Is Climate Change Killing Outdoor Events?
As a winter-lover, I visited Minneapolis last January for The Great Northern, a festival celebrating the midwestern chill and unique offerings during two weeks in the middle of winter. Bundled up in my parka, beanie, scarf, and gloves, I ventured to the pop-up Ice Bar in front of the Four Seasons in Downtown Minneapolis. Spanning an entire city block, the stunning bar constructed of sculpted ice was meticulously crafted and decorated to introduce visitors to the Minnesota hospitality scene. Within a few minutes, my layers started coming off, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol. The temperature was unseasonably high, and water began to pool at the bottom of the bar counter.
Unusually warm winters, extreme heat waves, hailstorms, and wildfires resulting from a changing climate have been disrupting outdoor happenings for years. They are top of mind for many festival organizers and visitors. A food and travel writer, Elizabeth Chorney-Booth from Calgary, shared that a week-long Sled Island music festival—featuring hundreds of bands and artists—was canceled in June 2013 due to a major flood.
“The flooding was very unusual, but something we now constantly worry about because of the changing climate. It was an absolutely catastrophic flood—basically, all of downtown Calgary was underwater, and the city was completely shut down,” she recalls.
More recently, a maple syrup harvest in Quebec had no syrup flowing from the trees. In Minnesota, the Twin Cities Marathon, which attracted 20,000 runners, was canceled at the last minute in October 2023 because of temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s with high humidity, which was unusually high for autumn. At the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver last summer, around 80 to 90 people were taken to the hospital or treated for injuries due to a hailstorm. Also last year, Swifties endured a three-and-a-half-hour deluge during an Eras Tour concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
Many travelers plan trips around major outdoor experiences, such as marathons, concerts, winter markets, harvest festivals, and sporting competitions. Are the ever-increasing climate disruptions going to put an end to them? The short answer is no. With thoughtful and inclusive programming, proper safety precautions, and careful planning by the visitors and organizers, outdoor events can still endure and be enjoyable.
The Great Northern IceBar. The Great Northern Festival
Leveraging Local and Diverse Offerings
Back in Minneapolis, the Climate Solutions Series of the Great Northern caught my eye. I was also impressed with the sheer number of diverse scheduled activities and the way the organizers emphasized the uniqueness of the place while adapting to the changing weather. The programming included 30 experiences, held over two weeks, utilizing indoor and outdoor spaces from Downtown Minneapolis and several parks to restaurants, bars, museums, art centers, and theaters, offering something for everyone.
There was a Winter Roast: Comedy from the North at the Parkway Theater; a walk at Fort Snelling State Park with Indigenous storytellers; The Last Supper with Chef Sam Kass at the Hewing Hotel; film screenings at North Garden Theater and the Main Cinema; outdoor fun at Silverwood Park; a festival of snow at Walker Art Center Hillside; a wellness and sauna village at Malcolm Yards, and many more.
“We host a winter festival, so everything is weather contingent. We know that we have to have several iterations of our programming in place just in case,” shares Jovan C. Speller Rebollar, Executive Director of the Great Northern Festival.
For the outdoor nocturnal dance piece of Morgan Thorson’s “Untitled Night” on the frozen Silver Lake, the organizers had a backup plan in front of the lake and rehearsed it both ways. As for the Ice Bar, Rebollar says it was a clear visual message of the Great Northern itself and a reminder about “caring about our local ecosystem in order to be able to preserve it.”
Calgary Stampede, Centre Champions Ballroom. Calgary Stampede
Utilizing Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
One of my favorite activities at the Great Northern was the Sauna Village, held in the exterior area of the Malcolm Yards, a massive food hall serving delicious food and drinks. Despite the unusually warm temperature that evening, I enjoyed the quintessential winter experience of a guided sauna session. Another memorable experience was dancing under the stars outside O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. and Surly’s Brewing Company at the kickoff launch party, where patrons enjoyed the warming food and drinks inside. The party had a performance by hyperpop adjacent artist, SYM1, and live DJ sets by DJ Cassieopia outside.
“We partnered with them in really intentional ways,” shares Rebollar about the chosen venues.
Similarly, at the Calgary Stampede—the greatest outdoor Show on Earth—organizers ensure visitors have indoor options to take a break from the weather.
“In the last couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in both wildfire, smoke, and heatwaves in and around the event,” shares Kerrie Blizzard, Director of Public Safety and Environment at the Stampede. This summer event provides a fun and safe environment by having a wide variety of programming in the expanded BMO Center. “We have various markets with great shopping, different food and beverage establishments, a ton of great agricultural programming, concert venues, and stage acts. We always have something for someone to do so guests can enjoy the event in its entirety!”
Oceanside Adaptive Surfing Championships. Visit Oceanside
Planning Ahead
Climate disruptions mean organizers are resourceful in planning and adapting to change quickly. According to CEO and President of Visit Oceanside in California, Leslee Gaul, events taking place on Southern California beaches must be flexible and ready to adapt based on conditions. Oceanside hosts high-profile surf competitions, including the SuperGirl Pro, USA Surfing Championships, and U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships.
“Heavy storms and big swells can produce small ‘cliffs’ in the sand, which can affect where judging tents are located or, in the case of the adaptive events, where things like wheelchair decking can be placed,” says Gaul. Before each event, beach conditions, weather, and tides are evaluated to determine the best design.
