Country Thunder campers arrive in Craven after rain delays move-in day

Country Thunder fans headed out to Craven on Thursday to set up their campsites ahead of the event. Jacob Carr has more.

Campers began arriving Thursday morning at Country Thunder Saskatchewan after heavy rainfall forced organizers to delay move-in day by a day.

Festival organizers pushed back the original Wednesday opening due to muddy conditions at the Craven site following days of rain.

“There’s been a lot of rain lately,” said Megan Benoit, digital manager for Country Thunder Musical Festival. “We did push our gate time from Wednesday to Thursday morning just to let it dry out a little bit.”

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Despite more rain overnight, Benoit said crews were able to get vehicles onto the grounds as gates opened at 9 a.m.

“The team is getting everyone through the gate,” she said. “People are set up at their campsites and it’s going to dry out real fast.”

Warmer weather in the forecast is expected to help improve ground conditions ahead of the weekend’s main events.

For many, the annual festival is a long-standing tradition.

“It has become this annual tradition,” said James Runge, who has attended the festival for nearly 30 consecutive years. “It is the one time of the year when all of us, living in all different spots in Saskatchewan and Alberta…can all come together.”

This year’s lineup features Riley Green on Friday, Creed on Saturday and Lainey Wilson closing out the festival on Sunday.

First-time attendee Remi David, who is also the founder of Tide Cocktails based in Kelowna, B.C., said he is looking forward to the mix of performers.

“Definitely looking forward to Riley Green,” David said. “I also know Creed is going to be here… so to have them out here I think is a good mix for all the crowds.”