Tens of thousands of concertgoers hoping to see Post Malone had to search for someplace safe instead. The three-day RedWest Music Festival in Salt Lake City abruptly shut down on Saturday, Oct. 11, due to thunderstorms and unsafe conditions at the Utah State Fairpark, where the event was held.
Redwest Music Festival Organizers Issued an Emergency Evacuation
Initially, organizers paused the festival at 5:15 p.m. and notified attendees on the event’s mobile app. As the weather deteriorated, organizers provided further updates on social media, ultimately announcing the cancellation.
“ATTENTION: Performances will be paused due to severe weather,” the message read. “Please follow the direction of event staff, gather your belongings, exit the venue, and take shelter. We will provide more information shortly, stay tuned to the festival app and socials for updates.”
Many fans had come in from out of state to see Kacey Musgraves, Ella Langley, Treaty Oak Revival, The Band Perry, and Noah Kahan throughout the weekend. However, on Saturday night, they were just trying to stay safe and dry.
Post Malone Fans Couldn’t Find Much Shelter
There weren’t many options for shelter on the event grounds, leaving festivalgoers to find some in some unusual locations. Attendees anxiously took cover in nearby buses, as well as bathrooms, tents, and local businesses. Some held on to hope that Post Malone would eventually take the stage.
“We’re going to tough it out until Post Malone comes,” one attendee told local reporters. “We came all the way here to see Post Malone, so we’ll wait it out.”
The reason for the wait may have come from the event organizers. They shared an update on social media at 7:50 p.m., expressing optimism that the show would go on. It was later deleted. The official cancellation then came at 9:40 p.m.
“For the safety of our fans, artists, and staff, we are unable to continue with today’s programming,” it read. “Conditions at the festival site are currently unsafe to proceed.
“We’re truly sorry and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please stay tuned to our social channels and check your email for further updates and next steps.”
The RedWest Music Festival resumed on Sunday, Oct. 12, as planned.
“The event is rain or shine,” said the event’s website. “We work closely with local meteorologists throughout the weekend to monitor conditions in real time.
“In the event of severe weather, such as lightning or high winds, we have safety protocols and evacuation plans in place to temporarily pause or delay programming until it’s safe to continue.”
Photo by Shutterstock
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