The sun shone on Saturday, the third day of the four-day Boots and Hearts Country Music Festival at Burl's Creek in Oro-Medonte Township.
The music started mid-afternoon on the Front Porch Stage and featured some up-and-coming talent. On the main stage, big names like Kip Moore and headliner Miranda Lambert were taking the late-night shift.
As Eric Ethridge performed, Nathan Fontaine, 23, from Ingersoll, said he came to his first Boots and Hearts festival lured by a love of country music.
“It was a couple hundred dollars for sure," he said of the price tag. "But we’re here to see everybody, so we camped for the weekend."
“Country music is like nothing else," said Fontaine. "It speaks to you in nearly every situation. Being here with my beautiful girlfriend, listening to either fast-dancing or slow-dancing music and having a couple beverages is the best Saturday night I could have.”
With thousands of people set to dance through the gates of Boots and Hearts, several alcohol vendors are ready to serve thirsty fans.
Maccie Paquette at the Jack Daniels booth said Saturday was a fun day and people, for the most part, were being responsible.
“Everybody has been great, not what people expect,” said Paquette. “I think there is a stigma with these types of festivals that people get so drunk they get rowdy and out of hand, but that’s not happened here so far.
"Don’t get me wrong, people are drinking and having fun, but honestly no one has been over-doing it and being sloppy or rude," said Paquette. "t’s a fantastic weekend.”
Tomorrow is the final day for the annual festival and the music gets underway at 2:05 p.m. The headliner Sunday night is Jason Aldean, who will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.
