GREENFIELD — The sunny disposition of Green River Festival attendees was too bright even for torrential rainfall to dampen.

Approximately 20 minutes before Sammy Rae and the Friends could take the stage Friday evening for the first performance of the weekend, a sudden, severe thunderstorm hit the 34th annual Green River Festival. Concert organizers urged people to seek shelter from the heavy rain and lightning, which sent groups of people scrambling for cover in various buildings around the Franklin County Fairgrounds.

Despite the sudden shift in weather, festival-goers remained optimistic.

“Heck yeah,” said Colrain resident Pete Laurent when asked if he was still excited about the festival as he was crammed into a crowd of people in a barn. “This is one of the better parts of living out here.”

Green River Festival, which has been traditionally hosted at Greenfield Community College since 1986, is now taking place at the Franklin County Fairgrounds for the first time because the college is closed this summer and the fairgrounds is a larger venue. The event was also postponed from its usual July date to late August in anticipation of more people being vaccinated against COVID-19. Last year’s festival was canceled because of the pandemic and this year’s iteration is now sold out for the weekend.

The storm soaked the field and knocked over umbrellas, chairs and tents that were set up by people ahead of the first show. The storm lasted approximately 20 minutes and the all-clear signal was given shortly afterward.

“It’s all clear, we’re getting back to business,” one of the organizers said over the speaker, which sparked a cheer from the now-drenched crowd.

Dawn Benson, who traveled from Spofford, New Hampshire with her friends, said the rain could not stop her from enjoying the night ahead as she was setting her umbrella and chair back up.

“Not at all, we’re up and running again,” Benson said when asked about weather-related concerns. “This is our seventh year.”

Benson said she and her friends were camping out for five days at the Franklin County Fairgrounds and this is an annual trip for them.

“It’s tradition for us now,” she said. “We take Thursday through Monday off and make the most of it.”

Tom and Leanne Danielsen of Bellingham were sitting under a tent next to their truck right as the first drops of rain began to fall.

“I think the first band isn’t going to start on time,” Tom Danielsen joked. His wife chimed in and said they were glad to be at the festival, “even in the rain.”

The couple said they were most excited to see Americana artist Shakey Graves, who was the main stage’s final act Friday night. They added it was their fifth time attending the Green River Festival.

“We’ve seen him before,” Tom Danielson said. “He’s just awesome.”

Tom Danielsen complimented the Green River Festival’s organizers and said they deserve praise for navigating both the pandemic and an entirely new location.

“The Tetris puzzle they pulled off is just incredible,” Danielsen said. “I’m just impressed.”

In light of the pandemic, festival organizers reduced the number of tickets available for each day while also requiring masks to be worn inside each building. When the rain forced people to run for shelter, festival staff were handing out masks to those without them.

Northfield resident Jesse Morgan brought his whole family out for the festival. He said his wife has been going for decades and he joined in on the tradition.

“When I married her, I was sort of married into the festival,” Morgan said. “It’s a great family event.”

He said the cancellation of last year’s event was “unfortunate” because his sister-in-law from Texas wasn’t able to make this year’s festival, but they are glad to be back, this time with his 1-year-old son Jesse “Jack” Morgan V in tow.

“Everyone missed live music,” Morgan said. “It’s nice to be back.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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