Stagecoach Evacuates Due to Winds, Scraps Sets by Journey, Riley Green

As Little Big Town performed on the Mane Stage during Stagecoach’s Day 2 on Saturday evening, the Indio, California, winds picked up and tossed cowboy hats and dirt high into the air. The gusts progressively grew stronger, knocking over planters and forcing food vendors to close up shop early, until the festival itself was paused and performers were ushered offstage. A message asking fans to evacuate appeared on the screens.

“The festival has been postponed until further notice” the message read, directing fans to move quickly to the nearest exit. But about an hour after thousands walked in a wave toward the parking lot and shuttles, the festival sent out a notification that it’d be resuming, with headliner Lainey Wilson‘s set pushed back an hour to 10:30 pm. Scheduled sets by Gavin Adcock and Pitbull were also delayed, while Journey and Riley Green had their performances canceled altogether, according to an update to the Stagecoach app.

Many fans weren’t happy.

For those who had already left the packed parking lot, trying to turn back and re-enter Stagecoach was a logistical nightmare. Many on the shuttles en route to their respective hotel stops grumbled that they hoped to receive at least a partial refund, while some even asked bus drivers to turn around.

Online, the reaction was immediate, with many taking to the comment section of Stagecoach’s Instagram to voice their dismay. “You made us stampede out of there, and leave….now you expect everyone to go back and get stuck in the parking lot traffic AGAIN?!” wrote one user, while another said, “There is clearly not a lawyer within 50 ft of whoever is making this decisions.” For country music fans who traveled overseas to see their favorite artist, the disappointment was palpable. “Flew all the way from Germany for that one weekend to see Lainey and Riley,” one fan wrote, “and now I’m on the shuttle.”

Stagecoach did in fact resume on Saturday night, with Wilson opening her set with “Can’t Sit Still.” The third and final day of the 2026 country music fest commences Sunday with Post Malone scheduled to headline.