Texas Eclipse Festival Ends Early Due to Extreme Weather Forecast

Texas Eclipse Festival has instructed attendees to pack up and leave promptly due to risk of high winds, hail, and thunderstorms.

Texas Eclipse Festival has been mired by controversies since before it officially began. Now, organizers have asked those currently on site to pack up and leave early due to forecasts of potentially extreme weather.

“We regret to inform you of the severe weather forecast, including risks of high winds, tornadic activity, large hail, and thunderstorms for later today, including during the eclipse, Tuesday, and Wednesday,” reads part of a statement from Texas Eclipse Festival. “Your safety is our top priority. With the support and coordination of Burnet County officials, local safety agencies, and The National Weather Service, we’ve agreed to end the festival today in a calm orderly manner.”

Organizers have instructed festival goers to get their things in order to depart the grounds early, although they may remain on site for the solar eclipse itself, which begins in Burnet, Texas at 12:17pm and reaches totality at 1:34 PM. “Guests may stay for the eclipse provided they pack and are prepared to depart after totality,” reads the statement. “This guidance may change based on weather.”

In the days leading up to the festival, which began on April 5 and was slated to take place until April 9, the psytrance acts TRON and Superluminal (consisting of Yasmin and Kabayun” pulled out of their performances at the festival due to organizers “not meeting their commitments.” Artists like Flowdan, Elephant Heart, and Vintage Culture also didn’t make planned appearances, although their reasoning is unknown.

Those who attended Texas Eclipse Festival had shared mixed experiences on social media. One person who arrived on the first day reported extreme searches that included security staff throwing away “opened toiletries like toothpaste or petroleum jelly” upon entry to the campgrounds (where such items were supposed to be permitted, unlike the festival site itself).

Another commented that staff grabbed “random things” out of her car and threw them away, including “meaningful stuff” from her center console, saying, “This experience was a huge trauma trigger.” Others said that security only inspected their vehicles for 60-90 seconds without incident.

Among the other complaints were reports that attendees who paid for powered RV spots arrived to find that theirs were occupied by attendees who didn’t, and that parts of the venue were not Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.

As early into the 2024 festival season as it is, Texas Eclipse is not the first gathering to be sidelined due to inclement weather. Last month, Ultra Music Festival was forced to end its first day early due to lightning storms and high winds.

This is a developing story and EDM Identity will provide additional information as it becomes available.