Tennessee’s biggest four-day music festival Bonnaroo has been forced to cancel just days out from the event due to unsafe conditions caused by massive floods last week, which was later exasperated by Hurricane Ida which ripped through the United States region earlier in the week.
The category four hurricane tore through the Louisiana coastline on Monday, 30th August, resulting in at least six deaths. Middle Tenessee, which was already affected by massive bouts of rainfall in the week prior, was hit by the remnants of the hurricane.
In a message posted to the festival’s official social media, organisers explained that much of the festival’s site and the surrounding campgrounds have been too heavily affected by wet weather to allow for a safe festival experience.
“We are absolutely heartbroken to announce that we must cancel Bonnaroo,” they wrote.
“While this weekend’s weather looks outstanding, currently Centeroo [the main festival site] is waterlogged in many areas, the ground is incredibly saturated on our tollbooth paths, and the campgrounds are flooded to the point that we are unable to drive in or park vehicles safely.”
“We have done everything in our power to try to keep the show moving forward, but Mother Nature has dealt us a tremendous amount of rain over the past 24 hours, and we have run out of options to try to make the event happen safely and in a way that lives up to the Bonnaroo experience.”
“Please find ways to safely gather with your Bonnaroo community and continue to radiate positivity during this disappointing time. WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE FARM IN JUNE 2022!”
The festival had already been dealt a number of hefty blows due to COVID-19, including a whole bunch of acts like Lana Del Rey, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Deftones pulling out in July, and being forced to change their COVID-19 safety plan just three weeks ago.
we are unable to drive in or park vehicles safely.
We have done everything in our power to try to keep the show moving forward, but Mother Nature has dealt us a tremendous amount of rain over the past 24 hours, and we have run out of options to try to make the event happen…— Bonnaroo (@Bonnaroo) August 31, 2021
All tickets purchased through Front Gate Tickets will be refunded in as little as 30 days to the original method of payment.
— Bonnaroo (@Bonnaroo) August 31, 2021
