Hardcore country: Neon Nights fans cheer on Tracy Byrd, Rodney Atkins through sun and rain

LAWRENCE TWP. − Kristen Kerns stood under the beating sunshine on Friday afternoon at the Neon Nights country music festival, pouring water on her legs to cool off.

The first show of the day hadn't started, but the 31-year-old Alliance resident had secured a coveted spot along the catwalk extending from the stage at the Clay's Resort Jellystone Park amphitheater in Lawrence Township near Canal Fulton.

"It's a lot of work being here," Kerns said. "You get tired in the sun and (walking up) the hill, but I feel it's worth it because they bring a lot of big names here."

Friday featured a lineup of Mark Wills, Tracy Byrd, Rodney Atkins and Travis Tritt. Saturday's bill features Mark Chesnutt at 4 p.m., John Michael Montgomery at 5:45 p.m., Wynonna Judd, 7:30 p.m. and Tim McGraw, 9:15 p.m.

Up to 13,000 fans are expected per day at Neon Nights.

Parking costs $10 per day and $20 for tailgate alley with limited spaces on a first come, first served basis. Parking opens at 9:30 a.m. daily, and gates open for the amphitheater at 10 a.m.

For more information about Neon Nights and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.theneonnights.com/.

Wills and Byrd both put on hour-plus shows, the area around the stage gradually becoming more crowded between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Dancing and drinking to 'Margaritaville' and 'Watermelon Crawl'

During Wills' show, a mix of his standards, new material and a cover song or two, fans kept hydrated under a blue sky and uninterrupted sunshine, with temperatures around the mid-80s.

Songs that drew the most enthusiastic response included his 1998 No. 1 hit, "Wish You Were Here."

Rain was intermittent during Byrd's concert, clusters of gray clouds giving way to sunshine by the time he strolled the catwalk, microphone in hand, leading the fans in a rousing rendition of his popular song, "Watermelon Crawl."

Prior that, after reeling off several of his own crowd pleasers, Byrd covered the summertime, party anthem, "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet. "Drinkin' Bone," a 2003 release, and "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo" also had the audience reveling.

Fans danced, sang along word for word, and raised their beer bottles or took a swig.

More rain, including possible thunderstorms and wind gusts, had been forecast in the North Lawrence area Saturday night during scheduled performances for Atkins and Tritt. However, no postponements, cancellations or evacuations were posted online by the Lawrence Township Police Department, North Lawrence Fire Department or on The Country Fest Facebook page.

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'I was raised on country music.'

Friday's concerts were a warmup for Kerns because she's most excited to see country music superstar Tim McGraw on Saturday night.

"This is really nice that they get big names," she said of Neon Nights, a sister festival to The Country Fest, which happened earlier this summer at Clay's Resort.

Country music has been a family tradition for Kerns.

"I was raised on country music, and my brother and I would watch CMT, and my parents would be dancing in the living room while me and my brother were listening to the songs," she recalled with a smile.

Football and country music

Chad Rucker, 42, of Canton, also had a prime spot along the catwalk, not only to see the country music stars up close, but also so he could get his football signed.

Clutching a Pro Football Hall of Fame special edition football, Rucker said it was one of four footballs he's taken to Country Fest or Neon Nights in recent years.

"I figure I'm in the Hall of Fame state," he said. "This is a pretty good gimmick to get something signed.

"We get here at 8 a.m.," Rucker said. "We're usually the first ones in line and we run for a spot. You show up early and you burn your (butt) off for eight hours, but you get a front row seat."

Neon Nights is special moment for father and son

A family trio was on the other side of the catwalk.

Nathan and Shae Shuck of Wooster and their 9-year-old son, David, were looking forward to two days of country music.

Nathan Shuck said that watching Atkins in concert would be extra special because the song "Watching You" is about the relationship between a father and son.

"It's going to be like a core memory," Shae Shuck said.

Neon Nights is their son's first concert.

"We've met lifelong friends here," Nathan Shuck said.

Shuck's wife said Neon Nights is about good people and great music.

"We love all music," she said. "Music has always been a part of our lives."

Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Country music fans flock to Neon Nights for Travis Tritt, Tim McGraw