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Why was Bonnaroo canceled? How weather forced officials to stop the Tennessee music festival

Amid continuous downpours, the remainder of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival has been canceled.

The announcement came from festival organizers at 7:36 p.m. on June 13th — the second day of the long-awaited festival — citing “significant and steady precipitation” expected to produce “deteriorating camping and egress conditions.

“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,” organizers said in a social media post.

“Thank you in advance for your patience, your positivity and your unfailing Bonnaroovian spirit.”

Here’s why the weather conditions forced organizers to shut down Bonnaroo shutting.

Bonnaroo weather delays started early in the afternoon

Earlier in the day, Bonnaroo performances were suspended as severe weather moved through the area. At 1:23 p.m., Centeroo, the main festival grounds, was evacuated and attendees were asked to shelter in their vehicles as warnings flashed on the giant video screens near stages.

Several artists who were scheduled to play the early afternoon posted about cancelations on social including Mannequin Pussy, Ginger Root and Effin.

The severe weather threat continued for hours. Around 5 p.m. the festival posted that Centeroo would be closed for what was initially presumed to be a couple hours.

Organizers encouraged attendees to “do what Bonnaroovians do” and mingle with other festival goers and remain positive.

Festival officials said they were preparing for the threat of severe weather.

“We’re gonna have some weather, as we do in Middle Tennessee,” Ken Weinstein, spokesperson for the festival said June 13. “It’s gonna come and there is nothing we can do about it.”

How much rain did Manchester receive?

The Bonnaroo entrance is closed due to heavy rains during the second day of Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival at The Farm in Manchester, Tenn., Friday, June 13, 2025.

The National Weather Service recorded less than an inch of rain in Manchester in the past 12 hours on June 13, prompting muddy conditions throughout the campgrounds and leading to the cancelation.

Festival goers were left with no choice than to play in saturated areas.

Some engaged in mud wrestling, while others crafted a makeshift slip-n-slide, social media posts showed.

Unsettled weather patterns are anticipated to continue throughout the weekend, keeping thunderstorms in the forecast.

On June 14, the area is expected to experience an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4 p.m. and continuing into the evening hours.

On June 15, the area is expected to experience a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 a.m. and throughout the day, followed by a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms into the evening.

Has Bonnaroo been canceled before? This is the first time Bonnaroo has been shut down mid-festival

The historic cancellation marks the first time the event has been canceled mid-festival.

Bonnaroo was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then again in 2021 due to flooding.

Manchester, Tennessee weather radar

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This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why was Bonnaroo canceled? How weather conditions shut down festival

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