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What Type of Rain Insurance Do I Need for My Event?
Outdoor events like motorsports, golf tournaments, fairs, festivals, and concerts are highly susceptible to weather risks, especially rain. While you can’t control the weather, you can mitigate financial losses through rain insurance. However, not all rain insurance policies are created equal. Depending on your event’s structure and revenue streams, you may require a specific type of rain coverage. Below, we compare and contrast four primary types of rain insurance to help you determine which policy best fits your needs. [...]
Event Planning Around Weather: Tips and Considerations
Outdoor events can be breathtakingly memorable but are also uniquely vulnerable to one unpredictable factor: the weather. Rain, wind, extreme heat, or even unexpected cold snaps can significantly impact attendance, vendor revenue, and overall success. For organizers, planning around weather conditions isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential. One critical strategy is securing weather insurance to mitigate financial risks. Understanding the Impact of Weather on Outdoor Events Weather can shape every aspect of an event, starting with attendance. [...]
Why Picking the Wrong Insurance Partner Could Ruin Your Event
— And Why Local Sponsors Shouldn't Pick Your Weather Coverage When you’re planning a fair, festival, or outdoor event, a lot can go wrong — but nothing kills your revenue faster than bad weather. That’s why weather insurance isn’t optional. It’s essential. But here’s the trap too many organizers fall into: choosing a local insurance agency just because they’re a sponsor of your event. Let’s be blunt. That’s a bad idea. Sponsorship ≠ Expertise It’s great to support [...]
Hurricane Forecasts vs. Reality: What the Last 10 Years Tell Us
Each spring, meteorologists and media outlets eagerly anticipate the release of the Colorado State University (CSU) Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast. These forecasts estimate how many storms may form during the upcoming season and often shape headlines about whether the year will be “active” or “quiet.” Below is a summary of the most recent forecast: Forecast Parameters CSU Forecast for 2026 Average for 1991-2020 Named Storms 13 14.4 Named Storm Days 55 69.4 Hurricanes 6 7.2 Hurricane Days 20 27 Major [...]
What Stadium Construction Teaches Us About Weather Risk
Building a professional sports stadium or arena is one of the most complex construction projects imaginable. These projects involve years of planning, hundreds of contractors, and billions of dollars in investment. Despite detailed planning and cost modeling, one reality continues to impact nearly every large construction project: Weather delays. Looking at the last 25 professional sports stadiums and arenas built in North America, one pattern becomes clear. Many projects that began with carefully calculated budgets ended up costing far more [...]
What One Rainy Weekend Cost the Event Industry
April 17–19, 2026, looked like a typical spring weekend, until the weather rolled in and disrupted outdoor events across the country. From Texas to New Jersey, festivals were canceled, evacuated, or rescheduled due to rain, storms, wind, and even fire-weather conditions. A few examples: Two Step Inn – Evacuated and canceled Frontier Fiesta – Shut down mid-event Tejano Explosion – Rescheduled Bloomfest – Canceled due to high winds These are just the events that made headlines. The Cost Adds Up [...]
Why Rainfall Insurance Should Rarely Be Placed in the Surplus Lines Market
Rainfall insurance is commonly used by event organizers, agriculture operations, golf courses, and construction projects to protect against financial losses caused by too much rain. Because it is considered a specialty coverage, many people assume rainfall insurance must be placed in the surplus lines market with a non-admitted insurer. In reality, that assumption is often incorrect. In most states, there are at least three admitted insurers capable of providing rainfall insurance, which means the coverage should generally be placed in [...]
Weather Insurance for Golf Tournaments – Traditional Rain Insurance May Not Always Make the Cut
Like many events that take place outdoors, inclement weather can ruin and even cancel a golf tournament. However, golf tournaments have their own set of weather issues regarding the type and timing of weather events. To address these issues, there are a variety of customizable insurance policies available to those planning golf tournaments: Event Cancellation Insurance Adverse weather may merely make tournament play less enjoyable, or it can interrupt play for a matter of hours, a full day, or [...]
It’s Raining On Your Parade. Now What?
When weather doesn’t cooperate for your outdoor event, you need to act fast to communicate the situation to attendees and preserve your reputation. Here’s how: Act Fast You should begin monitoring the weather a week before your event, so you can prepare for any expected weather. However, keep in mind that there are no guarantees when it comes to the forecast, so be ready for anything. As soon as you realize weather will interfere with your event, you need [...]
Three Tips to Make the Most of Your Golf Outing
Planning a golf outing is no small undertaking. But with a lot of preparation and a little luck, your golf outing will be a hole in one! Follow the advice below for help making your golf outing a huge success. Offer a Big Prize Offering a big prize, such as that for a hole-in-one competition or a putting contest, is a great way to add some fun and attract more players to your golf outing. The best part of [...]
When “Extras” Become Red Flags: The Hidden Risk of Insurance Rebating
Event organizers are often approached with offers that sound helpful on the surface. A broker contributes sponsorship dollars to an event. Another provides free items or perks to clients who purchase coverage. At first glance, these gestures may appear to provide added value or industry goodwill. In reality, they can signal a serious problem. In most states, insurance rebating laws prohibit insurance brokers from providing items of value, cash, sponsorship payments, or other inducements that are tied to the purchase [...]
Why Your Weather Insurance Partner Should Think Like an Event Organizer
If you run a fair, festival, amphitheater, or outdoor event, you already know this: weather isn’t a side issue. It’s the variable that can change everything. A clear forecast can mean record attendance. A steady rain can cut walk-up ticket sales in half. Lightning can shut down a headliner. Extreme heat can keep families home. When you’re choosing a weather insurance provider, you’re not just comparing policies. You’re choosing a partner who understands how the weather truly affects your event. [...]
When Rain Falls but the Claim Doesn’t Pay: The Risk of Incomplete Measurement Advice
Rain insurance is designed to do one thing: respond when weather negatively impacts an event. Yet I recently heard of a situation where a broker provided rain insurance without informing the client that multiple rainfall measurement options were available. Instead, the policy relied solely on rainfall recorded at an airport several miles from the event location. That omission can be costly. For fairs, festivals, and outdoor events, how rainfall is measured can be just as important as how much [...]
Why Fair Managers Should Always Get Three Weather Insurance Quotes And How Working With a Specialist Can Make the Difference
Weather risk has always been part of running a fair. From sudden storms and extreme heat to prolonged rainouts, uncontrollable weather can quickly turn months of planning into financial strain. For today’s fair managers, protecting the event, the exhibitors, and the organization itself means taking weather insurance seriously — and taking the time to evaluate it properly. One of the most important steps fair managers can take is simple but often overlooked: obtain at least three weather insurance quotes [...]
The Hidden Risk of Non-Admitted Rain Insurance Policies and Why Working With a Specialist Matters
Recently, I heard about an insurance broker who placed a rain insurance policy with a non-admitted carrier, even though an admitted carrier was available. In many states, this is a direct violation of insurance regulations. Unfortunately, the client often doesn’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late. For fairs, festivals, and outdoor events, this kind of mistake can create serious financial and legal risk. Admitted vs. Non-admitted Carriers: Why it Matters An admitted carrier is licensed and regulated [...]
