Weather Can Turn Festivals Upside Down
Outdoor festivals live at the mercy of the elements. A calm, sunny day can swiftly turn into a dangerous storm with high winds or lightning. Every experienced festival organizer knows that weather-safe structures and wind discipline are not optional – they are essential for protecting fans, crew, and equipment. This means planning for the worst weather even on the best days, and instilling a culture of safety where stopping a show or lowering a structure is done swiftly and confidently when conditions demand. The following guidelines share hard-earned wisdom on making festival staging, sound, and lighting systems weather-resilient, with practical steps from wind-rated structures to lightning evacuation scripts.
Assign Wind Ratings to All Festival Structures
Know your limits. Every temporary structure at a festival – from the main stage roof down to speaker towers, entry arches, LED screens, tents, and even shade sails – should have an assigned maximum wind rating. This rating is the wind speed (usually measured in miles or kilometres per hour) that the structure can safely withstand when properly erected and ballasted. Festival producers must obtain these wind tolerance numbers from engineers or equipment providers in advance. For example, a large truss stage roof might be rated for 60 mph (100 km/h) winds with wind walls or backdrops attached, and perhaps higher (80+ mph) without them. A smaller shade tent or decorative arch could have a much lower safe wind limit, perhaps 25–30 mph, before it risks lifting or collapsing. Knowing these numbers for every structure is the foundation of weather safety – you can’t enforce wind discipline if you don’t know when a structure becomes unsafe.
Engineer sign-off and certification. It’s wise (and often legally required in many countries) to have a structural engineer or the staging company provide certification of each structure’s wind rating and proper setup. Insist on documentation that details the structure’s design wind load. This includes stage roofs, LED video walls, scaffolding towers, PA hangs (the large speaker arrays) and any other flown equipment. If you’re using a local stage vendor in the UK, for example, you might get a copy of their engineering calculations or a sticker on the stage listing its wind limits. In Australia or New Zealand, where weather can be extreme, it’s common practice for festival organizers to get engineer-signed wind ratings as part of the staging package. Never assume a structure is storm-proof – always verify its specifications. If a structure doesn’t come with a stated wind rating, treat that as a red flag and get a professional assessment or replace it with one that has known specifications.
Plan for varying conditions. Remember that wind ratings often depend on configuration. Adding banners, sidewalls, or decor to a stage or tent increases how much wind it catches (the “sail effect”), effectively lowering its safe wind threshold. For instance, a stage might handle 60 mph winds without a backdrop, but only 45 mph if a full solid backdrop is installed. Plan accordingly: use wind-permeable scrim materials for banners or be ready to take banners down if winds rise. Similarly, a shade sail should be high-tension and possibly designed to release or tear in extreme wind to avoid taking down its supports. By assigning wind ratings to everything and understanding how those ratings change with attachments, a festival production team can make informed decisions as weather shifts.
Ballast Plans: Secure Every Hang, Arch, and Sail
Wind can literally lift heavy equipment off the ground. Ballasting is the practice of weighting and anchoring structures so they stay put when the gusts come. Every structure’s wind rating is only valid if it’s secured with the correct ballast plan. This means calculating and providing adequate weights, stakes, or anchors for stages, towers, tents, PA hangs, video walls, and more. A seasoned festival production manager ensures that every ground-supported structure has a documented ballast plan specifying how many concrete blocks, water barrels, or ground anchors are needed per leg or anchor point.
No guesswork – calculate it. Work with professional riggers or structural experts to calculate ballast requirements based on expected winds. For example, a medium-sized mobile stage might require several thousand pounds of ballast on each corner to achieve its full wind rating. Likewise, a free-standing PA tower or delay tower might need large concrete jersey barriers chained to its base. Don’t rely on ad-hoc solutions like “a couple of sandbags” without math to back it up – it’s common for a large festival tent leg to need several hundred kilograms of ballast weight at minimum. In regions prone to sudden wind bursts (like the open plains of the US or the Australian outback), err on the side of more ballast than less. Ensure ballast is attached securely (e.g., ratchet-strapped, not just gravity-set) so it won’t shift or slide if the structure moves.
