LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The upcoming storm in Louisville, a residual effect of Hurricane Helene, will impact more than 100,000 people at the Louder Than Life music festival happening at the fairgrounds.
Thursday is the first day of music and it's expected to be the driest of the four-day festival, but organizers are already sending out alerts about weather plans.
"I feel like moshing in some mud, " said festival goer Keairra Rayburn. "That's going to add another layer to what the usual festivals are like."
Rock fans at Waterfront Wednesday were gearing up for Louder Than Life and preparing for the weekend to get a little messy.
"We'll get a little wet," said Lee Deal. "Music is playing and it doesn't matter, bust out a slip and slide."
Danny Hayes is the CEO of Danny Wimmer Presents, the company that puts on Louder Than Life. He said they're watching how severe of an impact Hurricane Helene could have on the festival.
"Right now, there is some chance of high winds on Saturday, so if that were to happen, we would have to evacuate," Hayes said. "But rain or shine, no evacuation."
Hayes said an evacuation would take place only in the case of lightening within an 8-mile radius or high winds.
He insisted the fairgrounds property at the Expo Center is prepared to take on the storm.
"The reason we moved to this site several years ago is because this site is built to handle the weather," Hayes said. "This will not be a repeat of Champion's Park from 2018."
Champion's Park on River Road saw flooded stages and an empty venue when the Louder than Life festival in 2018 was canceled because of flooding.
"You can't control the weather, you can't blame the festival promotors, you can't blame anybody," Deal said.
Despite the storms, Louder Than Life is holding its ground.
"That's where we really ask for the fans' cooperation is if we're saying we need to evacuate, we know something's coming, and it's time to evacuate," Hayes said.
Hayes said there will be an indoor space available for fans to seek refuge from the rain and fans can head to their cars for cover.
He also said if the festival were to evacuate, they would know hours before and the evacuation would begin before the storm gets dangerous.
Hayes added that fans should bring an extra change of clothes because you'll be sure to get muddy.
Louder Than Life executives also announced on Wednesday that guests would be able to leave and return to the festival.
All guests are required to scan out as they exit in order to be able to scan back in.
They did warn that cars must stay in the parking lot; once the car leaves the lot, you'll be required to purchase parking again to return.
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