‘Let’s fire it up:’ The party’s on at Country Thunder

With four words, one country music fan welcomed Country Thunder back to Saskatchewan.

“Let’s fire it up,” the man said Thursday in Craven, where the country music festival has returned after a two-year absence due to COVID-19.

The party actually started Tuesday, when the gates opened and people staked their claim to camping spots. The bash continued Wednesday — and definitely opened the eyes of one patron from Taber, Alta., who’s attending his first Country Thunder.

“This is my first time and after last night, wow, it’s good,” he said before recounting the events of his first evening on the grounds.

“(I) went to the beer gardens (and) got my first beer dumped out because you’re not allowed to walk outside the beer gardens with a beer. (I) learned that the hard way. Then I went up there on the dance floor, made a fool of myself — I think — but I had a good time.

“I enjoyed it. I can’t wait for the rest of the weekend. It’s going to be great.”

One of the partygoers at Country Thunder Saskatchewan on July 14, 2022. (Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

That man’s experience flew in the face of the advice offered by the individual mentioned above who wanted to fire things up.

“It’s a marathon; it’s not a sprint,” that man said when asked what he’d tell Country Thunder newbies. “If you sprint and hammer down a bunch of booze fast, you’re not going to make midnight.”

Debbie and Greg Briere aren’t first-timers, but they’re not exactly veterans either. This is their second trip to Craven for the festival, but their first in 32 years.

“We didn’t have a camper (and) we got busy with our kids,” Debbie said when asked what took them so long to return. “Our kids actually bought us tickets for our Christmas present in 2019, so it has taken us this long with COVID to be able to actually come.”

They’re back with some friends who attended the festival with the Brieres all those years ago and who have been regulars since. They’re all in Craven for the same reason.

“Good music,” Greg said.

“I love Blake Shelton, so that’ll be a treat,” Debbie added. “(We’re looking forward to) just being here with friends and having a good time.”

One partygoer made his way from Kelowna for Country Thunder. He said some family friends had been to the festival every year and talked about it so much that he decided to show up too.

He said he’s a big fan of country music, but …

“When you talk about music, I like all music,” he said. “My daughter is an opera singer, so we’ve got the whole spectrum covered at home.”

Patrons can expect to see the full spectrum of weather during the festival, from searing heat to a lightning show. It lived up to the thunder part of its name Wednesday night when a storm blew through the grounds.

Some campers likely had a tougher time than others, given the difference in accommodations visible in the campground.

(Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

“For a little while, it was a little tense because the trailer started to rock a little bit with the wind and whatnot,” one man said. “It wasn’t all too terrible. But the rain was coming down pretty hard.”

The tippler from Taber said he was prepared for all types of weather, including the heat (“Liquor, water, liquor, water, liquor, water. That’s the plan,” he said) and whatever else Mother Nature throws his way.

He fully expects to be standing by the time Country Thunder wraps up Sunday.

“I plan on staying sober. That’s a lie,” he said. “I’ll make ‘er. Don’t worry. I’ll be there. I might not remember it, but it’ll be a good time.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Shane Clausing