Include every item, big or small. Often the focus is on main stages, but wind can topple smaller structures just as easily. A 4 m entrance arch or a 10 × 10 ft shade tent can become a flying hazard in a high gust. Assign ballast or staking plans to everything: the VIP area stretch tent in Mexico, the merchandise booth canopy in India, the art installation in a field in Spain, and even tall decor pieces or signage towers. If it’s outdoors and could catch wind, secure it or be prepared to take it down fast. Many festivals have learned from experience that even portable toilets can blow over in a gale – so consider clustering and, if possible, strapping loos together or to a fence to add weight (and save yourself a messy cleanup). The goal is a site where nothing is left to chance: every object is either safely anchored or easily removable when weather threatens.
Inspect and audit your anchoring. During festival build and even mid-event, make time to audit that all ballasts are in place per the plan. It’s not uncommon to find a cable bridge or lighting tower that someone forgot to weight down properly. A festival safety officer or crew chief should walk the grounds daily to double-check stakes haven’t come loose in soft soil or ballast blocks haven’t shifted. In wet conditions, ground stakes can loosen; in hot dry conditions, ratchet straps can slacken as materials stretch. Good wind discipline means remaining vigilant that your defensive measures (ballast, straps, guy-wires) are always ready to do their job.
Wind Action Plan: Hold and Drop Triggers
Having strong stages and solid ballast is only half the battle. The other half is operational discipline – knowing when to pause the show, lower equipment, or even evacuate to keep everyone safe. A wind action plan lays out specific “hold” and “drop” triggers tied to weather conditions. These triggers are predetermined decision points, usually based on measured wind speeds (or other weather alerts), that prompt the festival team to take protective action.
Define hold vs. drop. In festival terms, a “wind hold” typically means a temporary stop in performances and potentially clearing the stage and immediate vicinity. A “hold” might be called when winds are approaching a structure’s safety limit – for example, constant winds above 25 mph (40 km/h) might trigger a hold on a smaller stage’s performances. During a wind hold, artists pause their sets, and crew secure loose items on stage. Attendees may be instructed to stay back from stages for safety, but not necessarily to leave the venue. A “drop” means physically lowering or dismantling elements of a production that are vulnerable to wind. For instance, at a gust above, say, 35 mph for certain stages, the plan could dictate dropping (i.e. quickly lowering) the line-array speakers to the ground, or rolling down video walls and scrims (backdrops) to reduce wind load. In severe cases it could mean lowering the entire stage roof to a safer height if the stage type allows it. Write out exactly what actions constitute a hold and a drop for each major structure.
Set clear wind speed triggers. Determine specific wind speed thresholds for each action. This requires consulting those wind ratings and a bit of expert judgment. For example: “If sustained wind exceeds 20 mph or gusts exceed 30 mph, initiate a hold on all performances at the X Stage and Y Stage.” Next level: “If gusts exceed 40 mph, drop the PA hangs on those stages to ground level, and strip all crowd-facing banners.” The exact numbers will vary by event and structure – a massive festival main stage may handle 40 mph easily, whereas a small mobile stage might hit its limit at 30 mph. The key is deciding the numbers in advance, writing them in the operations plan, and not winging it in the moment. Many festivals use a tiered system (Green, Yellow, Red) where Green is normal operations, Yellow is “caution” (wind approaching limits, prepare to hold), and Red is “danger” (winds at or above limit, implement drops and halt the show). Whatever system you choose, make sure it’s unambiguous. Crews should not be debating what to do when dark clouds roll in – they should already know the plan.
Tools for measuring and alerts. To execute wind triggers, you need reliable weather monitoring. Equip your site with at least one anemometer (wind speed meter) mounted in a clear area, ideally at stage roof height if possible, or consult a trusted weather service. Many festival producers hire professional meteorologists or use services that send real-time wind and lightning alerts specific to the event location. In the UK and Europe, large festivals often have dedicated weather monitoring teams liaising with event control. Smaller events can use smartphone apps, local Met Office or NOAA warnings, but should designate a staff member to watch those like a hawk. Don’t rely on guesswork or “it doesn’t feel that bad” judgments – remember that a sudden gust can far exceed steady wind speeds. By having concrete data and alert systems, you can confidently call a hold at 25 mph before it escalates to a 50 mph disaster.
Chain of Command: Training Crew on Who Calls It
Even a perfect plan on paper can fail if people aren’t prepared to act. That’s why training and clear chain of command are critical parts of wind discipline. Every crew member, from stagehands to sound techs to artist liaisons, must know that weather safety calls will be made and who has the authority to make them. In a crisis, hesitation or confusion can cost precious minutes.
