Electric Forest is encountering similar setbacks to Ultra Music Festival and Movement Detroit this year.
Update, Sunday, June 22, 11pm ET: Electric Forest has once again asked attendees to vacate the event site due to severe weather.
Update, Sunday, June 22, 12am ET: Electric Forest has officially reopened to ticket holders. Updated set times are available on the festival’s mobile app.
Previously: Count Electric Forest among the festivals sidelined by unexpected weather in 2024. Tonight, Saturday, June 22, organizers made the decision to evacuate the Rothbury, Michigan event on account of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
“Due to severe weather, please exit the event site and move to your vehicles or protected areas outside of the event for safety,” reads a statement shared by Electric Forest at 7:48pm local time on X. “Stay tuned for updates.”
Neary two hours later, organizers issued a follow-up statement as a reply. “Prepare your campsite for incoming weather,” it encourages attendees. “Make sure pop ups and tents are staked down and any tarps, trash receptacles, tapestries or other loose items are secured.”
It remains to be seen if inclement weather will also affect the final day of the festival on Sunday, June 23. Saturday headliners include Barclay Crenshaw, John Summit, Sara Landry, and LP Giobbi. Artists like Charlotte de Witte, Excision, Hamdi, and Maddi O’Neal appear on the Sunday bill. All set times and other relevant info can be found in EDM Identity’s official guide.
Weather issues are a recurring theme in the 2024 US festival season. In March, Ultra Music Festival shut down early on Friday and opened late on Saturday due to lightning storms and strong winds. Then, last month, Movement Detroit was forced to pause for a few hours on Sunday for similar reasons.
Electric Forest has taken place annually since 2008 and has successfully tapped into a crossover market thanks to its fusion of electronic and jam band billings. Following a January Village of Rothbury council meeting, the festival has been approved to return to the rural town at least through the year 2035.
This is a developing story and EDM Identity will provide additional updates as they become available.
