The Brief
- Country Thunder begins Friday in Clearwater after moving from St. Pete Beach weeks before kickoff.
- City documents show the festival will cost about $139,600 in city services, paid by organizers.
- The agreement also includes a clause that could keep similar festivals out of the area for years.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Country Thunder is officially underway in Clearwater, after a last-minute venue change that followed weeks of controversy.
The three-day country music festival runs May 8–10 at Coachman Park, where crews spent the past several days building stages, setting up sound equipment and preparing for large crowds.
Organizers expect around 8,000 people to attend the event, which features major country artists including Kane Brown, ShabRoozey and Zach Top.
Why Did The County Thunder Music Fest Move?
The festival was originally planned for St. Pete Beach, but that plan unraveled in the weeks leading up to the event.
Environmental groups raised concerns about the timing, pointing to sea turtle nesting season and the potential impact on shorebirds.…