OKAY BESTIE... IF YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING TO COUNTRY THUNDER FLORIDA, THIS IS YOUR SIGN. 🤠✨ I SPENT ALL THREE DAYS AT THE FESTIVAL IN CLEARWATER, AND IT WAS SERIOUSLY ONE OF THE MOST FUN WEEKENDS OF THE SUMMER!

BETWEEN THE LIVE MUSIC, ADORABLE CONCERT OUTFITS, WATERFRONT SUNSETS, AND ALL THE FESTIVAL FOOD, THERE WAS NEVER A DULL MOMENT. SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING IF IT'S WORTH THE TRIP (SPOILER ALERT: IT ABSOLUTELY IS!). I'M SHARING ALL MY FAVORITE TIPS, HIGHLIGHTS, AND EVERYTHING I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I WENT.

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WHAT IS COUNTRY THUNDER FLORIDA?

If you've never been before, think of it as three straight days of country music, dancing, good vibes, and the cutest festival outfits you've ever seen.

Country Thunder Florida takes over Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater, and honestly... I couldn't imagine a better location. You're right on the water, surrounded by palm trees, and only minutes from Clearwater Beach. It honestly feels more like a vacation than just a concert.

Whether you're a huge country fan or just looking for an excuse to wear your favorite boots and have an amazing weekend with friends, this festival is such a good time!

THE 2026 LINEUP

Let's be honest... the lineup is what gets everyone excited!

This year's artists included:

⭐ Kane Brown

⭐ Zach Top

⭐ Gavin Adcock

⭐ Shaboozey

⭐ Dasha

⭐ Randy Houser

⭐ Braxton Keith

⭐ Max McNown

⭐ Gretchen Wilson

...and SO many more talented artists throughout the weekend. Every day had an incredible mix of big-name performers and newer artists that I immediately added to my Spotify playlist.

IS IT ACTUALLY WORTH IT?

Short answer...

YES! A MILLION TIMES YES!

If you love:

✔️ Country music

✔️ Girls trips

✔️ Matching outfits

✔️ Festival food

✔️ Dancing until your feet hurt

✔️ Waterfront sunsets

✔️ Making core memories

...you'll absolutely love Country Thunder! I honestly didn't want the weekend to end!

ONE OF THE BEST SURPRISES? THE VENDORS!

Okay bestie... can we talk about the vendor village for a second?!

I expected cute western boutiques and fun shopping, but I did not expect to spend so much time exploring all the different vendor booths. There was everything from permanent jewelry and boutique clothing to cowboy hats, accessories, giveaways, and interactive experiences.

And here's the best part...

Throughout the weekend, so many of the vendors were handing out complimentary drink samples! Between the beer, seltzers, cocktails, energy drinks, and other beverage tastings, we were honestly able to enjoy drinks all weekend without buying nearly as many as we expected. 🍻🤠

Of course, the vendors and samples may change from year to year, but it ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the entire festival. We would wander through Vendor Village between sets, discover a new booth, and somehow end up with another free drink in hand. 😂

Moral of the story: Don't just rush from stage to stage. Take some time to explore Vendor Village. You never know what fun giveaways, experiences, or complimentary samples you'll stumble across!

SHOPPING? YES PLEASE!

I wasn't expecting to spend as much time shopping as I did...

But the vendor booths were honestly so cute. You'll find things like:

• Boutique clothing

• Custom cowboy hats

• Permanent jewelry

• Handmade accessories

• Western boutiques

• Festival merch

• Boots

If you love supporting small businesses, definitely leave yourself time to browse between sets.

MY FAVORITE MOMENT

Hands down...

Watching the sunset over the waterfront while my favorite artists played live.

There was just something about hearing thousands of people singing together as the sun went down over Clearwater.

It was one of those moments where you stop and think,

"Yep... I'm going to remember this forever."

MY TIPS BEFORE YOU GO

GET THERE EARLY

Trust me on this. You'll have more time to explore, grab food, shop the vendors, and find a great spot before the crowds get bigger.