Assign a weather safety leader. Identify the role (or person by name) who monitors weather and has the authority to declare a hold or drop. This might be the festival’s Safety Officer, the Production Manager, or the Festival Director – as long as it’s clearly defined. In many cases, festival teams establish an Event Control centre that includes a weather monitor; that person might advise, “Winds just hit our trigger, we need to stop the show,” and the Festival Director then formally gives the order to hold. However you structure it, communicate it in advance. For example, announce at the all-staff briefing: “If lightning or high wind approaches, our Safety Officer (Jane Doe) will issue a ‘weather hold’ call over the radios. When you hear that, immediately stop what you’re doing and follow the prepared safety procedures.” Crew need to trust that call and act without second-guessing.
Train for execution. It’s not enough to name the person – rehearse the response. Walk through the process of calling a weather hold in production meetings and on show days. Some festivals conduct brief drills during setup: one person pretends to be the weather spotter and radios an alert (“Code Wind Red – gusts at 40 mph, drop all outdoor banners and pause Stage 2 performance.”). The teams practice the response: stage crew start lowering the PA, lighting techs switch off and secure fixtures, the MC or DJ is informed to pause, and security begins guiding the crowd if needed. These drills might only take a few minutes but they get everyone comfortable with the idea that yes, we will stop the show if we have to. Artists and their teams should also be informed of this policy in advance. Include a note in artist advance packets or on-site briefings that the festival may pause or cancel performances for safety and that the stage manager’s instruction to clear the stage must be followed immediately. By normalizing this, you avoid pushback or confusion in the heat of the moment. The worst scenario is a crew that’s unsure who should say what, as precious time ticks by. Training ensures that when the wind hits, your team reacts like a well-oiled machine.
Empower “anyone to shout stop.” While having a clear chain of command is important, also encourage a culture where any team member who sees an imminent hazard can raise the alarm. For instance, if a lighting tech spots a truss starting to sway dangerously or a ballast shifting, they should radio it in or yell for a pause immediately, not wait for higher-ups. The weather safety leader can then quickly confirm and escalate to a full hold. In practice, this means telling crew, “safety first, always” and meaning it. This empowered approach saved lives at one festival in Germany where a technician noticed a storm gust approaching on the horizon and urged the stage to be cleared seconds before the structure was hit. Hierarchy matters for decisions, but when seconds count, anyone should be ready to call out a danger.
Rapid Response Gear: Storm Covers and Slip Mats
Not all weather holds mean an event is over; often it’s a temporary pause until conditions improve. During that window, your crew should leap into action to protect equipment and make the environment safe for the rainy, windy onslaught. Two unsung heroes of festival weather preparedness are storm covers and slip mats – simple items that can save your show (and skin) in a sudden downpour.
Storm covers at the ready. Expensive sound, lighting, and video gear can be ruined by rain or heavy dust if not quickly covered. Keep rain covers staged for 10-minute deployment or less, meaning you can get them over the gear within minutes of an incoming storm alert. For instance, have tarps or custom-fitted waterproof covers folded next to the front-of-house (FOH) mixing desk, ready to throw over the consoles at the first raindrop. Many audio companies use clear plastic console covers that can be pulled over mixers without cutting power, allowing the show to resume right after the rain. Similarly, keep projector covers or lighting rain domes on standby if you have outdoor projectors or vulnerable lighting fixtures. In tropical festival locations like Singapore or Indonesia, where sudden cloudbursts are common, some crews even practice “rain drills” – racing to cover stage monitors, move electric instruments to safe zones, and wrap speaker towers in protective plastic. The goal is to avoid water damage that could silence your festival even after the storm passes. By having covers pre-positioned (not buried in a storage truck far away), you can shield most gear in a matter of minutes. Make sure the crew knows who is responsible for covering what – e.g., audio team covers the FOH and monitor world, lighting team lowers and covers lighting consoles, stagehands cover band gear – so it all happens in parallel.
