A recent Reddit discussion questioned how frequent serious crowd crushes are at music festivals, sparked by references to near-fatal incidents like Astroworld 2021 and Woodstock ’99. The thread revealed that while lethal crowd surges are relatively rare, perilous crowd pressure and near-crushing experiences happen more often than the public generally admits—especially at large-scale events and congested venue bottlenecks.
Multiple users shared personal accounts of frightening crowding moments at festivals and concerts, including sets from Skrillex at EDC Las Vegas, Radiohead, Pixies, and Rolling Loud. Common themes involved the terror of being trapped shoulder-to-shoulder, suffocating pressure, and the panic induced by restrictive crowd movement. Several emphasized how vital effective crowd control measures, pacing entry and exit, and proactive safety planning are for preventing tragedy.
Fact Check:
- The 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy in Houston resulted in 10 deaths caused by a crowd surge during Travis Scott’s performance.
- The 2000 Roskilde Festival in Denmark witnessed nine fatalities after a crowd surge during Pearl Jam’s concert caused fatal asphyxiations.
These events highlight the critical need for rigorous safety protocols, including managing crowd density, securing controlled entry/exit points, and deploying trained personnel focused on crowd safety.
Why Crowd Safety Matters:
While most festivals manage crowds safely, and many attendees experience discomfort without harm, the risk of deadly crushes remains a grave concern. Vigilance and constant improvement in crowd management practices are essential to safeguard fans as festivals continue to draw massive audiences.
For more on crowd crush dangers at large events:
- Why Crowd Crushes Like South Korea’s Halloween Surge Are So Deadly
- Deadly crush at Guinea soccer game is only the latest tragedy involving large crowds
Source: r/festivals