested and was charged with assault.
There were 250 medical calls involved with the event – the majority were due to dehydration. Ten people were transported to the hospital.
Resources from State Police, the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, and nearby towns were at the festival. Shaw said they worked with Aegis Security for operations, the company played a major role.
Marshfield Police Officer Kevin Feyler oversaw the traffic, and Detective Todd Goodwin was key on the ground at the venue.
On the fire department side of things, Marshfield Deputy Chief Michael LaSelva oversaw the operations, a bit different from overseeing a vaccination clinic that was hosted at the same site, the Marshfield Fairgrounds.
Harbormaster Mike DiMeo, a Commander with the Coast Guard, was in charge of the Incident Plan for the event. They’ve been planning since January.
WATD reporter Gill Johnston contributed to this report.
