According to eyewitnesses, the ruckus began when drunk students began throwing things–apparently, anything they could drunkenly get their hands on. Police showed up in riot gear and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Arrests, injuries reported in riot at New Hampshire college during autumn festival

Police in southwestern New Hampshire used tear gas to disperse crowds of college students who turned the town of Keene’s annual Pumpkin Festival into a riot Saturday.

The Union Leader reported that more than 30 people were injured and 20 hospitalized Saturday afternoon when hundreds of Keene State College students and their friends gathered on a street just off the college’s campus while the popular festival was taking place on Main Street. Town fire chief Mark Howard told the paper that police and firefighters were called to the scene at around 3 p.m. local time.

Howard reported that the injuries suffered included cuts from broken class or people being hit by bottles and cans.

College officials provided few specifics on the melee but said Keene State students and out-of-town visitors were involved. The school said in a statement that off-campus gatherings had at locations around the city Friday, but had briefly calmed down before ramping up again Saturday afternoon.