Just as Parquet Courts wrapped a raucous afternoon set at Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, an announcement came over the PA system alerting attendees that Union Park was being evacuated. Crowds began streaming out of the park just before 5pm, heading for the nearby Ashland Pink and Green Line station and taking shelter in businesses, bars and restaurants along Randolph Street. Nearby lightning, thunder and about 15 minutes of pouring rain followed.
Due to dangerous weather conditions, Pitchfork Fest is evacuating. Please calmly and quickly leave the festival grounds and find shelter.
— Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago (@pitchforkfest) July 20, 2019
After about an hour, organizers announced via Twitter that gates to the festival would reopen at 6:25pm. Pitchfork resumed with sets from Stereolab and Freddie Gibbs, while performances from Kurt Vile and Amber Mark that were slated to take place during the evacuation of the park were apparently canceled.
Gates will open in 5 minutes. You can enter at the main gate on Ashland, Ogden/Washington, or at Ashland/Washington. Music will resume as soon as possible with Stereolab and Freddie Gibbs and then will continue as previously scheduled.
— Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago (@pitchforkfest) July 20, 2019
The rest of the festival's second day will likely go on as scheduled, albeit with slightly abbreviated sets. Scottish indie rockers Belle and Sebastian will perform their album, If You're Feeling Sinister, and R&B superstars the Isley Brothers will headline Pitchfork's main stage.