On Saturday, October 11, 2025, the much-anticipated Redwest Country Music Festival in Salt Lake City came to a sudden halt as severe weather swept through the Utah State Fairpark, forcing organizers to evacuate tens of thousands of concertgoers and ultimately cancel the remainder of the night’s events. The abrupt decision left fans, many of whom had traveled long distances to see headliner Post Malone, scrambling for shelter and answers.
The Redwest festival, in its second of three scheduled days, had already seen a star-studded lineup, with Kacey Musgraves performing on Friday and Noah Kahan slated for Sunday. Saturday, however, was to be the main event for many, with Post Malone—one of the music industry’s biggest names—set to take the stage at 9:30 p.m. According to KUTV, the festival’s popularity drew huge crowds, eager for a night of music and celebration. But nature had other plans.
Shortly before 5:15 p.m., as ominous clouds gathered and winds began to pick up, festival attendees received a notification on the event’s mobile app: the shows would be paused due to the approaching storm. Organizers wasted no time, taking to social media to instruct everyone to gather their belongings, leave the venue, and seek shelter. The urgency was clear—meteorologists were forecasting not just rain and high winds, but lightning in the area, making the situation potentially dangerous for anyone outdoors.
Redwest’s official Instagram page kept attendees updated throughout the ordeal. “WE ARE IN COMPLETE EVACUATION. We will update as soon as doors are back open,” read one post, as reported by KSL TV. The festival initially held out hope that, once conditions improved, guests would be allowed to reenter and the music would resume. But as the hours dragged on and the weather failed to cooperate, optimism began to fade.
For many festivalgoers, the sudden evacuation was both confusing and stressful. With thousands trying to leave the Fairpark at once, some sought refuge in their cars, while others looked for any available shelter. Buses and nearby businesses became makeshift havens. Alan Scott, who had traveled from Idaho, described the experience to Fox 13 News: “From the bathrooms, to the tents... now we’re in this random building. Luckily these nice people let us in.” Another attendee, Jarrod Ebeling from California, echoed the sentiment, saying, “We were standing out in the rain like some turkeys with our heads cut off, so very thankful that this business let us in. We’re going to go back to our hotel, hopefully dry our clothes, and hope to come back if the concert goes back on.”
Despite the chaos, some fans held out hope that the show would go on. “We’re going to tough it out until Post Malone comes,” Scott said. “We came all the way here to see Post Malone, so we’ll wait it out.” But as the night wore on, it became clear that safety would have to come first.
At around 7:50 p.m., Redwest organizers posted on social media that they were “optimistic,” hinting at a possible resumption of festivities. That glimmer of hope, however, was short-lived. The post was later deleted, and just before 9:45 p.m., the festival made the difficult call to cancel the rest of the Saturday lineup. The official statement, shared on Instagram, read: “For the safety of our fans, artists, and staff, we are unable to continue with today’s programming. Conditions at the festival site are currently unsafe to proceed. We’re truly sorry and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please stay tuned to our social channels and check your email for further updates and next steps.”
According to KSL NewsRadio, the decision was made in close consultation with meteorologists, who continued to warn of lightning risks in the area. Festival officials emphasized that the safety of attendees, artists, and staff was their top priority. The abrupt cancellation, though disappointing, was a necessary step given the unpredictable and potentially hazardous weather conditions.
The ripple effects of the storm extended beyond the festival grounds. Elsewhere in Salt Lake City, the University of Utah’s home football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium was also impacted. The school’s athletic department announced around 6:30 p.m. that lightning had been detected, prompting officials to urge fans to seek shelter either in vehicles or on the concourse. Fortunately for football fans, the lightning threat passed, and the game kicked off at 8:25 p.m.—a brief disruption compared to the total shutdown at Redwest.
The Redwest Country Music Festival’s organizers, while apologetic, maintained open lines of communication with attendees via social media and email. “Thank you for your patience with evacuations,” read one Instagram caption, as cited by KUTV. “We are working closely with meteorologists to keep all of our attendees safe. We’re expecting lightning in the area.” The repeated emphasis on safety and transparency helped temper some of the frustration, though for many, the disappointment was palpable.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of outdoor events and the challenges that severe weather can pose. While festivals often have contingency plans for rain, the threat of lightning is a different beast entirely—one that leaves little room for compromise. In recent years, music festivals across the country have faced similar dilemmas, as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense. Organizers are increasingly reliant on real-time data from meteorologists and must be prepared to make tough calls, even when the stakes—and the expectations—are high.
For the fans who braved the elements on Saturday, the night ended not with the music and memories they had hoped for, but with a story of resilience and community. Strangers shared shelter, offered dry spaces, and kept spirits up as they waited for news. As for Post Malone, his highly anticipated performance will have to wait for another day—though his fans’ dedication was on full display, even in the face of a storm.
As Salt Lake City dried out and the festival looked ahead to its final day, the Redwest team urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and promised to communicate next steps regarding refunds or rescheduling. For now, the storm has passed, but the experience will linger for those who came together, if only briefly, for the love of music and the hope of a night under the stars.
