Festivals now bring big country names to eager audiences
Festivals give country artists and audiences big show opportunities.
INDIO, CALIFORNIA: Jelly Roll performs at the T-Mobile Mane Stage during the 2024 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 26, 2024 in Indio, California.
Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for StagecoachWalking the Floor by Chris O'Kelley
We are headed into winter. It won’t be long. We will have cold weather; dark will come early and maybe we will get some snow. Then the new year will be here. Still, it’s not too early to start thinking about spring and summer – and one thing that goes with warm weather is country music festivals.
For many years, marquee music events were one-day stadium tour stops. George Strait started the trend in the 90s and early 2000s and would have artists like Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and even Brooks and Dunn on the bill. Strait even filmed a few music videos live during these tours.
Kenny Chesney followed in the footsteps of George Strait and took his Jimmy Buffett-esque following into football stadiums across America. These dates proved so popular that people would show up the night before to start tailgating. Kenny has taken artists such as Eric Church, Jason Aldean, and Miranda Lambert out over the years.
Likewise, artists including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs all have made the move to stadiums.
Fast forward a few years, and now the big thing is the two- and three-day festival. You can purchase single day passes, tickets for the entire festival, and even VIP experiences. Most of these events include camping areas where you can pitch a tent or park a camper, making it home for the length of the festival.
Here are a few of this year’s country-focused festivals along with their dates:
April 4th – 6th
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Acts confirmed: Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Parker McCollum, & Megan Moroney
April 25th – 27th
Indio, California
Acts confirmed: Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, & Luke Combs
June 5th – 8th
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Acts confirmed: Jelly Roll, Kid Rock, Lainey Wilson, and Rascal Flatts
May 16th – 18th
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Acts confirmed: Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Ernest, Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green & More
May 30th – June 1st
Panama City Beach Florida
Acts confirmed: Lainey Wilson, Sam Hunt, Tyler Childers, Sam Hunt & Blake Shelton
July 19th – 21
Cullman, Alabama
Acts confirmed: Hank Williams, Jr., Kid Rock, Nickelback & Clay Walker
October 10th – 11th
River Front Park, Charleston, South Carolina
Acts confirmed: TBA
October 10th – 12th
Miramar Beach, Florida
Acts confirmed: TBA
October 18th – 20th
Greenville, South Carolina
Acts confirmed: TBA
Here are some other festivals that you may want to look into, further filling your travel, adventure, and country music bingo card in 2025.
Cancun, Mexico
Florence, Arizona
Nashville, Tennessee
Wildwood, New Jersey
Columbus, Ohio
Bristol, Tennessee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
