Fans flood in to Craven Country Jamboree

REGINA – Some are going there to party, some are going to meet up with old friends at the Craven Country Jamboree north of Regina.

During the five-day jamboree, Craven becomes the third largest town in Saskatchewan.

Anywhere from 25,000 to 28,000 people are expected for the music festival, which features country stars such as George Canyon, Gord Bamford and Dierks Bentley.

The music doesn’t start until Wednesday, which gives organizers a little more time for last minute preparations.

And thanks to a new a new drainage system installed in the spring, Craven marketing director Kim Blevins says the site is dry for the first time in years despite a deluge of rain flooding other areas of the province last week.

She says the area is actually a little dusty this week and joked they might have to purposely water the grounds this year.

Gloria Fandrick was near the front of the line when the gates opened on Tuesday morning.

She has been coming to Craven every year since it first started with the exception of the years that it switched from country music to rock.

As a country fan, she is especially excited to see Keith Urban on Sunday because she has never seen him perform live before.

The festival increased the number of reserve sites and decreased the number of general-camping sites that are available as people drive up.

All of the reserved sites sold out last week so people who didn’t book in advance may be out of luck.

“(I’m looking forward to) everything, especially meeting friends out here that we’ve met for so many years,” Fandrick said. Tuesday.

“It’s just so much fun to visit with them again because you only see them once a year so it’s nice.”