Weathering the Storm: Why Bonnaroo’s Legacy Outshines One Washed-Out Weekend

“In June, I had the distinct honor of joining the WHAT Podcast live from Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on opening day. We sat down to discuss something that often gets overlooked in the music festival conversation: Bonnaroo’s substantial economic and cultural impact not just on Manchester, but on the entire South Central Tennessee region and the state as a whole.

We unpacked the festival’s influence on regional development, from the direct economic infusion into the Coffee County economy to the broader benefits that ripple out to civic life. We discussed Bonnaroo’s support of schools, food pantries, and nonprofits through booth opportunities and monetary donations via the Bonnaroo Works Foundation. We highlighted how Bonnaroo has become more than an event, it is a civic partner and a catalyst for positive change.

But as many now know, the excitement of Thursday gave way to disappointment as relentless rainfall forced the unprecedented: a full cancellation of the weekend. Not just a one-day delay, an entire festival, shuttered for the first time in June due to weather conditions. Record rainfall throughout May had already saturated the festival grounds, leaving no room for the torrents that came Friday night.

The Economic Aftershock

While the energy and good intentions were palpable Thursday, the calcellation understandably left a sting. Every single ticket, camping pass, and parking fee was refunded. That also means every bit of associated sales tax revenue was lost. That’s going to hurt, not just emotionally, but economically.

To put this into perspective: Bonnaroo has traditionally delivered a $339.8 million regional economic impact, according to a study by the festival’s organizers. It has created over 4,163 full-time jobs and generated $5.1 million in tax revenue, as reported by The Tennessean. Those are real dollars that fund real programs. This year, many of those expected gains will be absent from city and county ledgers.

More Than the Money

Still, I believe this year will go down as one of the most important chapters in Bonnaroo’s story. Not because of what was lost, but because of what was learned.

Bonnaroo’s leadership used the cancellation as an opportunity for deep self-evaluation. Conversations I’ve had since indicate a clear commitment to using this moment to improve infrastructure, planning, and communication, all in the name of sustainability, safety, and long-term success.

Let’s not forget: Bonnaroo has only ever been cancelled three times. Once due to COVID-19, once because of Hurricane Ida in September 2021 (the rescheduled 2020 festival), and now, for the first time ever in June, to extreme weather. That’s an impressive track record for a rural, open-air event that draws tens of thousands of attendees each year.

A Reunion Deferred, Not Lost

If you’ve been to Bonnaroo, you know that it’s more than a music festival. It’s a reunion of Bonnaroovians, a family drawn together by shared values of inclusion, creativity, and joy. That spirit didn’t drown in the rain. It merely paused.

The outpouring of support, patience, and understanding from fans this year proves one thing: the health and future of the festival matter more than one lost weekend. Bonnaroo has always been a willing partner to local and state leadership, listening and evolving. That flexibility, that willingness to change, is what will keep it relevant for the next generation.

I truly hope that when we look back in 10 years, we see 2025 as the year Bonnaroo turned a tough situation into a transformational one. A year that tested its roots, and proved they run deep.

Because at the end of the day, Bonnaroo isnt just a festival. It’s a movement. And this movement isn’t going anywhere.”

By Ryan French

Executive Director & CEO, South Central Tennessee Tourism Association