REGINA — One of Saskatchewan’s biggest summer traditions is turning up the volume heading into the May long weekend.
Country Thunder Saskatchewan has announced a special 72-hour flash sale that will slash single-day festival tickets to $99 from May 16 to May 18, giving fans a chance to experience one of North America’s most iconic country music festivals at one of its lowest prices of the year.
The annual festival returns to Craven July 9-12 with a star-powered lineup featuring Riley Green, Creed and Lainey Wilson as headline acts.
“We wanted to come back in a big way with this May long weekend sale,” explained Megan Benoit, digital manager for all Country Thunder festivals.
“We know that winter has not been fun, and now that May long is here, that’s always the official kickoff to summer,” Benoit said. “It’s hard to find a $99 concert ticket, let alone seeing five different artists on a main stage in one day.”
The limited-time promotion begins at midnight Friday and runs through Monday night, with tickets available through Country Thunder Saskatchewan's official website.
Alongside the headliners, this year’s lineup also features rising and established artists including Gavin Adcock, Cameron Whitcomb and Max McNown.
But organizers say this year's event is about much more than just the music.
One of the festival’s biggest additions this year is the debut of the new Buck & Thunder professional bull riding event, adding another layer of entertainment to the already packed four-day experience.
“We’ve got professional bull riding going on, so even more entertainment than what we’ve always offered,” Benoit expressed. “Between the main stage, the beer gardens and the songwriter stage, there’s really something going on every day, all day long.”
Additional schedules for the beer gardens and songwriter stages are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The festival also continues to offer camping packages, reserved seating and premium pit access, with organizers encouraging fans to secure camping spots quickly as demand continues to climb.
For many Saskatchewan residents, Country Thunder is more than just a concert series. It is part of prairie history.
The Craven festival grounds in the Qu’Appelle Valley are recognized as North America’s longest-running country music festival site, dating back to 1983 when the event launched as the Big Valley Jamboree. Originally founded by Father Lucien Larre as a fundraiser, the festival eventually evolved into one of Canada’s premier outdoor music destinations before rebranding as Country Thunder Saskatchewan in 2017 following a change in ownership.
Over the decades, the site has hosted some of the biggest names in country music history, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
Today, Country Thunder has expanded into seven festival locations across Canada and the United States, but Benoit said Saskatchewan remains the heart of the brand.
“Country Thunder Saskatchewan is really the one that started it all,” she expressed. “It all really does date back to Craven, Saskatchewan.”
Benoit noted many members of the festival’s leadership team have deep Saskatchewan roots, including company CEO Troy Vollhoffer, who grew up in Regina before building the Country Thunder brand into one of North America’s largest independent festival organizations.
“This is a hometown show for a lot of our management team,” Benoit said. “We’re very proud to be from the area.”
Beyond the music, the festival also delivers a major economic boost to Saskatchewan each summer, filling hotels, restaurants, campgrounds and businesses throughout Regina and surrounding communities as tens of thousands of fans descend on the valley.
“Craven becomes a huge populated city during these four days,” Benoit added. “It’s a big driver for economic development in Saskatchewan.”
With summer fast approaching and one of the biggest weekends on Saskatchewan’s entertainment calendar drawing closer, organizers say the message is simple.
“Get your tickets,” Benoit said. “And definitely take advantage of this $99 single-day ticket offer.”
