Fans of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival held in Manchester, Tennessee, have waited almost two years to gather on the Bonnaroo Farm because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, because of Hurricane Ida, they will have to wait at least another day.
Officials announced Sunday evening that patrons who were scheduled to enter the campgrounds on Tuesday will have to wait until Wednesday morning because of the predicted remnants of the storm passing through the Tennessee Valley.
Officials released a statement on Sunday letting patrons know that “Due to the approaching storm we will not be opening the campgrounds on Tuesday. It is our intention to open the campgrounds on Wednesday morning pending an assessment of the grounds. At this time Tuesday pass holders should plan on entering Wednesday. We are so excited to welcome you all to the farm but your safety is our first priority. Please have patience as we work through our plans and we will update as we know more.”
While the music doesn’t officially start until Thursday, the nearly 80,000 campers expected for the sold-out event were expected to arrive Tuesday and Wednesday. Up to 3 inches of rain is expected to fall as the storm, which made landfall along the Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoon, moves north and east.
This is the first year Bonnaroo has scheduled the arrival day for campers and the first year attendees were allowed to arrive on Tuesday. Both moves were made in an effort to prevent long lines and waiting times for patrons who are coming from all over the country.
In the past, some waited as long as 16 hours to get through the entrance gate and into their campsite. Even with the new entry dates, patrons are being advised to expect to wait because of the weather.
Festival officials posted a note on Bonnaroo’s Instagram page Saturday urging fans to plan ahead.
“The Bonnaroo Weather Team is monitoring conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Currently all Bonnaroo activities remain as scheduled. Note: It COULD BE VERY WET as you arrive onsite Tuesday and Wednesday. Please be prepared for rain, mud, and slower traffic conditions.”
It just means more planning for fans such as John Robinson of Chattanooga.
“The way I see it this doesn’t change my plans,” Robinson said. “Just makes me super worried about mud.”
Headlining a schedule that features more than 100 acts this year are the Foo Fighters, Lizzo, My Morning Jacket and Tame Impala.
In normal years, Bonnaroo is held in June, but like a lot of live music events it was canceled in 2020 and moved to the fall this year. It is expected to return to June in 2022.
Attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for COVID-19 to attend.
The virus is also changing the way many of the performers will attend. In past years, many performers have planned to stay for part or all of the event to see other acts and, in some cases, join them on stage.
Laura Lee of the band Khruangbin said she had planned to stay for the whole festival, but now she and bandmates Donald “DJ” Johnson and Mark Speer will stay on their tour bus before their performance and will leave immediately after it.
“We have to operate a little differently,” she said. “We have to make sure that we don’t get sick. We are all vaccinated but you can still carry [the virus], so we have to take more precautions.
“There will be no family and no guests. We can’t go see other acts and can’t do anything that puts the tour at risk. We have to stay in our bubble.”
The band is set to play on the Which Stage Friday night. The festival wraps up Sunday night.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.