Country Thunder Florida Is Coming to Clearwater — Here's Everything You Need to Know

Country Thunder is descending on Clearwater this weekend, and if you haven't grabbed tickets yet, here's the full rundown.

May 8–10, 2026. Coachman Park. Downtown Clearwater.

Three days, three headliners, a stacked supporting lineup, and a waterfront venue that's a genuinely solid setting for a festival of this size. Here's what you need to know before you go.

What Is Country Thunder Florida?

Country Thunder bills itself as America's largest traveling country music festival — and it's earned that. The brand has run major events in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Canada for years. The Florida edition is newer but growing fast.

This year has a twist: the festival was originally booked for TradeWinds Resort on St. Pete Beach, then relocated to Clearwater's Coachman Park about 30 days out. If you bought tickets for the St. Pete Beach location, you're covered — tickets transfer, and refunds are available at your original purchase point if you'd rather not make the drive (it's about 20 miles north).

Coachman Park is a waterfront grounds right in the heart of downtown Clearwater. If you've been there for Clearwater Jazz Holiday or any of the city's other big outdoor events, you already know it's a solid festival setting — good sightlines, room to spread out, and you're a short walk from Cleveland Street if you need a real meal between sets.

The Lineup

Three headliners anchor the weekend:

Kane Brown is the biggest name on the bill. Back-to-back platinum records, sells out arenas. If you haven't seen him live, he delivers.

Zach Top is the name everyone in country right now can't stop talking about. He came up fast with a traditionalist sound that cuts against the current grain, and his live sets reportedly back that up. Worth getting there early to catch him.

Gavin Adcock rounds out the top three. He's been building real momentum — if you don't know him yet, this weekend will change that.

The supporting lineup has plenty of names worth showing up early for:

• Shaboozey — one of the more interesting crossover artists working in country right now
• Gretchen Wilson — yes, that Gretchen Wilson. Worth it for the nostalgia alone
• Randy Houser — underrated live performer, always delivers
• Dasha — rising fast, great voice
• Plus Braxton Keith, Max McKnown, Cole Goodwin, Elizabeth Nichols, Solon Holt, and Jay Webb

There are three stages: the RAM Main Stage, the Shoreline Stage spotlighting emerging Florida artists (a genuinely good idea), and a Songwriters Showcase where you hear the writers behind the hits. If you care at all about how songs get made, block off an hour for the Showcase — it's usually one of the more interesting parts of any country festival.

What to Expect at the Festival

Beyond the music, Country Thunder brings the full festival package: cowboy hat and apparel vendors, diverse food options throughout the grounds, carnival rides, sponsor activations, and artist meet-and-greet opportunities. The vibe skews fun and unpretentious — it's not a scene festival, it's a country music festival.

Coachman Park is open lawn, not stadium seating. Bring a low-back chair or blanket for the general admission areas. Comfortable shoes matter — it's Florida in May, afternoon storms are possible, and wet grass gets rough. Sunscreen and a hat for daytime sets are non-negotiable. Highs will be in the mid-80s all weekend.

Tickets and Getting In

Weekend General Admission runs $299.99 at Walgreens — that's the best price available, saving you around $55 compared to buying online. Online tickets run about $355 after fees. Single-day passes are also available if you only want to catch one or two nights.

There's no camping at this event. Gates open each day, music plays, festival ends — it's a day-into-night format. Clearwater Beach hotels fill up fast when something this size comes to town, so if you haven't booked lodging yet, do it today.

Full schedule and ticket info at countrythunder.com/florida.

Getting There and Parking

Coachman Park sits in the middle of downtown Clearwater, which is actually well set up for events this size. The City of Clearwater offers free parking in downtown garages on evenings and weekends — take advantage of it. That's a real perk compared to most major festivals.

Coming from Tampa, budget 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and US-19 are your main corridors from the east. From St. Pete, I-275 north to US-19 is the straightforward route. From the beaches, you're already close.

Rideshare drops off and picks up smoothly in downtown Clearwater for most events. If you're planning to drink, it's the easier call — just build in extra time at the end of the night when the lots clear out all at once.

Worth Going?

If you're a country fan in the Tampa Bay area, this is the biggest event of the year. Kane Brown and Zach Top alone justify the ticket price for most people. The Clearwater venue works, the supporting lineup is deep, and three days of live music at a waterfront park in early May is hard to argue with.

Check the weather forecast before each day and plan accordingly. And if you're heading into Clearwater for the weekend, browse our Tampa Bay directory for local restaurants, bars, and businesses near Coachman Park worth knowing about.

If you own a business in the Clearwater or Tampa Bay area, get your free listing added — thousands of people are flooding into the area this weekend.

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