The Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood, New Jersey, experienced a temporary halt on Thursday evening, June 19, 2025, due to detected lightning nearby. Organizers announced a brief pause, urging attendees to seek shelter, and later confirmed that the gates had reopened around 9 p.m. EDT. This four-day music festival, held on the beach in Wildwood, features a robust lineup of artists including Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Rascal Flatts, Jordan Davis, and many others.

Despite the weather interruption, attendees were reported to be making the most of the event. Local businesses in the Wildwood area expressed optimism that the festival would provide a significant economic uplift, especially following a slow and rainy start to the summer season at the Jersey Shore. The severe weather that prompted the festival's pause was part of a larger system of storms that swept through the Philadelphia area on Thursday, causing extensive damage and power outages.