TWIN LAKES, Wis. – More than 100,000 people turned out for this year’s Country Thunder music festival, an annual four-day celebration of beer, boots and country music in western Kenosha County. Fans camped, danced and partied from Thursday through Sunday despite a muddy Saturday that brought rain delays and one canceled performance.

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Kenosha County Eye was in attendance Friday and caught rising Texas star Braxton Keith’s set, one of the early weekend highlights. Keith, a 25-year-old singer from Midland, Texas, delivered a crowd-pleasing performance that blended traditional honky-tonk sounds with a modern flair. He performed fan favorites like “Cozy” and songs from his debut EP Blue, winning over first-time listeners with his twangy vocals and stage presence.

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Keith, who credits his grandmother for teaching him piano, is known for keeping old-school country alive in a digital age. After years of grinding through Texas bars and dancehalls, Friday’s performance marked a milestone moment for the young artist on one of the genre’s biggest festival stages.

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Saturday morning brought storms and heavy rainfall that turned sections of the campgrounds into puddles and mud pits. The weather forced organizers to cancel Angie K’s afternoon performance, disappointing fans who had gathered early. But by late afternoon, the skies cleared and festival staff scrambled to dry the grounds ahead of Saturday night’s main event.

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The payoff came in full force when Jelly Roll took the stage. The genre-blending Nashville star drew one of the weekend’s biggest crowds, delivering a gritty and emotional set that had thousands singing and dancing under the open sky. His raw, autobiographical songs—paired with his booming charisma—offered the perfect comeback after a soggy afternoon.

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Sunday brought sunshine and cooler temperatures as festivalgoers packed up campsites, grabbed final food truck bites and made their way to one last round of performances. Many left with mud-stained boots and hoarse voices, but few complained.

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Country Thunder once again proved itself a highlight of the summer for Kenosha County, blending big-name stars with breakout newcomers, and surviving even the wildest Wisconsin weather.

Organizers have not yet released official attendance figures, but preliminary estimates put the crowd well above 100,000 for the long weekend. The event continues to rank among the Midwest’s premier country music festivals.