Well, it is hard to believe that it has been since the summer of 2019 since we have been able to get to some of these larger events because of the pandemic and nothing says summer like getting out to these big venues to enjoy your favorite artists coming together in one place with all their fans.
After a two-year hiatus we are excited to publish our Big Venue Music Festival Bucket List of the must attend music festivals for 2022 as music lovers start planning their summer music excursions.
Every year there are more new events making this a very competitive market as festival organizers battle every year to get the best in musical talent for their events while adding more and more events, perks and better venues facilities every year to keep you and your festival money coming back and 2022’s line up is no exception.
~
We reviewed over forty-five large venue festivals that are looking to capture your dollars this summer, whether that’s for ticket sales or your corporate sponsorship. We have selected the following for our Big Venue Music Festival Bucket List for 2022. Other than by date, there is no particular order for these festivals as we believe they all offer amazing venues and spectacular artist line-ups as we get back to enjoying these outdoor events this summer. We are confident that you, our readers, will find that perfect festival that is just right for you, but we do recommend you do not take too long to decide as these events are selling out fast!
CMA Fest 2022
When: June 9th – 12th, 2022
Where: Nashville, TN, United States
Why: Well, if this was NASCAR, this event would be the Daytona 500 and it only seems right that is would happen in Music City to kick off the summer music festival season after a two-year hiatus. Like we said in the opening the festivals are not in any particular order, other than by date, so it is purely by coincidence that the festival at the top of our bucket list, would also be the first we put on our list for 2022. To be honest it would be easier to list who is not performing at this year’s CMA Fest than who is, as the who’s who of Country’s Music Artists take to the stage to kick off the largest event of the summer. CMA Fest features literally the A to Z of Country’s Music superstars with Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Alan Jackson, Lady A, Parker McCollum, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Zac Brown Band all performing at Nissan Stadium over the 4-day event.
Plus, at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage, which is the epicenter of daytime music with Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Tenille Arts, Priscilla Block, Danielle Bradbery, Blanco Brown, Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, Lainey Wilson plus 30 other must-see artists, featuring the newest faces and the legends of Country Music you know and love. The best part is it is completely FREE! Plus Four-day CMA Fest pass holders get early access at 9AM with music starting at 10am. Over 100 additional artists, including High Valley, MacKenzie Porter, The Reklaws and Jake Hoot on the Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage and the Maui Jim Reverb Stage.
Their inaugural event in 2015 brought in over 20,000 attendees, and has grown every year, with their most recent edition in 2021 saw the addition of a fifth stage to accommodate more artists and larger crowds, welcoming 35,000 music fans and festival goers to a SOLD-OUT festival. Showing that this is one festival that you need to strongly consider for your own bucket list.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $82.00 USD
Full Festival Passes starting at: $235.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://cmafest.com/
The Country Fest
When: June 15th – 18th, 2022
Where: North Lawrence, OH, United States
Why: What we like about this festival is that it was started by two guys that just loved music. Aaron Green and Joel Beichler started The Country Fest back in the summer of 2009, with little to no connections or knowledge about music festivals. With some luck, a lot of hard work and the constant drive to improve the festival and the venue, they have grown to be one of the largest privately family owned and operated festivals in the U.S.A. So, we recommend that you get this on your bucket list and join Aaron and Joel, their families and music fans as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary this year with a kick of party with Granger Smith and Kameron Marlowe, then Headliners Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Morgan Wallen along with others like Gabby Barrett, Chase Rice, Hardy and a half a dozen other rounding out the celebrations.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $69.00 USD
Full Festival Passes starting at: $229.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://www.thecountryfest.com/
Barefoot Country Music Fest 2022
When: June 16th -19th, 2022
Where: Wildwood, NJ, United States
Why: BCMF 2022 will feature 40+ of Country’s hottest artists across 5 unique stages on the shores of Wildwood, NJ bringing a unique blend of today’s country headliners like Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell and other such as Dustin Lynch, Walker Hayes, Chris Janson, Bret Michaels plus regional stars, up-and-comers and locals artist favorites performing. With the combination of country music and the scenic Wildwood’s backdrop, this family-friendly, four-day fest is worthy of anyone’s summer music bucket list.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: Not available at time of publication
