Flamingos, spin-the-wheel, bean bag toss and more at Country Thunder

Party go-ers will do anything to make their campsite the place to be.

The crew at Jenn Lemioer, Terri Johnson and her son JC Johnson’s campsite are no exception.

“We like our guests to come and play all of our games so spin the wheel,” Lemioer said.

The wheel spun round and round. “You’re a good spinner,” Terri said.

It finally landed on ‘give a shot.’

JC was up to bat, bright pink bird beer bong in hand.

“It’s a flamingo, you just put beer in there,” JC said. “Then it’s like a funnel. You just drink out of the mouth and tilt her back.”

It’s truly the party spot with decorations, glittery flamingos and most importantly a kiddie pool and water guns to keep everyone cool.

“Pink is the colour,” Lemioer said. “We have a flamingo beer pong, flamingos on a leash, some more beer pong tables, we got a pool, we got some roulette, some Drinko. We’re set.”

The group has been coming to the festival for years and looks forward to getting together with family and friends.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with the people I love,” Lemioer said while giving Terri a big hug.

First-time festival attendees

Grace Dyck (centre in yellow) travelled with her family from Lorette, Manitoba to attend Country Thunder for the first time. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

For another group across the grounds, it’s their first time at the festival.

“It’s been pretty good, we’ve all been having fun,” said Grace Dyck.

She was playing Spikeball with her family, despite the heat.

“We’ve had the fans that you can turn on that spray water,” she said. “And with the heat, it’s been helping so much.”

They also have three pools at their combined sites.

She’s excited to see the Sunday headliner.

“I’m excited to go see Luke Combs,” she said. “I’ve been wanting to see him for like years now. No matter what the weather’s like I’m so excited to see him.”

She said the weekend is all about having fun.

“It’s really all about spending time with each other and meeting new people and getting to know everybody,” Dyck said.

“No, no water. Alcohol only”

Maddie Chung (third from left) is looking forward to seeing Nickelback and Luke Combs at Country Thunder 2024. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Maddie Chung is all about the music and partying with her family.

“I’m here to get drunk and have fun,” she said.

To survive the festival she says you need two things: alcohol and sunscreen.

Her family yelled back at her saying, “Water!” But she said, “No, no water. Alcohol only,” she said with a laugh.

When it comes to staying cool she suggests wearing a bikini and staying in the shade.

She’s excited to see Luke Combs and Nickelback. She loves ‘Rockstar’ by the Canadian band.

Next level DIY Games

Kristen Kobialko and her sister take DIY very seriously when it comes to Country Thunder. They stayed up late two nights in a row to complete their custom bean bag toss drinking game. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Kristen Kobialko and her sister took DIY to the next level.

“My sister and I spent two long nights until about three in the morning making bean bag toss,” she said.

“It is all sectioned off in fun bright colours. It has all different kinds of things like everyone drink, other team drink, tosser’s choice, give a drink, take a drink and the safe zone of course.”

The best part about it? There are no real losers.

“I’m going to say the winner is the drunkest,” she said with a laugh. “Well, losers are also drunk. But it’s mostly all just winning and fun.”

Kobialko and her friends have a pretty nice setup of campers.

“We’re glamping so we have awnings, a pool, lots of drinks and water the odd time,” she said.

She hopes everyone has a good weekend.

“Happy Craven,” she said.