Embracing the ocean breeze and the sunny energy of Long Beach, Boots in the Park is set to mark its debut at the Queen Mary Festival Grounds on Saturday, March 23.
What began as a gathering for country music lovers at SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco in 2018, has swiftly evolved into a traveling music festival, weaving its way across California and beyond. From Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego and Santa Clarita in California to Tempe, Arizona, Boots in the Park has planted its roots wherever “country music is needed,” festival producer Steve Thacher of Activated Events said during a recent phone interview leading up to the festival’s inaugural run in Long Beach.
“There’s been a great pull for us to bring more of our events to the city of Long Beach for quite some time and especially the past few years, and for whatever reason, the stars aligned, the day aligned, and now we’re here,” Thacher added.
The single-day event will feature headliner Lee Brice with additional support from Chris Janson, LoCash, Leaving Austin, Heidi Merrill and DJ Luwiss Lux. Boots in the Park Long Beach comes off the heels of Activated Events’ latest Long Beach event, Coastal Country Jam, which debuted in the area back in September. The two-day event showcased headliners Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw, which drew crowds from all over Southern California and beyond. For Thacher and the Activated Events team, the Coastal Country Jam’s success served as both validation and inspiration, prompting the expansion of its Boots in the Park brand.
After meticulously tracking the origins of attendees for more than 100 Activated Events productions over the past few years, Thacher said that Long Beach consistently topped the list in terms of resident turnout.
“Once we realized that, it just was a no-brainer,” he said.
It was imperative to ensure that Boots in the Park’s debut in Long Beach would distinguish itself from previous iterations and Thacher also noted the downsize in the festival.
“If fans are already seasoned Boots in the Park attendees, a major difference will be the smaller production and smaller footprint, but they gain spectacular ocean views along the water while enjoying great acts,” he said. “Not only that, but we made sure to make the tickets affordable for everyone to come and enjoy. Sure, we’ve had events by the water or close to it, but there’s something unique about this setting and I think fans are going to experience something new with this one.”
Last year, Activated Events held Boots in the Park at SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco in March, alongside the Fiesta De Taco Festival, featuring a unique blend of rap music, tacos and tequila. Boots in the Park returned to Norco on March 9 with Thomas Rhett alongside Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Parmalee and more. As Activated Events gears up for a new season, attendees can anticipate fresh Instagram-worthy photo ops, lively line dancing, a diverse array of food trucks and beer vendors scattered throughout the festival grounds.
The team envisions this as just the beginning of bringing the beloved Boots in the Park experience to Long Beach, seeing it as the ideal coastal counterpart.
“I honestly think it’s something we’ll be bringing back annually,” Thacher said. “It already feels like a natural fit for us. Coastal Country Jam was step one, Boots in the Park is step two, and we have some other exciting events up our sleeve that will be announced soon. We’re eager to offer more unforgettable experiences by the Pacific Ocean.”
Boots in the Park: Long Beach
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23
Where: Queen Mary Festival Grounds, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach
Tickets: General admission tickets start at $59; Pit passes start at $149; VIP parking starts at $50. bootsinthepark.com.
