Thousands attend newly expanded 'Country in the Park' at Cal Expo

The major music event has been a staple in Sacramento County for more than two decades, and this year organizers have added a second day of festivities.

The major music event has been a staple in Sacramento County for more than two decades, and this year organizers have added a second day of festivities.

IN CAL EXPO THIS WEEKEND. IT’S A MAJOR MUSIC EVENT FOR THE SACRAMENTO REGION THAT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. BUT THIS YEAR THEY’VE ADDED A LITTLE MORE EXCITEMENT TO THE MIX KCR3 IS ORACLE MANA HAS OSTHE DETAS SOUSND LIKE SUMMER IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY AROUND 20,000 PEOPLE FEELING CAL EXPO SATURDAY FOR COUNTRY IN THE PARK. I LOVE IT, SUNSHINE. AND DRINKS MUSIC THE ANNUAL EVENT BRINGING OUT THE DANNGCI QUEENS THE COWBOY HATS. AND EVEN THE YOUNGEST COUNTRY MUSIC FANS MANY READY FOR THIS RODEOERFT A DELAYS DUE TO COVID-19 WE’VE ENDED CLOSER TO THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLEF O YEARS AND IT JTUS IT FEELS SO GOOD SO FUN SO FRE E. YEAH FEELS GOOD ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY IS SLOWLY RISING AND CURRENTLY SITS AT ALMO.ST PERCENT BUT THESE FRIENDS SAY THEIR VACCINATED AND BOOSTED. HAVE SOMETHING FEELAY W MORE NORMAL AND STILL FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW AGAIN SPACIOUS NOT LIKE WE’RE ONOP T OF EACH OTHER, BUT THEY’RE STILL TAKING PRECAUTIONS. ORGANIZERS SAY THEY WERE EXCITED TO BE BACK WITH THEIRAY M DATE AFTER THE EVENT WAS CANCELED IN 2020 AND POSTPONEDO T SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. THEY’RE DOI ANG TWO-DAY EVENT THAT INCLUDES CARNIVAL RIDES AND GAMES FOR KIDS. WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A REALLY UNFAMILY ENVIRONMENT FOR PELEOP AT A TICKET PRICE THEY CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD SO EVERYTHING FROM FERRIS WHEELS TO FOOD TO SILENT LINE DANCING KIDS ARE LOVING IT. IT’S MY FIRST TIMEND A THERE’S SO MANY RIDES. I LIKE THE SINGERS AND THEIR FAMIESLI APPRECIATE THE EXTRA ACTIVITIES. IT’S A LOT BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE YOUNGER KIDS HEER TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH OUT IN THE SUN COUNTRY IN THE PARK IS BACK FOR ANOTHER DAY OF FUN TOMORWRO THE FESTIVITIES START AT NOON REPORTING FROM CAL EXPO OR KCRA 3 WSNE YEAH, AND THERE WAS PERFECT WEATHER TODAY TOO TONIGHT WAS ALL SOLD OUT, BUT THERE ARE SOME TICKETS LEFT FOR TOMORROW THE LINEUP FOR SUAYND INCLUDES COUNTRY MUSIC SINGERS COLE SWIND

Thousands attend newly expanded 'Country in the Park' at Cal Expo

The major music event has been a staple in Sacramento County for more than two decades, and this year organizers have added a second day of festivities.

Country in the Park is back at Cal Expo this weekend.Around 20,000 people attended on Saturday. The major music event has been a staple in Sacramento County for more than two decades. But this year, organizers have added some extra excitement to the mix – including a second day of festivities, as well as carnival rides and games for kids."We really wanted to be able to create a really fun family environment for people at a ticket price they could actually afford, so everything from Ferris wheels, to food, to silent line dancing,” Bonneville International Group Director of Programming Chad Rufer said.Rufer said Country in the Park was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the event was postponed until September. It is back at its usual May date, Rufer said.“To be able to see them out with their families having fun, to see people in front of the stage dancing, it’s an unreal experience just to be able to watch people really connecting with one another and with their families that way,” Rufer said.While Sacramento County’s COVID-19 situation has improved compared to prior years, cases are slowly on the rise. According to the California Department of Public Health, the test positivity rate for Sacramento County currently sits at 6.8%.Still, many Country in the Park attendees told KCRA 3 they were fully vaccinated and boosted, and that they were still taking precautions."I have hand sanitizer in my bag,” Courtney Haugen said. "It feels normal. It feels good to have something feel way more normal and still feel spacious and not like we're on top of each other."Country in the Park continues on Sunday, with a lineup that includes country music singers Cole Swindell, Russell Dickerson and Lauren Alaina. The festivities begin at noon.| RELATED | Things to do this weekend in the greater Sacramento area

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Country in the Park is back at Cal Expo this weekend.

Around 20,000 people attended on Saturday. The major music event has been a staple in Sacramento County for more than two decades. But this year, organizers have added some extra excitement to the mix – including a second day of festivities, as well as carnival rides and games for kids.

"We really wanted to be able to create a really fun family environment for people at a ticket price they could actually afford, so everything from Ferris wheels, to food, to silent line dancing,” Bonneville International Group Director of Programming Chad Rufer said.

Rufer said Country in the Park was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the event was postponed until September. It is back at its usual May date, Rufer said.

“To be able to see them out with their families having fun, to see people in front of the stage dancing, it’s an unreal experience just to be able to watch people really connecting with one another and with their families that way,” Rufer said.

We’re at #CountryInThePark at Cal Expo, y’all! @kcranews 🤠 🎸 pic.twitter.com/83b5WtaQSi
— Orko Manna (@orko_manna) May 15, 2022

While Sacramento County’s COVID-19 situation has improved compared to prior years, cases are slowly on the rise. According to the California Department of Public Health, the test positivity rate for Sacramento County currently sits at 6.8%.

Still, many Country in the Park attendees told KCRA 3 they were fully vaccinated and boosted, and that they were still taking precautions.

"I have hand sanitizer in my bag,” Courtney Haugen said. "It feels normal. It feels good to have something feel way more normal and still feel spacious and not like we're on top of each other."

Country in the Park continues on Sunday, with a lineup that includes country music singers Cole Swindell, Russell Dickerson and Lauren Alaina. The festivities begin at noon.

Thousands attend newly expanded 'Country in the Park' at Cal Expo

The major music event has been a staple in Sacramento County for more than two decades, and this year organizers have added a second day of festivities.

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