As Middle Tennessee swelters, the Bonnaroo music festival is rolling out more options for music fans to stay cool.
Peter Nguyen and Colin Book, both first-time attendees from Louisville, Ky., took a moment to cool down in front of a fan blowing mist under one of the tents.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Nguyen said, “but it was really hot.”
“Very spicy out here!” said festival volunteer Angela Steelman.
While Steelman and her friend, Kat Taylor, got to drive air-conditioned cars, they noted one shortcoming for the majority of attendees: “There need to be more trees,” Taylor said.
Meanwhile, Gerrard Volker said he and his friends were prepared for the high temps because of past experiences.
“Our plan is to take care of each other and take shade quickly,” he said.
Organizers say Centeroo and the campgrounds will feature multiple options for shade and places to get misted and cool off. Portable fans will keep the air moving at the This and That tents throughout the weekend. Festivalgoers can also keep the heat at bay by slipping down a waterslide or dipping under the festival’s iconic mushroom-shaped fountain.
To avoid heat-related illness, the festival is encouraging Bonnaroovians to bring a reusable water bottle; to wear light, loose-fitting clothing; and to take time to cool down in the shade.
The festival also saw a different weather challenge on Friday. A swift storm blew threw and caused the Centeroo area to be evacuated for a few hours.
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