Protecting stages from slippage. When surfaces get wet, the risk isn’t just to equipment, it’s to people. Stage decks, stairs, and dance areas can turn into slip-and-fall hazards once rain or spilled drinks coat them. Smart festival site managers keep non-slip mats or materials ready to deploy for traction. For example, have rolls of industrial non-slip runners or adhesive grip tape on hand that can be quickly laid down on slick stage ramps and stairways if rain starts. If a storm is incoming, you might lay down rubber matting on key walking paths backstage or at stage edges preemptively. Slip mats can also refer to heavy-duty doormats or temporary flooring that you put in muddy areas to give people solid footing. A classic scenario: if ground conditions deteriorate from a downpour, placing portable track mats or plywood sheets in high-traffic spots (like around exits or medical tents) can prevent injuries from falls in the mud. Even on stage, once the rain stops, consider having stagehands quickly mop and then lay down some anti-slip carpet strips for performers, especially dancers or anyone moving dynamically. Many seasoned production crews mark a “wet floor line” on stages – a boundary beyond which performers shouldn’t go when the stage is wet – but providing traction with mats is an extra layer of safety. These simple precautions keep your crew and artists safe and help the show go on when conditions allow.
10-minute deployment mindset. The mention of “10 minutes” is important – weather can change fast, and you often get only a few minutes warning (if you’re lucky and watching radar) before a squall hits. So challenge your team: can we secure everything vital in 10 minutes? With good planning, the answer can be yes. It means having those covers and mats not only available, but quickly accessible and fitted for purpose. Practice grabbing them and deploying. One person should be able to cover a large mixing console solo within a minute or two. If that’s not possible, rethink your setup or assign a buddy system. Consider also the worst-case scenario: if a deluge strikes with little warning, do you have enough ponchos for crew, and waterproof cases or bags to throw over things like spotlight followspot chairs, pyrotechnic controls, or power distribution boxes? Many events will stage “weather kits” at each stage: a bin or trunk containing emergency rain gear, plastic sheeting, cable ties, towels, and squeegees. This way, anyone on that stage can quickly grab what’s needed to weather-proof and clean up after the storm. Speed is critical – a downpour can drench a mixing board in seconds, so every moment counts.
Lightning Safety: Scripts, Timers, and Multilingual Alerts
Of all weather hazards, lightning might be the most acutely dangerous to life. It can strike with little warning and has seriously injured festival attendees in the past. The good news is that lightning risk can be managed with decisive action and clear communication. The goal is to detect the threat early, stop the event before lightning is too close, and tell everyone exactly what to do in terms they understand. Having a lightning script prepared – essentially a pre-written announcement – takes the guesswork out of an intense situation.
Follow the 30/30 rule (or better). A widely used safety guideline for lightning is the 30-30 Rule: if the time between seeing lightning and hearing its thunder is less than 30 seconds, the storm is close enough to pose a danger (roughly 10 km or 6 miles away or closer), and outdoor events should be suspended. Then, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap before resuming activities. Many festivals and sporting events worldwide use this rule as a baseline. Modern technology lets us be even more proactive – lightning detection systems or apps can alert when a strike is, say, 15 km out, giving a bit more lead time. Set a lightning trigger distance (for example, any strike within 8 miles / 13 km) at which point you’ll immediately put the festival on hold and urge people to seek shelter. Don’t try to push through “just one more song” when lightning is in the area. As the mantra goes: “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Outdoors at a festival, “indoors” might mean the safest available refuge (their cars, a substantial building on-site, or at least away from tall structures and metallic rigs).
Pre-script your announcements. In the chaos of a sudden thunderstorm, it’s easy to become flustered. That’s why having a scripted message for lightning holds is so valuable. Work with your communications or MC team to write a concise, calm announcement in advance. It should tell attendees the situation and exactly what you need them to do. For example: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a weather situation. Lightning is approaching the area, and for your safety we must pause the festival. Please calmly make your way to the designated shelter areas or to your vehicles. Stage performances will resume only when it’s safe. We will provide an update in 30 minutes. Thank you for your cooperation.” Adjust this for your event’s specifics – identify where people should go (parking lot, a storm shelter, an exit to home, etc.) based on your venue. Importantly, include a clear timer or update expectation. Telling people “30 minutes” or “we’ll update you at [specific time]” greatly helps reduce panic because the crowd knows what to expect. Make sure the same message is ready in all relevant languages for your audience. If you’re in a bilingual country like Canada (English/French) or a multicultural festival in Europe or Asia, have translations prepared. You might have your MC repeat it in the secondary language, or use prerecorded announcements from native speakers if possible. The key is everyone, local or international, understands the instructions.