Many organizers are also now relying on meteorologists on-site or on-call to manage their events properly. According to Blizzard, the Calgary Stampede’s organizers perform on-site monitoring for lightning, wind, and air quality and subscribe to advanced weather monitoring systems.
As travelers, it’s always good to do some homework on the destination before visiting, suggests Gaul.
“Use a weather app to keep an eye on the forecast so you can pack accordingly. Always give yourself plenty of time to travel to a destination or activities to minimize the stress of inclement or unpredictable weather.”
Blizzard recommends coming prepared for the heat with sunscreen, hats, and water for summer experiences.
Live music on Main Street. City of Greenville
Putting Safety First
Many outdoor events occur rain or shine, so long as the weather doesn’t threaten the public, but safety precautions are a top priority for organizers. Fall for Greenville Festival in Greenville, South Carolina, brings together 200,000 festival-goers to enjoy over 80 free concerts, 60 local eateries, and 50 beer and wine vendors along eight blocks on Main Street. Anna Catherine, Administrator for the City of Greenville Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, shares that the city has a detailed Emergency Preparedness Plan, a color-coded alert system, and, more recently, an emergency text messaging system that “provides staff, onsite vendors, and volunteers a plan should weather-related incidents occur.”
Fire and emergency officials and the local office of the National Weather Service monitor weather threats and communicate with officials as potential storms approach. In addition to selling water bottles at multiple locations throughout the site, the Greenville Fire Department has personnel with emergency medical supplies to ensure rapid response to heat-related calamities.
Calgary Stampede’s organizers use a public address system, video screens, and employees and volunteers throughout the park to advise guests if they need to take shelter.
“It’s important that guests listen to the instructions of employees and volunteers in the area should the need arise to do that. You should note your nearest emergency exits and available shelter.”
For the first time, during June’s Strawberry Festival in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, organizers placed misting stations throughout (in addition to having water available in various locations) to help people cool down during record-high temperatures.
Being Flexible
Despite careful planning and forecast-watching, things don’t always go as expected. As with any aspect of life, it’s important to embrace change and look on the bright side. Cedarburg hosts several outdoor festivals yearly: Winter Festival every February, Strawberry Festival in June, and Wine & Harvest Festival and Oktoberfest in the fall. The Winter Festival, similar to The Great Northern, has been facing increasing temperatures, impacting their ice carving competitions. One fan-favorite winter activity is the bed race on Mill Pond, where each team decorates a bed depending on the festival’s theme and takes it across the frozen surface.
“We have a backup plan just in case there’s not enough ice on the creek for people to be on the creek. We hold it on the street directly next to it,” says Patrick Curran, Executive Director of Festivals of Cedarburg Inc. “Everyone rolls with the punches; that’s the name of the game as we know the weather is out of our control.”
When Chorney-Booth visited Quebec last spring to experience the maple syrup harvest, unpredictable weather caused her to miss the iconic moment of seeing the saps drip into buckets tied to trees. However, she found the time she spent at the festival still valuable. She enjoyed traditional sugar shack meals and entertainment and heard stories from Indigenous elders about the history of the maple harvest.
“It did open the door to conversations about what producers are doing to ensure a maple supply and why it’s so important to protect and celebrate this resource that is so important to Canadian tourism and identity,” she shares. “The experience still delivered, but in different ways than I’d expected.”
Tina Forrister from Watertown, Massachusetts, attended the Taylor Swift concert at the Gillette Stadium, where it rained the entire time. Forrister saw the forecast and came with the right gear. The venue provided ponchos for those who weren’t prepared, and staff were available to help. She recalls her L.L. Bean jacket leaking and her boots collecting puddles. “At midnight, my fingertips were still puckered from being so wet for so long,” she remembers. Despite the deluge, she says she had a grand time. “I get to say I was at the Eras tour at the Rainiest Rain Show that Ever Rain Show-ed.”
As for me, I now claim that I had the honor of seeing the Vice Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, the charming Governor Tim Walz, who was a special guest at the Climate Solutions Series at The Great Northern.
Getting a Weather Guarantee
One way to ensure that your investment in a trip doesn’t go down the drain is by protecting it via Sensible Weather. Nick Cavanaugh, PhD, Founder & CEO of the company, shares that he was motivated to start it in 2019 because his background in advanced weather prediction and complex financial products made him realize he could find a real solution to outdoor experiences negatively impacted by weather. Customers can add a weather guarantee to reservations (or add it later) for campgrounds, ticketed attractions, and more that are partnered with the company.
If a severe storm impacts the outdoor experience or record high temperatures, customers are automatically reimbursed. There is no need to file a claim or wait for a payout.
“We pre-determine coverage details based on the unique location and dates and trigger payouts automatically based on the day’s weather using forecasts and weather data,” shares Cavanaugh. “Even if you get a reimbursement from Sensible, you can still go on with your planned trip or activity—no cancellations required.”
Key Takeaways For Planning Your Next Trip Around an Outdoor Event
– Research if the event has both indoor and outdoor spaces and diverse offerings.
– Learn about the safety precautions in place, such as shelter from bad weather or medical personnel in the event of heatstroke and other health emergencies.
– Check the weather forecast and come prepared with the right gear (e.g., rain jacket, sun protection, hats, gloves, etc.).
– At the event, pay attention to staff, volunteers, and public addresses via text, audio, or video and act accordingly.
– Find ways to make the most of the experience despite weather disruptions.
– Consider getting a Weather Guarantee to protect your trip in case of extreme weather.
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