Festival Canceled Due to Storm
Powerful Nor'easter Forces First Ever Cancellation of Global Citizen Festival in Central Park
Anonymous
Organizers canceled Saturday’s Global Citizen Festival in Central Park because a powerful nor’easter was forecast to bring dangerous rain and winds, making it unsafe to host attendees and protect the Great Lawn. It is the first cancellation in the festival’s 14-year history; performers had included Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz and John Legend, with Hugh Jackman set to host. Ticket purchases and qualifying donations will be refunded, and food intended for the event will be donated to New York City organizations. The cancellation comes amid concerns about damage to the Great Lawn, which required two months of repairs after the rain-soaked 2023 festival; some local officials have argued the event should move to Randall’s Island. The storm also disrupted other shore-area events: a Wildwood monster-truck show was postponed and a Wildwood Crest celebration canceled, while the Irish Fall Festival and a car show were still planned to proceed.
Key Points
1
Organizers said they made the cancellation decision in consultation with New York City and NYC Parks, after spending the week exploring contingency plans that they ultimately judged unworkable.
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The festival was not the only major New York music event called off: the three-day All Things Go NYC Festival was canceled on Friday, just hours before its doors were due to open.
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The festival’s tickets could be earned by taking actions supporting Global Citizen’s mission, though general-admission and VIP tickets were also available for purchase.
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Gayle King and actress Rachel Brosnahan had been scheduled to appear at the festival, in addition to Hugh Jackman’s hosting role.
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