We grabbed a thread from r/festivals where people unloaded their worst festival experiences — mud, cops, cancelled days, and logistical nightmares. If you need a reminder of what can go wrong (and how to avoid it), these Reddit accounts deliver.
Highlights from the thread:
- Warped Tour — Washington, D.C. (2025): “They ran out of toilet paper in all of the portapotties within the first hour… it rained so hard everything turned to mud.” (u/Hot-Jelly4866)
- Bonnaroo (2025): Cancellation and poor communication left attendees stranded; muddy exits made getting out chaotic. (u/Gangiskhan)
- Coventry — Phish festival: Heavy rain and mud, awful logistics, and disappointing performances during a tense run for the band. (u/52IMean54Bicycles)
- Camp Bisco: Beautiful venue but brutal mountain camping — long, hot waits to get down the mountain and stage ownership rules made moving around annoying. (u/buds4hugs)
- EDC Las Vegas: Overcrowding, long lines, and difficult transit made the experience frustrating. (u/Nittingsheep)
- Woodstock ’99: Called out by multiple commenters as a top contender for worst festival ever — poor planning and terrible conditions for the massive crowd. (u/billionbeats)
- Other mentions: Electric Zoo 2023, Grandmas Jones Fest (~2005), Hudson Project 2014, Mad Decent Boat Party 2015, Texas Eclipse 2024 — a mix of weather disasters, security problems, and cancellations.
Common themes: unexpected weather (rain + mud), bad crowd control, inconsistent communication from organizers, and security/cops creating tense situations for campers. A few folks report turning a disaster into a wild story — but many warn others to think ahead.
Quick tips if you’re heading to a festival:
- Check weather forecasts and pack for mud: waterproof boots, garbage bags, and quick-dry layers.
- Bring essentials in multiple places (toilet paper, water, phone charger) — even a tiny roll of TP is a game-changer.
- Plan exit routes and have a backup ride or cash for transit delays.
- Know the festival’s policies (alcohol zones, camping rules) to avoid surprises.
- Stay calm and help your neighbors — a little teamwork turns worse days into bearable ones.
If you want the full thread for more absurd and wild tales, the original Reddit discussion has several dozen vivid firsthand reports — some painful, some hilarious, and a few downright surreal.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/festivals/comments/1r3r85d/what_is_the_worse_festival_you_have_ever_been/