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Bonnaroo Blackout: Power Fails for Two Hours
12 Jun
Summary
- A two-hour power outage plunged Bonnaroo into darkness on its opening night.
- The blackout affected food vendors, stages, and the Ferris wheel.
- Despite the outage, attendees remained calm and enjoyed the unexpected darkness.

The Bonnaroo Farm experienced a two-hour power outage on the first night of the music and arts festival, causing a widespread blackout. The partial outage began around 8:30 p.m., forcing food vendors to operate by flashlight and leaving many fans stumbling in the dark. Stages ceased their performances, and the Ferris wheel temporarily froze, though all passengers were safely evacuated.
Despite the unexpected difficulties, the atmosphere among attendees remained calm and jovial. As power was gradually restored, EDM artist Four Tet was able to begin his delayed set on the Which Stage. The incident, which occurred during the dinner rush for vendors like Peggy Welborn, a 25-year Bonnaroo attendee, highlighted the resilience of both the festival organizers and its dedicated fans, who continue to support the event despite challenges.