Head Trip Festival Show Canceled Due to Lightning Warning

The Head Trip festival was canceled for Saturday night after the National Weather Service issued a lightning warning for the area. The venue was evacuated around 9 p.m. PT, and organizers announced the cancellation of the evening's performances shortly after.

The Head Trip festival app warned attendees of approaching severe weather, advising them to exit the venue and seek shelter in their vehicles or shuttles. The National Weather Service issued an airport weather warning for Palm Springs International Airport, located about 20 miles from the festival grounds, due to potential cloud-to-ground lightning from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The storm is part of a broader weather system affecting Southern California ahead of Tropical Storm Rachel's landfall. Forecasters expect the storm to move out after 11 p.m. PT. A wind advisory is in effect from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday for the Coachella Valley, with gusts up to 45 mph and warnings of downed tree limbs and power outages.

This is the second weather-related suspension for a Goldenvoice festival at the Empire Polo grounds in Indio this year. The Stagecoach festival in April also faced weather issues, with high winds and blowing sand forcing an evacuation. Head Trip organizers had previously adjusted the schedule to accommodate expected lightning, moving the start time to 4 p.m. and ending the event at 11 p.m.