If you’re wondering, “Do I need a wet weather plan for my event?” the answer is probably yes.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of hoping it won’t rain on event day. But if your event is largely outdoors or involves lots of moving parts, hope isn’t a strategy. Rain doesn’t cancel logistics, it complicates them. And without a solid wet weather plan (and the team to execute it), you could be facing serious chaos.

Take our recent Brisbane fun run with ALWS as an example. The day was an incredible show of support for a great cause, but it also rained. Heavily. Fortunately, we had a plan and a team ready to roll with it.

You can’t stop the rain, but you can plan for it

Sometimes, no matter how much prep you do, the weather just doesn’t cooperate. For large outdoor events like fun runs, there’s no perfect workaround: people are walking outside either way. But that doesn’t mean you should just cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Because when things start to go sideways, do you really have the time and resources to deal with everything that might crop up?

Outdoor event in light rain with participants using umbrellas – example of why you need a wet weather plan for your event.
An example from the real world

Here’s an example of things that actually happened at a recent fun run we coordinated. 

  • Half the volunteer marshals don’t show up because of the rain. Now you’re scrambling to find six replacements in 30 minutes or risk delaying the start.
  • A marshal arrives and goes home sick. You’re down another person—on an already reduced team.
  • Your final stage act cancels. The last hour of entertainment is suddenly… silence.
  • Your beanbags are getting drenched. They can handle some drizzle, but not this much.
 

You don’t want to be the one running around in the rain trying to manage all of this. That’s why having a team with a clear wet weather plan is so important.

Find out more about the ALWS Walk My Way fun run we ran the year before (when it was nice and sunny!)

How we handled it

Volunteer coordination

One team member got on the phone with missing marshals. Were they stuck in traffic or skipping out? Once we knew the gaps, we triaged which marshal points were essential for safety especially near bridges and road crossings.

Meanwhile, others worked the crowd. We found replacements from the attendees and the ALWS team and got everyone briefed in time.

Furniture rescue

As the rain worsened, 65 beanbags were moved by hand – through the pouring rain – under shelter to save them. Not glamorous, but necessary.

Stage backup

When our final performers couldn’t make it, we pulled together a playlist, handed it to the AV crew, and kept the atmosphere going strong.

Group of volunteer event marshals that we had to quickly improvise on the day due to the weather - a great example of why you need a wet weather plan
So, do you really need a wet weather plan?

Absolutely. But more than that, you need people to bring it to life.

As the organiser, you can’t afford to be chasing marshals, saving furniture, and reworking schedules. You need to be focused on the big picture. A solid wet weather plan for your event is not just about having ideas on paper. It’s about execution.

If you’re wondering “Do I need a wet weather plan for my event?” this is your sign.

Be prepared, not panicked

When it comes to event planning, things go wrong. The weather is just one of many variables. What matters is how quickly and smoothly you can adapt and that comes down to your people and your preparation.

If you’re planning an event and want confidence no matter the forecast, we can help. Let’s build a plan that works rain or shine.