I realize this post is a little dated, but it's my first of the sort.  I've heard rumblings from Riversplash spokesman, suggesting that perhaps changing the festival's "closing time" to an earlier hour might perhaps reduce the likelihood that someone will be glanced by a bullet.

*tap tap* Is this thing on? *tap tap*  Riversplash is full of drunk people.

 THAT'S what it's about.  They can open the bars at 9 in the morning, close at quarter to 10, and everyone's still going to be blackout drunk.  It will always be a drunk fest; clothing ourselves in the dark of night makes it a "party".  Close any earlier than 11:30, and noone shows.  That's that.

 And another thing.  Remember where Riversplash is located:  a stone's throw from the Water Street bars.  Noone goes straight home to rest their eyes after Riversplash closes...you head straight to the bar!  ...Which closes at 2am where I come from (Milwaukee).  You see the problem here Riversplash spokesman/Milwaukee coppers?  The party doesn't end when you say it does, it ends when the uber-mass of chaotic festival goers says it does.  Outside or inside, the party still goes on...just not necessarily on the watch of Riversplash coordinators.

 Summerfest is the same!  And that doesnt shut er' down until a solid 12 midnight.

 Now, I understand that lack of security may have been a catalyst.  And I'm quite sure it was.  The personality of Milwaukee Festival-goers this year--following the longest smash-you-in-the-face-with-a-snowplow winter--is going to be a little on the edgy side.  We've been cooped up, ya'll!  No excuse for guns, but complaining because the place is crowded?

 Shut it all down if you want.  Don't encourage anyone to come.  See if the bars in the area allow it to go on.  If I owned a bar, I'd use it as a marketing advantage... "Come to Milwaukee, keep from getting shot by taking a shot"