Ghent defends festival cancellations amid orange weather alert: 'Safety over uncertainty'

The city of Ghent stands by its decision to cancel all outdoor events on Saturday, asserting that safety took precedence over potential uncertainty. The move came after the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) issued an orange code warning for severe thunderstorms, including heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts up to 100 km/h.

While Ghent ultimately experienced only a brief rain shower, the cancellation impacted events like Copacobana and Living in 't Park. This led to criticism from some in the event sector, who argued that organizers are capable of conducting their own risk analyses and that the city's approach was overly cautious. Christine Merckx of Event Confederation stated that many organizers could have made their own decisions, and that the industry is increasingly facing challenges due to a "no-risk society."

However, Mayor Mathias De Clercq (Voor Gent) defended the city's actions, emphasizing reliance on the KMI's warnings. He pointed to the unpredictable nature of thunderstorms and the significant damage they caused in neighboring provinces like Antwerp and Flemish Brabant, where trees were felled. "We are now lucky to have escaped serious harm in Ghent, but we could have been severely affected just as easily," he stated.

De Clercq added that proceeding with outdoor events under such severe weather predictions would have been irresponsible. He noted that numerous other festivals across Belgium, including Werchter Boutique, Couleur Café, and Paradise City, were also canceled or heavily impacted by storms. "We understand that such cancellations are disappointing for organizers and festival-goers, but safety comes first," the mayor concluded.