FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Fairfield County is preparing for a significant increase in visitors as the Field and Stream Music Festival approaches. The event, set to take place from October 4th to 6th at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, is expected to draw a crowd that could double the county’s population.
“It’s huge for us, that doubles our population—a county of 21,000 citizens—when you talk about bringing in 10-15,000, maybe even more people. That’s a lot of people,” said Dillon Pullen, President of the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.
Excitement is building as country music fans anticipate performances by top artists including Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Riley Green, and this summer’s breakout star, Shaboozey.
Bob Durkin, co-founder of Southern Entertainment, explained why Fairfield County was chosen as the festival’s location.
“Eric Church is from the Carolinas so it made complete sense, and it sits right in between Charlotte and Columbia,” Durkin said.
The festival is expected to attract between 12,000 and 15,000 attendees, with 4,000 staying on-site. However, it will be more than just a music event, as it will also feature various activities, including tournaments, tours, and excursions.
“We will have pro anglers showcasing the different lures and showing people the insides of fishing. For people that are attending, we can actually go to a pond and do trophy bass fishing themselves, so we will have excursions that can be booked on sight,” said Kevin Landry, Director of the Field and Stream Music Fest.
The event’s impact on Fairfield County is already evident, with local businesses and services preparing for the influx.
“I don’t know of a bed and breakfast or hotel, or accommodation in Fairfield County that is not booked as of this moment,” Pullen added. “Restaurants are preparing, preparing for bigger crowds. There’s no doubt people are going to want to come into town and have a more sit-down meal as they are visiting, so they are already preparing to have extra wait staff ready to go, law enforcement is preparing to have out population almost double.”
To accommodate the expected surge of visitors, Fairfield County has moved its annual Rock Around the Clock event to October 11th, ensuring that resources are available to manage the festival’s demands.
The Field and Stream Music Festival kicks off on October 4th. For more information, visit the festival website.