Have Fun!

[unclefeiny]

Despite everything that has gone down over the past few months, I really hope y'all have a blast next weekend! We had an amazing time at Country Thunder this past weekend and I feel it's always great to get new experiences, no matter the reason. I wish no ill will upon Stagecoach and am grateful for the amazing five years I spent there and all the new friends I met! I will definitely say that I envied all of you on the drive to and from Arizona.

[frenchie]

Aww two thumbs up Adam I'm sad to miss Stagecoach this year, especially since my faves are performing (Darius & Lady A) but work is getting in the way of my social life haha! I'm glad you had a blast at Country Thunder... I definitely did not envy your drive though! Maybe next year the group will reunite at SC!

[murraykris]

Tell us about Country Thunder. What was better what was not as good.

[Country Gypsy]

You beat me to the punch unclefeiny.. Wanted to wish everyone an envious great time.
I will not only miss going to the meet-ups and get-to-gethers and convey gatherings ,but all the chatter and joking about them ahead of time. My RV, however, heaved a sigh of relief at not having to have sticky tape (made even stickier from the sun) scraped off from all the festive decorations in honor of Stagecoach Fun.
Great time and wonderful memories to Y' All !!!

[KittyLeigh]

Gonna be weird to not know anyone at SC this year other than the (very small) group of people I'm going with this weekend! While I may not agree with all the rules that they changed this year which made a lot of people not want to go, the rules didn't change the plans I had, so I'm still going. Plus my mom MUST see her man Trace! lol Will be interesting to see if it's as crowded as it has been before... I do like that they kept the "standing only" section that they added last year - that seemed to help a LOT - especially seemed to cut down on the number of people stumbling in from partying outside the concert area and coming in just for the headliners and trampling through the areas that people had held most of the day.

[Rose]

KittyLeigh you will meet loads of new people at SC just like we all met each other for the first time off of these boards. Please take loads of pics and share them here or on facebook (PLEASE). Kiss your mom for me and if possible Trace too

I have to say with a very sad heart that I will not be attending SC13...DAMN (what a GREAT line-up). I have met the most incredible people over the years (you all know who you are) but I now live in Florida. Remember to practice safe stagecoaching and have one hell of a good time.

Who knows maybe SC14!!!

[unclefeiny]

Tell us about Country Thunder. What was better what was not as good.

In most areas, the two festivals are quite similar. Lots of partying in the campgrounds, a long walk to the venue, then lots of fun music inside.

The two things I liked most about Country Thunder over Stagecoach were that you reserve which camping spot you're in ahead of time, so everyone can camp together without having to caravan in together. We had a couple hundred people in our group coming in at different times on different days, so the caravan would have been impossible.
The other thing I liked was that General Admission was so much closer to the stage, close enough that you could see the artists without having to look at the screens. I even got a high five from a couple of the artists as they were going through the crowd and got called out at one point from the "warm up guys" on stage who made fun of my ridiculous outfit. I understand that there are more people at Stagecoach and VIP sells out, but it was such a different experience in GA this year. I think that's where a lot of the "partying problems" inside the venue come from. I have never felt as connected to the Stagecoach music since I couldn't really see the stage, but at CT, it was all about the music inside. I wouldn't even go eat until after the show each night, where at Stagecoach I would just kinda wander around all day listening to the music.
Another awesome thing was that they had entertainment after the show each night. There was one big tent with a DJ that was kinda like a club, then another section that would have the day's opening act performing in a little bar setting, playing lots of covers and there was a lot of line dancing, etc. Both were packed each night.

My biggest complaint about Country Thunder would be the way food and drinks were sold. You had to go to a little ticket booth to get tickets, $5 for alcohol (yes, that buys you a mixed drink or 16oz beer), and then there were $1 food tickets, so you'd have to find out how much what you wanted to eat was, go buy tickets, then go buy the food.

[KUZN EDY]

Agree with unclefeiny... have fun!!! Im missing not going this year, especially knowing how much fun it is out there right now. Hopefully when the rules change again next year, it will swing in our favor a little more and our group can attend. If not, we might make the pilgrimage to Arizona!