Attendees of the Roots Picnic faced significant delays on Saturday as they attempted to enter the festival at the Mann Center in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Reports indicated that many festival-goers waited for hours to get through security, prompting organizers to issue an apology via social media the following day.
Originally, the festival was set to commence at 1 p.m. on May 31. However, shortly before the gates were scheduled to open, organizers announced a delay due to inclement weather, pushing the opening time to 2 p.m. The decision was made in response to rain and storms affecting the area.
As the day progressed, social media platforms became inundated with comments from frustrated attendees who expressed their dissatisfaction with the lengthy wait times. Organizers later explained that safety concerns stemming from rain and flooding on the grounds prevented them from opening the gates as planned.
In light of the delays, adjustments were made to the Day 1 performance schedule to ensure that attendees could still enjoy a full festival experience. Hours before Day 2 was set to begin, organizers took to Instagram to address the situation, acknowledging the impact of the delays on Saturday's visitors.
"Today is a new day and we will do better," the post read. "There is no rain in the forecast and we are making changes to improve the entry process and communication overall." The message also noted an increase in the number of Roots Picnic ambassadors stationed at the front gates to assist attendees.
Sunday's lineup features notable performances from Philadelphia's own Meek Mill, rock icon Lenny Kravitz, and The Roots themselves, promising an exciting conclusion to the festival weekend.
