Severe weather that rolled into Tennessee earlier today has forced Bonnaroo to evacuate the festival grounds and cancel the remainder of the weekend.
Update – June 13 at 8:45pm ET: Bonnaroo has officially released a statement that the remainder of the festival has been canceled after receiving an updated forecast from the National Weather Service. They state the cause as “significant and steady precipitation that will produce deteriorating camping and egress conditions in the coming days.”
Festival organizers have urged campers to look out for each other as attendees stuck in the Outeroo grounds where the rain has settled, as well as those with accessibility needs, are the current priority to get out first. Food vendors and health and safety infrastructure will continue to operate as normal.
“We have put our hearts and souls into making this weekend the most special one of the year, and cannot express how crushed we are to have to make this decision,” said the Bonnaroo team. “Thank you in advance for your patience, your positivity, and your unfailing Bonnaroovian spirit.”
Those who held passes for Bonnaroo this year and were impacted by this cancelation are eligible for refunds. All single-day tickets and parking for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday purchased via Front Gate will be refunded. Those with four-day tickets and camping purchased via Front Gate will receive a 75% refund. All refunds will be processed in 30 days to the original method of payment.
Previously: Bonnaroo kicked off in style yesterday, but the festival has faced some challenges from Mother Nature on its second day. Severe weather closed in on Manchester, Tennessee, earlier today, prompting Bonnaroo to post a weather evacuation notice an hour after an initial weather delay due to lightning in the area.
“Severe weather is approaching,” the update from Bonnaroo reads. “Please exit Centeroo immediately and shelter in a vehicle. No vehicle? Find a friend.” This post was paired with another quick update from their team, which stated the closure of Centeroo and the Tolls. “We expect weather to impact The Farm for the next couple of hours, at least,” the second post said. “We know you’re curious about today’s schedule and we will update you as soon as we can.”
The latest update from Bonnaroo was shared minutes ago, stating that multiple storm cells are heading towards The Farm. “We may get pockets of clear skies, but we need to keep Centeroo closed for your safety until the threat of severe weather passes,” it reads. “Continue to shelter in your vehicle and we will keep you updated as we know more!”
According to Accuweather, scattered showers and thunderstorms are anticipated to continue tonight and the rest of the weekend.
The celebration at Bonnaroo began yesterday with performances from Dom Dolla, Green Velvet, Luke Combs, Insane Clown Posse, Rebecca Black, and more. Artists expected to perform at the festival today include John Summit, Glass Animals, Tipper, Of The Trees, Megadeath, Tape B, Levity, Tyler, The Creator, and more. Updated set times have not been released at the time of publishing.
See the latest news from Bonnaroo below, and stay tuned for additional updates on this developing story.
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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with the latest information and statements from Bonnaroo.
