Even the most serene setting can turn ugly, given enough time and alcohol.

That truism was proved Saturday on the American River during the second annual Rafters Gone Wild. Luring more than 3,000 people onto the water for a peaceful float, the event eventually degenerated into a series of brawls and rock-throwing incidents.

For much of the day, law enforcement and fire rescue officials busied themselves keeping watch over rafters having trouble with rapids or falling out of their boats.

By 5 p.m., however, dozens were fighting on the shores of Ancil Hoffman Park, beating each other with paddles or rocks and hurling stones at fire and rescue boats, officials said.

“It started out fairly reasonable, but as they day went on, the drunkenness and the fights increased with them,” said Sgt. Randy Lewis, a Sacramento County park ranger. He added that law enforcement officials were dealing with fights constantly after 5 p.m.

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