WEAR COMFORTABLE BOOTS

I know... The cute boots are tempting.

Just make sure you've actually worn them before. Your feet will thank you after walking around for three days.

DON'T SKIP THE SUNSCREEN

Florida sun is no joke. Reapply often. Seriously!

BRING A PORTABLE CHARGER

My absolute go-to is the SnapWireless PowerPack Universal 2, and I seriously don't travel without it anymore! It kept my phone charged all weekend, and I loved that I didn't have to worry about hunting down an outlet or carrying multiple charging cables around the festival.

Bestie tip: Throw in your bag before you head to the festival! You'll thank yourself when you're still recording your favorite songs during the headliner instead of staring at a 1% battery notification. 😉

STAY HYDRATED

Drink plenty of water! Especially if you're enjoying cocktails throughout the day. Future you will appreciate it.

WHERE TO STAY

One thing I loved is how easy it was to turn this into a full weekend getaway.

I'd recommend staying in:

🏖️ Clearwater Beach

🌴 Downtown Clearwater

☀️ Sand Key

🌊 Dunedin

If you can, stay an extra day and explore the area, you won't regret it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you're looking for a weekend that's filled with incredible live music, waterfront sunsets, the cutest western outfits, and memories you'll be talking about long after the last encore, Country Thunder Florida absolutely deserves a spot on your bucket list. From discovering new artists and dancing with friends to exploring Vendor Village and soaking in the amazing Clearwater atmosphere, every day brought something new to love.

What surprised me most wasn't just the incredible lineup, it was the overall experience. The friendly crowd, fun vendor activities, beautiful location, and little moments in between the concerts made this feel like so much more than just a music festival. It truly felt like the perfect summer weekend getaway.

🤠 🎶 🌴 ✨ 🤍

This definitely won't be my last Country Thunder Florida! I already can't wait to plan next year's outfits, see who takes the stage, and make even more unforgettable memories. I hope this guide helps you plan your own festival weekend, and if you end up going, I'd love to hear about your experience! Be sure to follow along for more Florida adventures, travel guides, festivals, and all of my favorite finds.

- Travels By Dawn

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SHOP MY FAVORITE OUTFITS OF THE WEEKEND!

SHOP HERE!

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FAQ | WHERE IS COUNTRY THUNDER FLORIDA?

Country Thunder Florida takes place at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater, Florida, just minutes from the award-winning Clearwater Beach. One of my favorite things about this festival is that you can spend the morning soaking up the sun at the beach before heading over for an evening full of live country music!

FAQ | IS THE THREE-DAY PASS WORTH IT?

1000% YES!

Each day has its own lineup, its own vibe, and plenty of opportunities to discover new artists. By the end of the weekend, I had a playlist full of new favorites and so many incredible memories. If you're debating between one day or the full weekend, I'd absolutely recommend the three-day pass.

FAQ | WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

This is your excuse to fully embrace your inner cowgirl! 🤠

Think cowboy boots, denim shorts or dresses, fringe, graphic tees, statement belts, and your favorite western accessories. Most importantly, wear something you feel confident in, and don't forget comfortable shoes because you'll be doing a LOT of walking and dancing!

FAQ | CAN I TURN IT INTO A WEEKEND GETAWAY?

Absolutely and I highly recommend it!

One of the best parts about Country Thunder Florida is its location. Spend your mornings relaxing on Clearwater Beach, grab lunch at one of the local waterfront restaurants, head to the festival in the afternoon, and end the night singing your heart out under the stars. It's the perfect mix of beach vacation and country concert weekend.

FAQ | ARE FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE?

Yes! There are tons of food vendors and drink stands throughout the festival, so you'll never go hungry.

Bestie tip: Make sure you explore Vendor Village! During our trip, several vendors were offering complimentary drink samples, so we were able to enjoy everything from cocktails to seltzers while checking out all the booths. It ended up being one of our favorite parts of the weekend!