Full Festival Passes starting at: $199.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://barefootcountrymusicfest.com/
Country Summer Music Festival
When: June 17th – 19th, 2022
Where: Santa Rosa, CA, United States
Why: Well for starters, Country Summer is Northern California’s biggest country music festival and Sonoma County’s biggest party, attracting more than 30,000 fans each year. Since its inauguration in 2014, Country Summer has gotten bigger and better every year with a lineup of country music superstars and big-name entertainers like this year’s performers Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Chris Young, Jimmie Allen, Justin Moore, Lainey Wilson and the many more that will perform at the 5-acre Carnival field at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Northern California which sets the scene with spectacular video walls and state-of-the-art staging and sound. Plus, between headliners on the Chevy Silverado Stage, a secondary stage features up and coming musicians from the regional area. While performances by country music artists are the main attraction, great festivals are more than great music. Country Summer is a big country music celebration with interactive activities, a variety of culinary delights and an array of libations which puts it on our bucket list for one to check out in 2022.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $89.00 USD
Full Festival Passes starting at: $249.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://countrysummer.com/
Ottawa Bluesfest
When: July 7th – 17th, 2022
Where: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Why: Well since 1994, this festival has offered a wide variety of world-class music which has been essential to the success of the Bluesfest over the past 25 years. Who would have thought that when Clarence Clemons, Randy Bachman, and Buckwheat Zydeco took the stage for the inaugural edition of the Ottawa Bluesfest in 1994 it would help kick off what would become Canada’s fastest growing outdoor music festival. Five thousand people descended on Major’s Hill Park that first year, probably not realizing the tradition they were helping to create. The 25th anniversary line-up for the 2019 kept music fans coming back for more, throughout the 10-day event as each artists drew a close-to-capacity crowd of 30,000+ avid fans, with the overall estimated total attendance in the neighbourhood of 300,000. With this year’s list of superstar headlines from all genres like Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Alexisonfire, Colin James, Crash Test Dummies, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sarah McLachlan, Sum 41, Three Days Grace, TLC and 85 others taking the stage over this 10-day event the Ottawa Bluesfest truly offers something for everyone and making it attend on our bucket list for 2022.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $65.00 CAD
3 Day Passes starting at: $129.00 CAD
10 Day Full Festival Passes starting at: $269.00 CAD
For more information on this event go to: https://ottawabluesfest.ca/
Faster Horses Festival
When: July 22nd – 24th, 2022
Where: Brooklyn, MI, United States
Why: Well, when you think of country music who doesn’t think of Southeastern Michigan, that was a joke. But in all seriousness, Faster Horses is not just another music festival, those who attend are solely there for the music and a good time as artists and fans happily indulge in a three-day country music bash that throws aside old ideas about musical genres. The Faster Horse Festival is one of the biggest of its kind in the United States. Heading into its eighth year at Michigan International Speedway, Faster Horses expects to draw 40,000-plus fans to kick off a weekend of camping, music and fun as 32 amazing artists like headliners Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, Tim McGraw along with others like Jake Owen, Brothers Osborne, Cole Swindell, Ashley McBryde, Chris Janson, Morgan Wade and many others take to the stage. So, if you’re looking to enjoy some country music and be immersed in the culture of a true country town, get the Faster Horses festival on your bucket list and giddy up to Brooklyn, Michigan this summer.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: Not available at time of publication
Full Festival Passes starting at: $225.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://fasterhorsesfestival.com/
Country Jam 2022
When: June 23rd – 25th, 2022
Where: Eau Claire, WI, United States
Why: Well for starters before you even talk about the headlining artists let us talk about the venue, which is along the banks of the beautiful Chippewa River in Wisconsin and if that wasn’t enough to be on selected for this year’s bucket list just look at the amazing artist line.
This year’s Country Jam has is loaded with country music icons, with event headliners Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw along with Blanco Brown, Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lonestar Jo Dee Messina and many more of country music’s greatest artists from the past and present making it the Midwest’s premiere outdoor country music festival.
