Chewstick founder Gavin (Djata) Smith last night warned the bad behaviour of audience members could jeopardise the future of popular community festivals.Thursday’s Beachfest Emancipation Celebration at Horseshoe Bay, attended by thousands of people including many children, closed several hours early after two incidents of fighting.The party carried the theme ‘Peacefest’ in an effort to encourage the community to make a stand against the gang violence which has blighted the Island.However two teenagers were arrested following a fight shortly before 5pm; around three hours later another disturbance broke out, mainly involving young women, and the event was cut short.Several revellers said one person was stabbed, but police received no reports of a stabbing and nobody went to hospital as a result of the incident.Mr Smith remained upbeat last night, describing this year’s Beachfest as bigger and better than ever, but he said “a few bad apples” need to realise poor behaviour puts the future of such shows at risk.“We had an amazing two days, and for the vast majority it was one of the most incredible events of their life,” he told The Royal Gazette.“There were definitely a few bad apples, which resulted in one skirmish and one small fight.“But when you hear thousands of people, young, old, black and white, chanting ‘Peace Begins With Me’ and refusing to let the actions of a few ruin the togetherness, you really feel the truth of what this year’s theme of Peacefest was all about.“I hope people see the big picture as we look toward the future.“Our young people need to have moments of togetherness now more than ever, and events like these give us hope that it is possible for all our young people to be together.“Beachfest is the most diverse and interactive public event in Bermuda, and every group is represented.“However, if people want events like these, they need to take them personally and keep in mind that their actions can jeopardise the very thing they’ve come to love.”He said organisers chose to close early after consultation with stakeholders and “recognition that two days was a lot more than was expected”; residents said there had been a visible police presence throughout the afternoon.One eyewitness told this newspaper Chewstick’s DJ could be heard calling for police after a disturbance broke out in the crowd at around 4.45pm.“Two young men who appeared to be fighting were shouted at to go home and, after they emerged from the crowd, one ducked behind a food vendor’s stall and appeared to try and take an unattended knife,” he said.“Two men ran off the beach with police officers in pursuit, and both were arrested in the parking lot.”Another man said: “I just turned around and there was a group of guys getting involved with each other; it just seemed a lot of commotion about nothing really.“I just don’t like the fact that people come to events like this and act like that. People who do that don’t have a full understanding of what the holiday actually means. It’s just another day to them.”In a press statement, police described the incidents as minor, stating that two males were taken into custody at Hamilton Police Station and Beachfest was shut down out of an abundance of caution at 8.30pm.Later in the evening, they received reports of a fight at Southampton Rangers sports club, but the perpetrators escaped when police arrived.