Just as a full day of events was about to get underway at the Voodoo Fitness Festival in Saskatoon, lightning hit the venue.
“It hit the top of the golf dome, killing all of our power and creating quite a shock wave,” organizer Chad Benko told 650 CKOM Sunday.
Around 200 people were inside the dome when it happened Saturday morning. They were evacuated to the nearby Ramada Hotel.
“I think we’ve all experienced a very near lightning strike,” Benko said. “Think about how your house almost rumbles and the noise — now imagine (the lightning) being only feet from you.”
Benko described the impact as a blue light smashing through the ceiling and flashing down to the floor; leaving behind a smell similar to what lingers after lighting firecrackers or a cap gun.
Before anyone was allowed back inside the dome, firefighters and police went through to check for damage. The fitness festival was delayed by about one hour, but otherwise everything was okay.
“All things considered, I don’t think we could have had a better outcome,” Benko said, adding the lightning strike certainly made it a more memorable day.
“That will be how we remember the 2018 Voodoo Fitness Festival — the year the lightning hit the dome.”