This weekend’s country music and barbecue festival Meatstock has been cancelled because of the threat of Cyclone Alfred.
The two-day festival, run by Port Macquarie-based Fat Apple Event Co, was to be held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds starting from Friday and the Saturday event had already sold out.
The organisers said they were “gutted to announce that Meatstock Toowoomba 2025 has been cancelled”.
“This was set to be our biggest Meatstock yet—Saturday was already sold out, and we had so much planned,’’ the company said in a statement.
“We threw everything at this event to make it truly unforgettable: three international headliners, massive 7m-high inflatables, a Ferris wheel, dodgems, a 10-pole big top tent, our largest lineup of pitmasters ever, fireworks, a fire show, 50 big rig trucks, flags, fire kitchen, and all the usual Meatstock craziness.”
The festival featured a strong list of international and local country music talent including Chase Rice, Oliver Anthony, Redferrin, Brad Cox, Melanie Dyer, and Taylor Moss.
The organisers said the cyclone had left organisers in a “damned if we do, damned if we don’t situation.”
“For some, the severe weather predictions at their homes and concerns about traveling to the venue were a major worry. For others, plans were already set—accommodation booked, travel underway, and rain wasn’t a big deal. Some will be deeply disappointed by this decision, while others will be relieved. We hope you understand this was not in our control.
“At the end of the day, Mother Nature has the final say. The serious weather concerns surrounding Cyclone Alfred forced us to make this difficult call in the best interest of safety.
“We also wanted to make this decision as early as possible to give everyone time to make alternative arrangements.
“As much as we’d love to postpone, it brings a whole new set of complications that would take time to navigate and delay clarity for everyone.”
All tickets will be refunded through ticketing provider Moshtix.