Use all channels to communicate. The PA system (public address) is your primary tool – ensure your site has the capability to make announcements that reach all corners. This might mean interrupting each stage’s audio or using a dedicated site-wide announcement system. Crews should know how to patch in an emergency announcement quickly. In addition to PA, utilize big video screens to flash written alerts (“Severe Weather – seek shelter now”) with counts or times if you can. Many modern festivals also send push notifications via their event app, SMS alerts, or updates on social media. The more channels you hit, the better the coverage – some people might miss the audio but see the text, or vice versa. During a lightning hold at a festival in Florida, for instance, organizers displayed a countdown clock on the main stage LED wall showing how long until the next update, which helped keep thousands of attendees patient and informed. Clear, multilingual, multi-channel communication is how you keep a weather evacuation orderly instead of chaotic.
Coordination with authorities. Lightning and severe storm protocols often involve local authorities too. In places like the United States and UK, local police or emergency management might assist with evacuations or have input on when to halt an event. Festival organizers should coordinate their lightning (and general severe weather) plan with these stakeholders before the festival. That way, if an evacuation is called, law enforcement and medical teams on-site know what the plan is and can help direct people or handle emergencies. It also ensures your PA announcements align with any public warning systems (for example, if the city’s alert sirens go off). Ultimately, shutting down for lightning is about protecting lives above all else. Fans might be disappointed by a delay, but if you handle it professionally, they will understand and thank you later for putting safety first. Many festivals from Belgium to Australia have successfully resumed shows after lightning passes, precisely because they took the break when they needed to.
Beyond the Storm: Resume Safely and Learn
Weather holds and structural precautions might cause delays or require extra budget, but the alternative – pressing on blindly – can be catastrophic. A festival producer who has gone through a few weather scares can tell you that itchy feeling of watching the skies and the relief of having a solid plan to execute. Once the winds die down and lightning all-clear is given, have a protocol for inspecting everything before resuming. Take a breath and assess: check stages for pooling water or any damage, ensure all electronics are dry and functioning, reset any tripped breakers or safety devices, and only then continue the show. It’s tempting to rush back on schedule, but a few minutes to verify safety after a storm are well worth it. Communicate with your audience that you’re doing checks for their safety – they’ll appreciate it.
Every weather incident is also a learning opportunity. Debrief with your team after the festival: What went well in our weather plan? Did we deploy the storm covers in time? Was the wind hold called at the right moment? Gather these insights to continually improve your weather preparedness. The climate is changing and bringing more extreme weather everywhere – from heatwaves to hurricanes – so even festivals in historically mild-weather regions should have robust plans. A small beach festival in Indonesia might never have faced lightning before, until one day it does. Being over-prepared is far better than being caught off guard.
By treating weather safety as a core part of festival technical production, you safeguard not just your audience and staff, but the very future of your event. Infrastructure can be replaced, but reputation and trust are harder to rebuild if you mishandle an emergency. Showing that you have the discipline to protect people at all costs will earn respect from attendees, artists, and authorities alike. In the end, the best festivals turn even weather challenges into stories of effective teamwork and care. With these practices – wind-rated structures, proper ballast, clear trigger actions, trained crews, rapid response gear, and lightning protocols – you’re setting the stage (literally) for a safer, more resilient festival that can ride out whatever Mother Nature sends your way.
Key Takeaways
- Every structure needs a wind rating and ballast plan: Determine the maximum safe wind speed for stages, tents, PA towers, arches, etc., and secure them with proper weights/anchors. Nothing is too small to tie down if it can blow away.
- Establish hold/drop triggers in advance: Set specific wind speed or weather condition thresholds to pause the show (hold) or lower vulnerable equipment (drop). Make these thresholds clear and don’t hesitate to act when they’re met.
- Train your team and designate decision-makers: Everyone on the festival crew should know who monitors weather and who has authority to call a stop. Rehearse the emergency procedures, so when a call comes, responses are automatic and orderly.
- Stash weather protection gear for quick deployment: Keep rain covers for electronics and non-slip floor mats readily accessible. Aim to weather-proof stages and equipment within 10 minutes of a threat alert to prevent damage and accidents.
- Have a lightning safety protocol with clear communication: Use the 30/30 rule or specific lightning detection distances to decide when to evacuate or suspend the event. Prepare PA announcements (in multiple languages if needed) with exact instructions and update timing so the crowd stays informed and calm.
- Safety first, always: Prioritize human life and well-being over the show. It’s better to have a brief interruption or even a cancellation than to risk injuries. A well-prepared festival team treats weather emergencies as part of the show – with professionalism, discipline, and care for the audience.
25th August 2025