Tønder Festival braces for heavy rain after 2024 flooding

Tønder Festival is preparing for heavy rain forecast for Friday, two years after severe weather flooded the festival grounds, DR reports.

Organisers are closely monitoring the forecast as festivalgoers attend concerts and enjoy drinks at this year’s event. Commercial director Jacob Bartolin said there was no immediate cause for concern beyond the risk of getting wet.

“Our head of security is assessing the situation, we are meeting with the official authorities, and we have an escalation plan that we can move up and down as needed,” Bartolin said.

The 2024 storm left caravans stuck in mud and forced several campers to spend the night in a sports hall. The festival also cancelled its closing concert, while additional costs contributed to a deficit of 1.6 million kroner that year.

“We have of course learned from that. We need to be even better prepared,” Bartolin said, adding that the festival had evaluated and updated its safety plan.

Organisers have laid gravel and woodchips to prepare for the rain, with more materials available if needed. However, Bartolin said it was difficult to do much more.

“You cannot protect yourself against extremely severe weather. But we are monitoring the forecast continuously and staying in contact with DMI,” he said.