Music Festivals in Our Region

Edward Kearns

Edward Kearns

Summer is almost here.

With it comes all the usual fun in the sun, camping, and a whole lot of music. Four huge festivals take place every year in South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska. With some of the biggest lineups and tons of available camping, these festivals make for a great vacation.

The summer kicks off with the Comstock Windmill Festival, two miles north of Comstock, Neb, at the 2nd Wind Ranch. From June 10 to 13 you can party with your friends while catching some of the biggest names in country music.

Fourteen artists are signed up for this year’s festival including Keith Urban, Jo Dee Messina, Dierks Bentley and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. To top it off you can catch Extreme Bull Riding on June 11 and 12.

If country music isn’t your thing, wait a month. July 15 to 18 the 2nd Wind Ranch starts up again with Comstock Rock. Lynard Skynard, Jonny Lang and Pat Benatar are just a few of the 15 artists slated to appear. A few regional bands are also set to take the main stage. It all starts with Kory and the Fireflies at 4 p.m. on July 15.

In August we head up north to the Soo Pass Ranch just south of Detroit Lakes, Minn. From Aug. 5 to 7 we find another long list of country music superstars at WeFest.

Fourteen major artists take the stage with Kenny Chesney closing out the night on Aug. 5. Tim McGraw rounds out the lineup on Aug. 6th, and George Strait closes out the festival on Aug 7.

Regional bands will also appear making for three full days of great music. If you still haven’t had enough, head to over to the Buffalo Chip Campground just east of Sturgis, S.D.

The Buffalo Chip offers seven days of music from regional bands with each night headlined by major label recording artists such as ZZ Top, the Beach Boys and Nickelback.

All of this right in the middle of many other events surrounding the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Camping and tickets at all of these festivals are limited and go fast once the summer gets started.

The sooner reservations are made, the better deal you will get. Each of these festivals raises ticket prices at the beginning of every month leading up to the event.

This summer is full of music. No matter what your listening preference or where you live, you don’t have to go far to find it.