How to Handle a Festival Cancellation Like a Pro

Last weekend two popular festivals, Sol Blume and Lovers and Friends were canceled. Sol Blume gave a few weeks' notice but Lovers and Friends was canceled the morning of due to high-winds in Las Vegas. Want to know your options a festival you've been dying to attend gets canceled? Let's dive into it.

Understanding the Situation

First things first, that a festival cancellation isn't anyone's first choice. Organizers know the excitement and anticipation that revolve around these events. They also understand people have paid for travel, new outfits, childcare and possibly taken off work to be there. Cancellations are usually a last resort due to bad weather or safety concerns.

Seeking Refunds

Most people’s first concern is how to get a their money back, because let’s be real, fest tickets are an investment. In most cases, festival organizers will automatically initiate refunds in the event of a cancellation. It's important to read the terms and conditions of your ticket purchase, as these will outline the refund policy. If a refund isn't offered, contact the organizers or the ticketing platform directly to inquire.

PRO TIP: It’s best to buy tickets from the festival site directly to make this a seamless process. 

I’m Here. Now what?

In an ideal world, you’d have plenty of notice about the cancellation but inclement weather can’t be avoided. Prior to your trip, start researching tourist attractions, things to do and restaurants to enjoy at the destination. Is there a museum you’ve always wanted to visit or a James Beard Award-winning restaurant that everyone raves about in town? Great! Now you have a chance to check it out. If you need help, sites like Viator and AirBNB Experiences are a great place to start. You can search based on your interests and find anything from photoshoots to guided city tours. Since you’re already in town, make the best of it and explore the city.  

Recouping Travel Expenses

Travel insurance may come through for you. But, it depends on the type of insurance that you bought. When booking your travel accommodations, consider adding Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance.  This usually adds an additional 3% of your trip cost, but is one way you can get some money back if the festival is canceled ahead of time. Nerd Wallet explains the ins and outs of this option. An example: with CFAR travel insurance, Allianz Travel will refund 80% of travel expenses for any reason. 

If you’ve rented a car, you can usually cancel with no penalty and depending on what type of flight you’ve booked, you can get a flight credit or refund from the airline directly. It’s also a good idea to only book hotels with a flexible refund policy.

Stay Optimistic

While a festival cancellation can be disappointing, they don’t happen often and there’s always another festival around the corner. Plan for the worst, but things will probably work out just fine and you’ll be living your best life, surrounded by people that are on the same vibe at the festival.

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