HARRISBURG, Pa. — The vibrant 109th Kipona Festival, a cherished Labor Day weekend tradition along Harrisburg’s scenic Susquehanna Riverfront, turned chaotic on Monday evening, September 1, 2025, when a red minivan plowed through a crowded section of the event, injuring at least three people, including two adults and one child. The incident, which unfolded just after 6:12 p.m. on North Front Street, left festivalgoers in shock as screams filled the air and families scrambled for safety.
The annual three-day festival, held from August 30 to September 1, had drawn thousands to Riverfront Park and City Island for a celebration of culture, featuring live music, food trucks, a Native American Pow-Wow, and a dazzling drone and fireworks display. As the event neared its close, the joyous atmosphere was shattered when the minivan breached a barricade near State and Front Streets, barreling down South Front Street where vendors and attendees were gathered. Witnesses described the driver, a woman now in police custody, as honking repeatedly while accelerating through the crowd, striking pedestrians in a scene described as “utter chaos.”
“I heard the horn blaring, and then I saw people running in every direction,” said one festivalgoer. “It was terrifying—nobody knew what was happening.” Another witness reported to local media that the driver appeared to be in a “drug-induced state,” though authorities have not yet confirmed this claim. The damaged red minivan, its front bumper and hood crumpled from the impact, was later found at the corner of Cranberry and Front Streets, cordoned off by police tape as investigators combed the scene for evidence.
Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter and Mayor Wanda Williams arrived swiftly at the site, where officers secured the area and shut down Front Street between the 100 block of State Street and the pedestrian bridge to City Island. Emergency crews rushed the injured—two adults and one child—to a nearby hospital, though details about their conditions remain limited. The Harrisburg Police Department, leading the investigation, has yet to release information about the driver’s motive or whether charges have been filed.
The incident cast a shadow over the Kipona Festival, a century-old celebration known for its family-friendly activities, including a Family Fun Zone, Art in the Park, and a Giant Puppet Parade. Despite enhanced security measures this year, prompted by safety concerns from previous events, the breach stunned organizers and attendees alike. “This is a time when our community comes together to celebrate,” said event organizer Olivia Sorensen. “To see it disrupted like this is heartbreaking.”
As Harrisburg grapples with the aftermath, authorities continue their investigation, piecing together the events that led to this shocking disruption of a beloved tradition. The city, still reeling, holds its breath for answers, hoping to restore the sense of unity and joy that Kipona has fostered for generations.