To say Bonnaroo 2025 was a disaster could be an understatement.
The four-day event in Manchester, Tennessee had barely gotten started before it had to be called off due to inclement weather. Only the Thursday lineup, which featured Luke Combs as a headliner, went as it was scheduled. Friday at Bonnaroo was riddled with weather delays and even evacuation notices… and the entire weekend was eventually called off later on Friday night.
Bonnaroo released this official statement, saying that the weather that had already come through the Bonnaroo Farm – and the weather that was expected to hit the area over the weekend – made it impossible for the shows to go on:
“Today, the National Weather Service provided us with an updated forecast with significant and steady precipitation that will produce deteriorating camping and egress conditions in the coming days. We are beyond gutted, but we must make the safest decision and cancel the remainder of Bonnaroo.
We are going to make things right with you, and you will find refund information at the end of this message, but let’s start with the next steps. The number one thing we need from the Bonnaroo community is patience.”
The festival went on to directly address those that were camping on the site of Bonnaroo Farm in their statement. Considering that most that attend Bonnaroo choose to camp out (there aren’t many other lodging options in the area), the excessive rain and apparent poor draining of the area made for nightmarish conditions.
Take this video for example:
@realfakemattLet the rain fall down! Bonnaroo! Muddaroo♬ Under The Sea – The Main Street Band & Orchestra
Yeah that doesn’t look like any fun at all.
Crazily enough, Bonnaroo asked for those that were able to stay the night on Friday to help mitigate traffic concerns getting festival goers off the farm:
“Some of your fellow campers’ sites are in rough shape. The rain has settled in areas and made certain parts of Outeroo difficult to manage. We’d like to prioritize getting those folks as well as those with accessibility needs off The Farm as soon as possible this evening.
To do this, we ask that if your campsite is in good shape or if you’re in an RV or pre-pitched accommodation, please consider spending the night with us and we’ll start working to get you out of here safely tomorrow. We will continue to operate as usual in Outeroo including food vendors and all health and safety infrastructure.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DK3H_Ykz-ic/?img_index=1
And guess what? Many Bonaroo attendees (also referred to as Bonnaroovians) did end up staying that extra night… because they literally couldn’t leave, and some still appear to be stuck. Social media – much like the Bonnaroo Farm – has become flooded with videos of festival goers stuck in either never-ending lines of traffic or mud. Having four-days of music out on a farm in the middle of Tennessee seems like a great idea… until the bottom falls out.
Creating very unsuitable conditions like this:
@hamtronix Replying to @mac daddy Leaving @bonnaroo ♬ original sound – SpongeBob background music
@dakotasmacrabes Ugh #bonnaroo #roo #tennessee #fyp ♬ Hillbilly Banjo – Parry Music Library / BMGPM
@alexa.danielle3 Bonnaroo is canceled 😭 #bonnaroo #tennessee #roo ♬ told him to be careful. bubbles – Trevor
@ebbzndflow the atv staff have been driving super fast through the lanes causing us to get stuck… this is actually so bad and 75% refund is so not okay with what everyone just experienced for them to market rain or shine to do bare minimum to prep this event for the rain aspect. #fyp #bonnaroo2025 #roo2025 #bonnaroofarm #bonnaroo ♬ original sound – SAINTED
Looks like a nightmare.
The only silver lining of the entire cancellation is that Bonnaroo was able to offer attendees full and partial (which were still basically full because some got to see the Thursday lineup) refunds after the weekend of music was called off:
“All 1-Day Friday, Saturday and Sunday Admission Tickets purchased via Front Gate Tickets and 1-Day Friday, Saturday and Sunday Day Parking purchased via Front Gate Tickets will be refunded. All 4-Day Admission Tickets purchased via Front Gate Tickets will receive a 75% refund.
All 4-Day camping accommodations purchased via Front Gate Tickets will receive a 75% refund. All refunds will be processed in as little as 30 days, to the original method of payment.”
With Bonnaroo 2025 being called off, the festival has now been canceled 3 of the last 5 years due to weather.
