Concert News

The Country Fest 2024 returns to Clay’s Resort

Charlie Kriak

June 10, 2024

In 2009, Aaron Green and Joel Belcher were looking for business ideas. The two would would brainstorm for hours talking through ideas and plans. They started to make some calls and scheduled meetings for their idea, which became The Country Fest.

Now, over a decade later the yearly country music event has grown to become one of the largest family owned festivals in the U.S.A., and with headliners of Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett and Chris Janson this year, they don’t show any signs of slowing down.

The four-day festival has always brought some of the biggest names in country music to headline each night, but they also bring the up and coming acts like Thomas Mac, Conner Smith and Chase Matthew, who will be performing at The Country Fest this year.

Friends, fun and Country Music make The Country Fest a yearly ritual for many country fans.

Those first year’s of the festival were held on stages that used to be the foundation for an old barn with pieces of plywood as a deck. But improvements to the facility, which have included a new cement foundation and steel structure, have made it a world class facility that easily accommodates tours from some of country music’s biggest stars.

This year the changes include the removal of the video screen behind the sound tent, but FOH video screens increased by almost 50%. The other very welcome addition will be another cell phone tower on the festival grounds. If you have ever tried to call or text someone while at the festival, you know what I am referring to.

Every year The Country Fest seems to just get bigger and yet the price of admission is pretty reasonable considering today’s ticket prices. The event starts off offering tickets at $129 per day, with a commuter pass for the entire festival only costing $229. In comparison, last week’s Kenny Chesney show would have set you back almost $400 for two tickets in the Pavilion.

Some helpful hints for those that have never been to The Country Fest is to remember that it is a general admission event. So, you can get as close to the stage as you want, or you can choose to bring a lawn chair and just kick back on the hill. There is a good view of the stage from wherever you are at the venue.

The Country Fest faithful have made TCF one of the largest family owned Country Music festivals in the U.S.A.

The Country Fest has another plus with it’s unique location at Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park in North Lawrence, Ohio, as well. The park offers camping for those who want to make the week a party and also offers admission to their water park for every ticket buyer. The early camping actually starts days before the first artist ever steps onto the stage, which gives folks a chance to make a vacation out of the event.

The Country Fest takes place on June 12-15 at Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park in North Lawrence, Ohio. Located 15 minutes from Canton, 20 minutes from Akron, and 50 minutes from Cleveland. Parking is available in the general parking lot or for an additional fee, in Tailgate Alley. For tickets and more information go to their website The Country Fest.