RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU) — Thousands will make the trek to Rhinelander this weekend for a long-overdue family reunion.
After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Hodag Country Music Festival returns with four days of live shows and camping at the Hodag grounds. Bryan Scott of the WDEZ morning show says this year’s festival comes with a little extra meaning.
“We’re getting back to live music. In-person, outdoors, and in a festival setting,” said Scott. “We are fully vaccinated and ready to get this party started.”
Scott says with last year’s show canceled due to the pandemic many missed out on a chance to see people that have become like family over the years.
“It’s kind of like a big family reunion, a camping festival with live music. That’s kind of how they look at it. People are so nice and so friendly that it is kind of like a big family,” he said.
He adds that the festival will look much like what fans have come to expect over the years with a few precautions in place.
Festival organizers will be sanitizing the grounds regularly and have installed more hand sanitizer stations. They’ve also moved the location of the big tent to the back of the entertainment area to better allow for spacing between chairs. Additionally, all 2021 Hoadg tickets will be contactless.
Anyone who purchased a ticket for the 2020 concert series and didn’t request a refund will be able to use it for any of this year’s dates.
The headlining lineup for this year’s event includes Travis Tritt on Thursday, Brett Eldridge on Friday, Darius Rucker on Saturday, and Locash on Sunday. Other performers include Pam Tillis, Trace Adkins, Ashley McBryde, Walker Hayes, Wisconsin’s own Chris Kroeze, and the usual appearance from Neil McCoy.
