Friday, September 25, 2026

Question: What was the name of the Canadian festival that was a forerunner to today’s Country Thunder concert series?

Answer: Big Valley Jamboree, which started in 1983 in Craven, Saskatchewan. The festival later was rebranded as Rock ‘N The Valley, Craven Country Jamboree, and today’s Country Thunder, now with festivals in Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, and Canada. Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer credits the 2005 signing of country star Tim McGraw to that year’s lineup as a major turning point in the company’s growth.