Campers of all kinds were lined up, some for hours and some overnight, as Lakes Jam fans eagerly waited to get through the gates Thursday at Brainerd International Raceway.
"It was totally worth the wait," Carol Rollins of Brainerd said of waiting 2 ½ hours to get past the gates.
The grounds at BIR were hopping on the first of the three-day music fest, as campers made their way to camping sites and set up their spots, while waiting for friends and family to arrive to get ready to hear the bands begin. The fourth annual Lakes Jam unites country and rock and roll, and headliners this year are country star Granger Smith who played Thursday; country star Toby Keith slated for tonight, June 24; and Styx on Saturday night.
The sun was beaming, with a high in the 80s, as people got in line to get their tickets and the golf carts and all-terrain vehicles were driving all over the grounds. By 2 p.m. Thursday, there were people already set up and relaxing in lawn chairs with a beverage, others playing yard games and others socializing.
Karl Magnuson of Brainerd was wearing a big fuzzy eagle head on his head. Magnuson said the eagle hat is owned by the Eagles Club in Brainerd. He said the club used it in the bar stool races and he asked them if he could wear it for Lakes Jam.
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Magnuson said this is his third year attending Lakes Jam and his group consists of about a dozen people. He said he was most excited to see Granger Smith. He said he loves his songs, including "We Do it in a Field" and "We Bleed Maroon."
"He's a great artist," Magnuson said. "And I'm excited to see Toby Keith.
"(Outside of the music) I can't wait to play in the bags tournament. It will be fantastic."
Theresa and Nathan Fisher of Crosby were at Lakes Jam with their 18-year-old daughter Kassi Fisher and other friends. They said this is their second year at Lakes Jam. Nathan Fisher is a big Toby Keith fan, so they had to come. Kassi was excited to see Chase Bryant.
"We have a lot of country fans here," Theresa Fisher said of the group. "I am too, but I can't wait to see Survivor. They have some really good bands here this year."
The Fishers met another family from Albany last year at Lakes Jam and the families have stayed in contact.
"We messaged each other all year long and we planned to get the same camping spots this year," Theresa Fisher said. "We all come back here because we are one huge family."
Down in another campsite area, Rollins of Brainerd and Angie Forester of Albany were playing washer toss. Rollins said she has been coming to Lakes Jam since it started.
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"I like everything about Lakes Jam," Rollins said. "We're here to relax. We got up at 6 a.m. this morning to get here and waited about 2 1/2 hours. ... We got a really nice spot."
Austin Brenny and Rachelle Lass of St. Cloud were attending Lakes Jam for the first time. They said they heard about Lakes Jam "all over the place" and like to attend music festivals, so they thought they would give the Brainerd lakes area festival a chance.
Lass was excited to see Granger Smith.
"I'm just here to tag along," Brenny said with a smile. "I'll listen to anything."
In another camping area, there was a standing pool surrounded by motorhomes and recreational vehicles.
Dave Ackerman of Pequot Lakes was busy getting the pool and campsite ready with his brother, Jason Ackerman of St. Cloud and his neighbor Stacy Kittock of Pequot Lakes. They were setting up a "large concert/stage area" and were planning to hold activities there, through permission from Lakes Jam owner Jerry Braam. They plan to host two bean bag tournaments and as of 2 p.m. Thursday they had 32 teams signed up. They said there will also be a costume contest and a bonfire.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl on Twitter.
Line-up:
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Friday: Whiskey Myers, 4 p.m.; Chris Hawkey, 6 p.m.; Chase Bryant, 8 p.m.; and Toby Keith, 10 p.m. Secondary stage includes Copperhead Creek, noon; Jason Paulson Band, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and Nasty Habit, 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight.
Saturday: ThundHERstruck, 4 p.m.; Survivor, 6 p.m.; 38 Special, 8 p.m.; and Styx, 10 p.m. Secondary stage includes Last Call, noon; Strange Daze, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and Nasty Habit, 7 p.m., 9:20 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
Cost: Go to tickets300.com/lakes-jam-2016/ or www.lakesjam.com/#!ticket-price-information/c1a6j for details on tickets.
Weather from the National Weather Service in Duluth
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. At night there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m., chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Breezy.
Saturday night there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
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