The Show Must Go On

Wind Gust Collapsed Stage, LOL Continued
A crew from the City of Gothenburg was on scene early Saturday morning at Lake Helen after receiving word that the stage for Livin’ Out Loud had been blown down in the wee morning hours. The crew used a bucket truck to remove the lights from above the stage and helped stabilize the structure before returning on Sunday afternoon to assist with dismantling the wreckage. (Leader photo by Ellen Mortensen)
A crew from the City of Gothenburg was on scene early Saturday morning at Lake Helen after receiving word that the stage for Livin’ Out Loud had been blown down in the wee morning hours. The crew used a bucket truck to remove the lights from above the stage and helped stabilize the structure before returning on Sunday afternoon to assist with dismantling the wreckage. (Leader photo by Ellen Mortensen)

Weather tried to stop it, but perseverance prevailed. Even without the big stage, the bright lights, and the booming sound system, Livin’ Out Loud 2026 happened. Thousands still came. Hearts were still touched. And despite the tireless work of many individuals, most of them volunteers, all the glory - say organizers - goes to God.

“I got the call from our security guys, as board chair and site coordinator, just after 2 a.m. that the stage had collapsed,” said Joe Wahlgren. “It was five hours before our first sound check…five hours!”

Wahlgren, LOL stage manager Travis Peterson, and the crew of R8 Productions - owner of the stage and sound equipment made a plan to gather at the site just before sunup to assess the situation and determine what to do next.

“When we looked at what was missing and …