There's plenty of reasons for a country fan to be at Taste of Country Music Festival this weekend.
Platinum country crooners. Time spent with friends and family. Cold, tasty beer.
But forMeghan Arnold, it's a celebratory affair.
Next to her tent, pitched on the side of Hunter Mountain, the 21 year old line danced with her bachelorette party, just four weeks before she says the big "I do."
One of the nation's largest country music camping festivals, Taste of Country returned to the mountain Friday for its fifth year. Thousands from around the Mid-Hudson Valley and across the region descended into Green County for the three-day fest.
READ: Taste of Country Music Festival returns to Hunter Mountain
"(Arnold)said Taste of Country would be a fun bachelorette party," said Taylor Hickey. So, the 21-year-old Lagrangeville resident made herwish a realityand bought them some tickets.
A mix of weekend campers, like Hickey and Arnold, and daily attendees filled the ski resort turned music venue Saturday.
"There's nothing I don't like about playing at an outdoor festival like this," said country star Tyler Farr, before taking themain stage. "I think these outdoor festivals, the fans are more into it. They're die-hards, man.Some of these people are camping— if it rained, they'd still be standing out there. That's what makes country music, country music. It's the commitment they have to the genre, that's what makes the genre different than any other genre."
Many spent the day eagerly awaiting day two's headliner, 2017's American Country Music female vocalist of the year and two-time Grammy winner, Miranda Lambert.
"Miranda is my spirit animal," Arnold said. "She's everything I want to be. She's perfect. I've seen her (perform), and I got to touch her. I want to do that again."
The night before, three time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, Jason Aldean, sanga number songs from his seven album discography, including "Dirt Road Anthem," "Fly Over States," and "Big Green Tractor."
Aldean was the highlight of Friday, said festival-goerJacob Dunham. The Highland resident has been an annual fixture at the festival since its conception.
"It's just something you can't miss," the 24 year old said.
Sam Hunt will take the stage asthe festival's closing headliner Sunday evening.
A native of country music’s mecca, Nashville resident Alyssa Startup, 22, has seen her fair share of concerts.
But Taste of Countryis much different than what you see down in Music City, she said.
“You’re constantly seeing artists there. But it’s always in venues, always in amphitheaters. Nothing like this. This is almost like Bonnaroo (Music and Arts Festival),” Startup said.
Along withthis year's headline performers, big names and lesser known artists shared the main stage throughout the weekend, including Chris Young, Kip Moore, Maren Morris, Cody Johnson, Joe Nichols, Jackson Michelson,Maddie and Tae, Steve Moakler, RaeLynn, and Courtney Cole.
New Paltz resident Ashley Mazzei, 21, was excited to that see rising starJohnson was on this year's agenda.
"My friend showed me a song of his last year, and I was like 'this is really great," Mazzei said. "Even when he was really small, I've liked him. When I found out he was coming, I was like 'I need to go see this.'"
As of Saturday afternoon, festival attendance is “pacing ahead of the 53,000” countryfans that came to last year's festival,said Dhruv Prasad, event organizer with Townsquare Media, Inc. He said that for the fourthsummer, turnout is expected to surpass the previous year.
“I think it demonstrates the appeal and strength of this music in this area,” Prasad said, as well as the “very unique experience” of a three-day camping festival.
“It’s a different experience than going to Bethel (Woods Center for the Performing Arts) or SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center),” he said.
And that unique experience got even more one-of-a-kindfor fans this year, with artists like Maddie and Tae performing smaller, acoustic sets in the VIP area that werereminiscent of a “coffee house vibe,” according to Prasad.
“Also, the (main) stage is five feet lower this year, so artists are more immediately in front of the crowd,” hesaid.
The growing popularity of the festival comes as no surprise to LaGrange resident Richard Maruggi, more commonly known in the Mid-Hudson Valley as DJ Redneck.
Maruggi spends his nights spinning country tunes and hosting line dancing in bars like Joe’s East West in New Paltz and Union Tavern in the City of Poughkeepsie. Country music, said, “is real.”
“Most people relate because we’re real. This is real life,” he said. “We’re up here celebrating a little freedom. Because of those serving in the military, we’re free to be up here, and we try to enjoy that. It’s about meeting new people and having fun.”
Abbott Brant: abrant@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @AbbottBrantPoJo
