Severe weather conditions prompted an evacuation at the RedWest Music Festival in Salt Lake City on Saturday evening. Tens of thousands of attendees were affected as the storm disrupted the event, which was being held at the Utah State Fairpark.
Details of the RedWest Music Festival Evacuation
The RedWest Music Festival was scheduled for three days, featuring performances from notable artists. Post Malone was set to headline the festival on Saturday, with Kacey Musgraves performing the previous night and Noah Kahan slated for Sunday. However, the storm conditions forced organizers to cancel Saturday’s events hours earlier than planned.
Timeline of Events
- 5:15 PM: Attendees received alerts via the festival’s mobile app that shows would be temporarily paused.
- 6:30 PM: The University of Utah’s athletic department delayed a home football game due to lightning detected at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
- 7:50 PM: Organizers expressed optimism about resuming the festival through a social media post, which was later removed.
- 9:40 PM: A final announcement stated that ongoing severe conditions prevented any further activities.
A message from festival organizers emphasized the importance of safety for fans, artists, and staff. They encouraged attendees to leave the venue and seek shelter from the storm. Communication was made through social channels, assuring that further guidance would be provided via email.
Impact on Other Events
The severe weather also caused delays for other events in the area. The football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium resumed after the lightning threat cleared, with a new kickoff time set for 8:25 PM.
As conditions improved, updates regarding the festival and weather forecasts were made available through local news channels, including El-Balad.