If you have never been then you need to go and if you have been to Country Jam before we know that you already have your tickets because you know it’s one of the hottest country music festivals of the Summer, and no surprise it is on our bucket list for 2022!
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $125.00 USD
Full Festival Passes starting at: $175.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://countryjam.com/
Big Valley Jamboree
When: July 29th – 31st, 2022
Where: Camrose, AB, Canada
Why: Well, the Big Valley Jamboree has grown from an inaugural event in 1993 to a country music institution in Alberta for approximately 75,000 country music fans each year. After a couple of years off because of the pandemic Camrose will come alive again with the sounds of music with the return of one of Canada’s best-loved and longest-running country music festivals this summer.
Grand Ole Opry members, Trace Adkins and Dustin Lynch get this year’s BVJ started with a Kick-off Party on Thursday night. But that is just the start as this musical extravaganza is packed with superstar headliners Dallas Smith, Eric Church and Tim McGraw, plus the hottest up-and-comers, Canada’s biggest country stars and classic country acts who have stood the test of time, like James Barker Band, Hardy, Terri Clarke and many more taking to the stage.
As live music has returned on both sides of the border, the BVJ line-up is proof that good things will be coming to those who wait, but I would not wait too long to get this one on my bucket list.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $50.00 CAD
Full Festival Passes starting at: $245.00 CAD
For more information on this event go to: https://www.bigvalleyjamboree.com/
WE Fest 2022
When: August 4th – 6th, 2022
Where: Detroit Lake, MN, United States
Why: Well, it is simple, We Fest has been offering an amazing experience to festival goers for since 1983 when Alabama took the stage with the inaugural event for the 9,000 in attendance and they never looked back.
Now able to accommodate 50,000 people, including 7,000 reserved seats, the concert bowl contains 50+ concession stands along with 10 separate campgrounds with a total camping capacity of 35,000 people.
The WE Fest has been at the pinnacle of country music festivals for nearly four decades. Held at Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota the WE Fest has hosted hundreds of thousands of fans every August with countless country icons and legends having taken the stage.
This year’s line up will not disappoint with 24 Artists in total taking the stage, starting off with the Kick Off Party with Elvie Shane to superstar headliners Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan and other amazing artists such as Chris Janson, Blanco Brown, Lee Brice, Clay Walker, Riley Green, Tanya Tucker and many other taking the stage for the 3-day festival it is easy to see why WE Fest is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding events of its kind.
Be sure to add this to your festival bucket list and join many other country music fans in the small-town Minnesota for this amazing event this Summer.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: $99.00 USD
Full Festival Passes starting at: $445.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://wefest.com/
TidalWave Music Festival
When: August 12th – 14th, 2022
Where: Atlantic City, NJ, United States
Why: Well, we can’t think of a better way to end summer than spending 3 days with a few our country music friends with our toes in the sand on Atlantic City Beach as country music superstar headliners Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Dierks Bentley and 30 of the hottest up-and-coming country stars and country icons like Hardy, Riley Green, Chase Rice, Tracy Lawrence, Lauren Alaina, Lainey Wilson, Blanco Brown, Breland, Lindsay Ell perform on 2 stages for this end of summer event. We don’t know what you are doing the second weekend in August, but we know what event we will be checking off on our bucket list for 2022.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day Passes starting at: Not available at time of publication
Full Festival Passes starting at: $249.00 USD
For more information on this event go to: https://tidalwavefest.com/
We have said this before and we will say it time and time again, before going to any festival you need to find the one that is right for you, know all the costs and what is and what is not included. The prices that we have shown are for tickets only as many will have additional costs for parking, camping or shuttles so be aware of this before filling out your bucket list and heading out to any festivals, so you do not have any unwanted surprises.
As you can see there are many amazing festivals to choose from, we did our selection from over 45 that are happening on both sides of the border this summer, so do your own research, so you don’t end up somewhere you don’t enjoy. Remember the atmosphere and festival venue is just as important if not more than a spectacular line-up of artists.
When attending the festival on your bucket list this summer, remember to tag us on social media (Twitter @spotlightbizmag / Facebook @spotlightbizmag / Instagram @spotlightonbizmag) so that we can share your experience with our readers.
by Ryan Myson