Less than 15 hours before the festival was scheduled to start, the 2024 Lovers & Friends Festival was canceled due to “hazardous weather,” event organizers said in a post on their website.
The one-day festival, which was supposed to begin at noon Saturday in Las Vegas, was shaping up to be a millennial mixtape’s dream come true with headline sets from Usher, the Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys. But it collapsed just moments before the doors opened, with plans falling through in the run-up to the start.
Concertgoers from around the world had already descended on Vegas by the time of the announcement. The lineup was a cornucopia of artists in the early 2000s, featuring Ja Rule, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Monica, Brandy, Nas, Mia, Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Ludacris and many more.
Lovers & Friends debuted in 2022 after the coronavirus delayed its launch years earlier. In its first year, the two-day event closed early after attendees heard gunshots and fled for the exits. Last year, it returned without any problems, and included performances from Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, and Missy Elliott. Live Nation was the promoter of this year’s festival and did not immediately respond for comment on the cancellation.
Read the full cancellation statement below:
“Lovers & Friends Festival organizers have been monitoring the weather for several days and are proactively preparing for a windy Saturday. However, the National Weather Service has now issued a high wind warning, including dangerous sustained winds of 30 to 35 mph with gusts likely At speeds exceeding 60 mph, following the advice of the National Weather Service and in consultation with local government officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Festival of Lovers and Friends.
“This was an extremely heartbreaking decision as we realize that fans have traveled from all over the world to enjoy this amazing lineup of stars and have been looking forward to this event for months. We have done everything we can to create a great 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 of their original payment method.”
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