An apology and six-hour bus queues: Why everyone is talking about Splendour in the Grass.

Annual Northern Byron Parklands festival, Splendour in the Grass, has returned for the first time in three years... but has been unceremoniously hit by wet and wild weather. There were last-minute cancellations, flooding, and 12-hour-long campground queues.

Yes, 12-hour queues. Our question is: How did people go to the bathroom during that time?

Anyway, ICYMI: Splendour in the Grass (SITG) is a multi-day music festival that was set to take place over three days from Friday to Sunday, with a star-studded lineup including the Gorillaz, The Strokes, Tyler the Creator, Kacey Musgraves and more. 

But, when hundreds showed up to Byron on July 22, they were met with the news that all headline acts on day one were cancelled, and struggled long into the night to make it into the flooded campgrounds.

Splendour in the Grass 2022. pic.twitter.com/LZtO643Mlt

— Tobi Loftus (@tobiloftus) July 22, 2022

So, how did we get here?

On Thursday evening, hundreds of festival-goers arrived at Northern Byron Parklands to set up camp ahead of SITG, which officially kicked off on Friday.

But because of a severe weather event that lashed the campgrounds with torrential rain, many attendees were stuck waiting in their cars for up to 12 hours before getting a spot on (very muddy) ground, while others had to sleep in their vehicles.

Been in a car queue for 8.5h, still potentially 3hours from getting in the camp ground. No staff, no information, think this is Australia’s Fyre festival. A hell scape at Splendour #SITG2022 pic.twitter.com/lO0BOCVHRx

— Harry Nicol (@harrymnicol) July 21, 2022

Splendour in the grass 2022, really hoping for a cancel-refund tickets- let me go home announcement asap xxx @SITG pic.twitter.com/xioLqzFRUp

— Kate (@kate_ohagan3) July 21, 2022

Splendour or Fyre Festival #splendourinthegrass pic.twitter.com/8vK9qoYP2Q

— Gabriel Burden (@GabrielBurden3) July 21, 2022

We have been this queue for HOURS - since 4pm. We’ve been driving since 6am. Cars running out of petrol. Cars bogged. This is unsafe, and inhumane. @SITG #splendourinthegrass pic.twitter.com/oMU9fawXVr

— Danni (@dannikedar) July 21, 2022

There are people here out of fuel being told they’ll just have to wait til the morning after waiting 11 HOURS in line - they’ve just closed entry to the campsite and there are THOUSANDS of cars backed up. #splendourinthegrass @SITG pic.twitter.com/dLge4qLEhv

— Danni (@dannikedar) July 21, 2022

Update: 2:30am we have decided to give up and sleep in the back of the car while still in our queue position that hasn’t moved in the last 2-3 hours. There’s nothing we can do. No way in, no way out.

— Danni (@dannikedar) July 21, 2022

By Friday morning, SITG organisers announced they would not accept any more vehicles at the original campground, and urged campers to "proceed to Byron Events Farm" - a 13.5km drive away.

They also shared a post that ensured ticket holders the show would go on: "rain, hail or shine."

But, by the afternoon, Splendour shared a second post announcing that all 'main stage performances' were cancelled for day one.

“A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today, bringing more rainfall," they wrote.

“In the interest of patron safety and in consultation with all relevant emergency services, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel performances on the main stages today only – Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan and Park (Land) Stages.

“In the coming week, Moshtix will be in contact with the ticket holders affected directly via the email address used to purchase their ticket for further information on refunds.

“We ask for patience while we work through the refund process. Please be assured that our event team is working very hard to provide the best experience possible under the current circumstances.

“We look forward to Saturday and Sunday programming moving ahead as planned.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass)

A three-day ticket to the festival cost $415.19. To camp is an additional $100-$300.

By Friday evening, many festival-goers moved to Byron Bay where some headline acts regrouped.

Look at the crowd waiting to get into Beach Hotel in Byron Bay where Baker Boy, Confidence Man and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are playing tonight in lieu of their #SITG2022 shows

📹: Ellie Robinson pic.twitter.com/jUJqUf3WYA

— NME Australia (@nmeaustralia) July 22, 2022

What's happened since? 

Day two has gone ahead as planned, with headliners including Jack Harlow, Glass Animals, The Strokes and Oliver Tree.

The Saturday crowd numbers picked up while repair crews worked on pumping out the water.

The festival is set to wrap up today following days of severe wet weather. 

The final day of the festival will have nicer, sunnier weather, according to reports. While a number of headline acts were cancelled on Friday, organisers have pushed ahead with the event. 

However, those trying to exit Byron Bay's Splendour in the Grass reportedly spent up to six waiting in the queues for buses.

Furious, exhausted festival-goers aired their disappointment in having to wait hours to get home, with one person taking to Twitter to say, "It wasn't the mud that made me disappointed at Splendour in the Grass this year, it was the management's complete failure to provide bus shuttle services as promised - 2,3 and 4-hour waits are just ruined the event completely."

It wasn't the mud that made me disappointed at Splendour in the Grass this year, it was the management's complete failure to provide bus shuttle services as promised - 2,3 and 4-hour waits are just ruined the event completely. pic.twitter.com/W62sJJBsS2

— Lyndon Sharp (@lyndons) July 24, 2022

Another called out the limited police resources: "Scores of NSW police blocking up queues getting into #Splendour yesterday but then no sign of them at the end of the night when the bus queues desperately needed management and security."

Scores of NSW police blocking up queues getting into #Splendour yesterday but then no sign of them at the end of the night when the bus queues desperately needed management and security. 😒#SITG #SITG2022 #splendourinthegrass

— Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) July 23, 2022

The campgrounds at Byron Bay. Image: 9News

How have people reacted?

Online, people have been somewhat amused by the festival's ongoing issues.

filled with intense fwmo about splendour in the grass (fine with missing out)

— casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) July 22, 2022

hoping and praying that all my worst exes are at splendour in the grass 🥰

— steph harmon (@stephharmon) July 22, 2022

Every update from Splendour in the Grass: pic.twitter.com/9eB6oUo2DE

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 22, 2022

New game ... is it Fyre festival 2017 or Splendour in the Grass 2022? https://t.co/eGJK7kTo92

— Patrick Keneally (@patrickkeneally) July 22, 2022

But those attending the festival have struggled to find the funny side.

One attendee told the Today Show on Saturday morning that the advice they've received from the customer help safety line is to "get drunk and fall asleep in your cars", because they can't leave the festival.

"I think we're all just past the point of wanting to see the music," she added.

"Get drunk and fall asleep in your cars".

Festivalgoers have been given stark advice as wild weather continues to wreak havoc on Splendour in the Grass. #9Today pic.twitter.com/OYDZl2yKHy

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) July 22, 2022

According to organisers, day two went ahead as planned, and day three is expected to follow suit. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass)

Co-owner of Splendour In The Grass, Jessica Ducrou, has issued an apology on behalf of organisers for the lack of communication.

"Obviously we were dealing with the inclement conditions and just wanted to make sure we could operate the show," she said.

This article was published on July 23, 2022 and has since been updated with new information.

Feature Image: Getty / 9News.