Rain in the forecast? Don’t give up yet. Light rain usually isn’t a problem — fireworks shells are waterproofed, and festivals routinely go ahead in drizzle. The real threats are different.
Wind is the biggest factor
What organisers fear most isn’t rain — it’s wind. Once sustained wind reaches roughly 7 metres per second, launching is typically stopped, because burning embers can blow toward houses or the crowd. It’s a safety line, not a matter of comfort.
Lightning and heavy rain
Festival sites are open riverbanks and coasts with tens of thousands of people, so lightning is extremely dangerous and will stop an event fast. Very heavy rain (roughly 10 to 20 mm per hour or more) can also force a cancellation — partly for safety, partly because fog and downpour hide the colours.
What ‘rain or shine’ really means
You’ll see phrases like ‘held in light rain, cancelled in stormy weather’. ‘Stormy’ means strong wind, heavy rain, lightning, or high waves at a warning level. So a festival can be cancelled even with little rain if the wind is bad.
How to check on the day
The festival’s official site and social media post decisions on the day — check a few hours before. If you bought paid seats, look up the refund policy in advance.
Criteria vary by region and organiser; always confirm official announcements.
Read next
