There might as well be a bonfire in the middle of the standing section at Country Thunder Florida; this country music festival in Universal Studios’s hometown is a country kick-back of a party. Expect to see a lot of American flag clothing, laughing faces, t-shirts about drinking, and more than a few mullets. (If you don’t have a mullet, don’t fret. An attendee made a sign last year advertising, “Fresh Haircuts Specializing in Mullets.”) In 2019, this festival became the newest addition to the Country Thunder franchise, which has staged Country Thunder events across the United States and Canada since 1993. It has evolved into a mainstay of the country music scene, reliably attracting some of the genre’s biggest names. This year, in Florida, Country Thunder will bring Chris Young, Ashley McBride, Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Chase Rice, Clay Walker, and more.
The Florida version of Country Thunder plays more like one long concert, or even an SEC football game, than a festival. It has only one stage through which each of the bands cycle. Though it does have a pit and standing lawn sections, there’s also lots of traditional seating (by which we mean: chairs) and recreational sports fields right outside the festival grounds. Like any good game day, this party is family- and beer-friendly, and attendees start tailgating hours before the festival starts. Last year, the festival had to contend with central Florida’s rainy and windy weather. Here’s to better weather and cold beer at Country Thunder Florida 2022.
The Specs
- Osceola Heritage Park has a capacity of 10,500 people
- Tickets come in three varieties: general admission, reserved seating, and Jim Beam’s platinum experience. The platinum experience gets you luxury bathrooms, proximity to performers, a private bar, and more. General admission gets you lawn seats. Single-day general admission tickets start at $150.
- Kids under 10 can attend for free with the purchase of an adult general admission ticket