The owners of Country Fanfest were thrilled with the idea of a mega country music festival in Utah long before they owned one.
One of the current owners, Hal Hudson of Sandy, said he purchased 16 front-row tickets for friends and family back in 2014 when the festival was known as Country Explosion. Hudson made the statement on a YouTube Video in 2015. He said he wanted to support a country music festival in Utah any way he could.
Hudson is now a part-owner of Country Fanfest along with his son Bracken from Orem and husband-wife duo Brandy and Merritt Millsap of Ogden. This year will mark the third year of ownership for the trio.
The festival takes one year in planning, and Brandy Millsap has been the person in charge of getting everything organized.
“The first year I spent seven straight weeks out here getting ready, last year four weeks and this year it will be three weeks,” she said.
“For a few weeks we have nearly 750 employees and volunteers out here helping out,” she said. “We literally build a city out here.”
The three-day Country Fanfest at Deseret Peak Complex starts Thursday when gates open for campers at 10 a.m.
Several activities will be held on a 250-acre campground on land owned by Tooele County south of state Route 112.
One gate will be open on the west side of SR-112 near Grantsville and another gate will be open on the east side of SR-112 near Sheep Lane.
Some performances will be held in this area on the campground stage.
“We will have shuttles available for people in the campground area to come into Deseret Peak Complex,” Brandy Millsap said. “It is one mile from the campground stage to the main stage.”
She pointed out that the campground can hold 800 RVs on 20×60 feet slots. Street signs have been erected for campers to find their designated areas to set up camp.
Country Fanfest has made all the necessary arrangements with the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Highway Patrol for traffic control, Brandy Millsap said.
The grassy area just inside Deseret Peak Complex is for VIP parking.
Attendees will be able to mingle with performers, get autographs and purchase souvenirs at a meet-and-greet area behind the main stage. Business vendors with a food court will be set up nearby Deseret Peak’s aquatic center.
Millsap said the artists are treated royally with a special entrance to Deseret Peak available for them. “We find out when they are coming in and then take care good care of them,” she said.
The aquatic center will be closed to the general public this Friday and Saturday and open for Country Fanfest goers only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
About 20 country music artists are scheduled to perform Thursday through Saturday. Sunday is reserved for people who want to play in the mud at the campground area.
“With ticket sales so far, we’re projecting 7,000 people per day this year,” Millsap said. She said there were 3,000 people per day at the first Country Fanfest in 2015, and 3,500 per day last year.
Notes about all the performers can be found at countryfanfest.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the website.
A three-day general pass is $99, three-day military pass is $85, three-day child pass is $50, Friday and Saturday general pass is $59, Mud Bog Racing Sunday Pass is $20, Child Mud Bog Racing Sunday Pass is $10, and Mud Bog Racing Pit Pass is $25. A general zone camping pass costs $150.
Deseret Peak Complex is located on the corner of SR-112 and Sheep Lane in Grantsville City.