Lancaster Festival Wendel Concert Site Devastated by Recent Flooding. While the remaining 2025 festival events at other locations will continue as scheduled, all events scheduled for the Wendel Concert site have been cancelled.
AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE LANCASTER FESTIVAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Monday, July 28, 2025
First and most importantly, thank you for your cooperation in evacuating the Ohio University-Lancaster Wendel Stage concert grounds on Saturday evening. We are thankful that the life-threatening flash flooding that occurred this past weekend did not result in significant injuries or loss of life. We are incredibly grateful to the safety officials, first responders, staff and volunteers who helped ensure everyone made it out safely.
With safety as our top priority, we are heartbroken to share that we are unfortunately unable to safely hold concerts at the site for the remainder of the season. We are cancelling the Wendel Stage concerts scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Unfortunately, the entire site has been decimated and is neither structurally capable nor safe to hold events in its current state. Our production equipment, including lighting, sound, and staging, is either damaged, destroyed or missing. The footbridges to the site have sustained damage. The portable toilets and handwashing stations are either damaged or missing, causing sanitary issues on the site.
It is for these safety and structural reasons that we are cancelling all remaining concerts that were to be held at the Wendel concert stage. This does not impact our concerts at other locations, which you will read more about below. While it is the policy of the festival to not issue refunds for weather cancellations, given the extreme nature of these devastating events, refunds can be requested for tickets from the events scheduled for July 26, July 29, July 30 and August 2 (see details below).
Additionally, pre-ordered beverages (unless claimed before the evacuation on July 26th) will be automatically refunded via method of payment used for purchase.
It’s important to note that the reason we have a “no refund” policy is because our ticket revenue does not cover the production cost of these larger concerts, even when cancelled. This means that issuing refunds will significantly impact the Festival’s ability to continue to operate in the future. Therefore, we are asking community members who are willing to do so, to consider donating the cost of their tickets by simply not requesting a refund. Any ticket costs not refunded are considered a tax-deductible charitable donation to the Festival. Should you be willing to make an additional donation to help rebuild the Festival, you can do so by clicking HERE.
We understand and respect the fact that individuals may not be in a position to or do not wish to make a donation. Specific instructions for refund claims can be found below. Refunds must be claimed by August 31, 2025.
On a happier note, we are able to host all Festival events that were not scheduled at the Ohio University Lancaster concert site. We invite the community to come out and enjoy the café concerts, free concerts at Zane Square, free children’s events and more to support our mission of continuing to bring the arts and music to Lancaster, especially during this difficult time for our community. Please click HERE for details about these events.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
REFUND REQUEST INSTRUCTIONS:
Please fill out one form for each event for which you are requesting a refund.
Pre-ordered beverages (including those not claimed before the evacuation on July 26) will be automatically refunded via method of payment used for purchase.
Refunds must be requested by Midnight (ET), August 31, 2025, via the form below
Refunds will be issued for paid tickets only. Media comps, giveaways, employer comps, and other non-purchased tickets do not carry cash value, and therefore are non-refundable.
Please fill out one form for each event for which you are requesting a refund.
A refund is only valid for purchased tickets.
The Lancaster Festival has the right to approve or deny any refund.
The refund does not include online ticketing fees.
Refund will be returned to the original purchase method excluding cash, which will be return via check.
Refunds will only be issued to the original ticket purchaser
Returns could take up to 90 days to be completed.