Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 | 7:53 p.m.
High winds forced organizers of the When We Were Young emo music festival to cancel its daylong show Saturday at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds near the Strip.
Officials made this decision late this morning minutes before doors were supposed to open, posting on Twitter that the decision was made because of the “dangerous 30-40 mph sustained winds with potential 60 mph gusts.”
Organizers said they consulted with the National Weather Service and Metro Police to make a decision based on the safety of the fans and performers.
High winds can down power lines and increase a person’s risk of being hit by flying debris like roofing, tree branches, or unsecured outdoor decorations, according to the National Weather Service.
“This was not a decision that came lightly. We know many of you traveled to the area to have a spectacular day with your favorite bands and have been looking forward to this day for months,” the festival said in their press release. “We were equally excited and are devastated to have to share this news.”
Attendees who purchased their tickets through Front Gate Tickets, the festival’s ticketing company, will receive a refund “in as little as 30 days,” they said. Shows for Sunday and Oct. 29 are still on the books.
The high wind warning issued by the weather service will expire at 5 a.m. Sunday. Clark County also issued an air quality dust advisory, which will expire before the Sunday show.
Founded by Live Nation Concerts, the emo and pop punk festival was to include the likes of Avril Lavigne, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, and Pierce the Veil.
Some of the bands scheduled to perform — such as The All-American Rejects, La Dispute, Bring Me The Horizon, and Hawthorne Heights — posted on Twitter that they were working on setting up “pop-up” shows at indoor venues across the city.
“This is a net positive for weather safety, and I’m glad this decision was made,” said Richard Romkee of Colorado in a Twitter post.
