MANCHESTER, Tenn. (WGNS) — Nearly 50 students from Middle Tennessee State University received an unforgettable lesson in live event production Friday night when severe weather forced the early cancellation of the 2025 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
The students, part of MTSU’s long-standing partnership with Bonnaroo, were on-site to handle video and audio production, capture event content, and gain firsthand experience working a major multi-day festival. By Friday evening, however, their mission shifted from content creation to protecting equipment and winding down operations.
“One of my earliest lessons I teach my students is that Murphy’s Law always rules,” said Robert Gordon, chair of MTSU’s Department of Media Arts. “If it can go wrong, it will.”
What went wrong was a wave of strong and steady storms, including rain, wind, and lightning, that left the festival grounds waterlogged and muddy. By late afternoon Friday, standing water had pooled across key areas of the site, making it unsafe to continue.
“We are beyond gutted, but we must make the safest decision and cancel the remainder of Bonnaroo,” organizers said in a statement posted to social media.
MTSU students had arrived as early as Wednesday to begin production duties, continuing a tradition that has given dozens of aspiring professionals a chance to work on one of the country’s most high-profile music festivals. Though disappointed by the early end, students still captured content from the first half of the event and experienced the real-time challenges of working in the field.
“While we are certainly heartbroken that Bonnaroo had to be canceled, it remains a great learning opportunity for our students,” said Beverly Keel, dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment. “They were able to see up close how decisions are made in the moment and what should be prioritized.”
The unexpected shift offered a chance for students to learn not only technical skills but also how to adapt, problem-solve, and work under pressure—hallmarks of careers in media and entertainment.
“While the mud will wash away, their memories will last a lifetime,” Keel added.
