Lovers & Friends Festival 2024, With Usher, Janet Jackson and More, Canceled Due to ‘Dangerous Weather,’ Hours Before It Was to Begin

Less than 15 hours before it was scheduled to begin, Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 has been canceled due to “dangerous weather,” said event organizers in a post to their website.

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The one-day festival, which was supposed to begin at noon on Saturday in Las Vegas, was shaping up to be a millennial mixtape dream come true with headlining sets from Usher, Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys. But it came crashing down just moments before doors opened, with plans blowing over in the time running up to commencement.

Concertgoers from across the world had already descended upon Vegas by the time the announcement was made. The lineup was an early 2000s cornucopia of artists, featuring Ja Rule, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Monica, Brandy, Nas, M.I.A., Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Ludacris and many more.

Lovers & Friends started in 2022 after COVID delayed its launch years prior. In its first year, the two-day event got shut down early after attendees heard gunshots and fled for the exits. Last year, it returned without any issues, featuring performances from Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and Missy Elliott.

Several Las Vegas festivals have been called off due to weather in recent years. As noted by the city’s Review-Journal , in October 2022, the first day of the When We Were Young festival was canceled because of high winds, although it picked up the next day. In May 2019, strong winds shut down the main stage during the Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; the same thing happened in 2012. Also in 2022, the Day N Vegas festival, which had been moved to September from its usual time earlier in the year due to the pandemic, was canceled due to high temperatures.

The city’s McCarren Airport is no stranger to disappointed fans who’d learned upon arrival that their plans had abruptly changed: In January of 2022, Adele postponed the launch of her Las Vegas residency just hours before it was to begin — and after thousands of fans had traveled to the city. She initially blamed Covid-related production delays , although it later transpired that she’d suddenly decided she was unhappy with the show’s production , which had been in the works for months.

Live Nation, the promoter for Lovers & Friends, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the cancellation.

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Read the full cancellation statement below:

“Lovers & Friends Festival organizers have been monitoring the weather for several days and proactively preparing for a windy Saturday. However, the National Weather Service has now issued a High Wind Warning, including dangerous 30-35 mph sustained winds with gusts potentially more than 60 mph.  Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers & Friends Festival.

“This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision to make as we are aware that fans have traveled from all over the world to enjoy this incredible lineup of superstars and have been looking forward to this event for several months. We’ve worked hard to create an amazing event for you, and we are just as disappointed as you are.

“Ticket holders who purchased their tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days to the original form of payment.”

Additional reporting by Jem Aswad.

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