NEW YORK (PIX11) — Electric Zoo, after canceling the first day of their weekend-long festival, is set to kick off on Randall’s Island Saturday but with a delay.
The festival confirmed doors will open on Saturday, but it will be delayed by two hours from its intended 1 p.m. start time and is now set for 3 p.m. This comes after organizers canceled the first day of the festival due to supply chain issues.
Organizers of the festival made the announcement on Twitter Friday morning, explaining that the construction of the main stage couldn’t be completed on time.
“Sharing this tough news is honestly heartbreaking. We feel the weight of the disappointment and frustration, and we’re so sorry to let our Electric Zoo family down,” the organizers said.
They said festivalgoers would get a full refund for Friday’s ticket, and those who have multiple-day tickets will “receive credit for one of the days.” Friday ferry and bus ticket holders will also get a full refund, and those who have several-day transportation tickets will get a refund that is the same amount as one day, the organizers said.
The festival is set to continue this Saturday and Sunday as scheduled, according to the organizers.
“We look forward to uniting with all of you to celebrate life and music, and dance through the sunset with the iconic backdrop of the New York skyline, right in the heart of New York City,” the announcement said.
The festival’s organizers said they are “profoundly sorry” for the inconvenience and disappointment the cancellation will cause. Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment, with some calling for the rest of the festival to open with the main stage closed.
A spokesperson for City Hall told PIX11 News the festival organizers made the “responsible decision” in canceling the first day.
“New Yorkers’ safety is always the top priority of the Adams administration, and we respect that the organizers of Electric Zoo have made the responsible decision to cancel the first day of the festival while they continue working to provide a safe environment for all attendees. When city agency teams were on site this morning, construction on the stages was not complete, and the grounds were not prepared to safely host thousands of attendees. We have been and continue working closely with the festival organizers to create a safe environment for all attendees to enjoy and to provide all appropriate approvals as quickly as possible. Our teams are on standby to walk through the site again this evening and determine whether the festival can proceed on Saturday, and we hope the thousands of New Yorkers and visitors will be able to enjoy the festival.”
City Hall spokesperson
Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
