Big-name country stars will be coming to Iowa this Memorial Day weekend for the first ever Tree Town Music Festival.

The Tree Town Musical Festival will take place in Forest City, Iowa, from May 23 to May 25. In Forest City, there will be campgrounds and sites available for those who want to camp out and attend the festival.

Big named artists such as Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert and Scotty McCreery will all be preforming at the Tree Town Music Festival. These will be accompanied by performances by up-and-coming artists such as David Ray, Megan Ellis, The Last Ride, Hali Hicks, Charlie Worsham, David Nail, JT Hodges, Leah Turner, Big Medicine, Sarah Darling and Tyler Farr. May 23’s performances will start at 6 p.m. on the Little Nashville stage. All other performances will take place on the main stage. May 24’s performances will begin at 1 p.m. while the performers will start at noon May 25.

“The Tree Town Music Festival has been in planning for the last three years,” said Gary DeWaard, general manager for the Tree Town Music Festival. “There was a lot of research, planning and working with the community that went into getting this festival set up … We got the community behind us and from there we just started taking action to put it together.”

DeWaard said that planning has been running smoothly with not too many problems arising that are outside of the ordinary.

“We are really confident that we are well organized and planned that we know what to expect,” DeWaard said.

The Tree Town Music Festival is expecting upwards of 10,000 people to come but DeWaard predicts many more.

Besides the concerts, the Tree Town Music Festival will have camping lots and other activities around the site, such as rock climbing walls, a zip line and fireworks at night.

“A festival like this is based on the camping and the weekend experience,” DeWaard said. “It’s more let’s do this for three to four days and over a weekend and all hangout and camp.”

The Tree Town Music Festival did manage to get some very well-known country stars and up and coming artists to come and perform. Some are in the middle of or just about to start some big tours. Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert and Chris Young are all in the middle of tours at the moment and all have a pretty busy schedule.

Young said while on the road he has learned just how much diversity there can be in his sets.

“It really opens up the possibilities as to what I can do when I headline my own shows,” Young said.

McCreery said that they have a nice set up outside of the bus for when it’s nicer weather to just relax and have a good time while on the road.

“I love it out here on the road, it’s a fun place to be. I get to see the country,” McCreery said.

Students are also impressed with what the Tree Town Music Festival is putting on and are getting excited for it.

“I definitely know all those guys [performing], like I know their songs, it’s a great line up,” said Claire Rogers, freshmen in agricultural business. 

Beyond the songs performed, students find the prices and number of artists preferable. 

“I like the great number of artists that are preforming,” said Cody Rufer, senior in horticulture. “I also think the price is very reasonable for the big name performers on Saturday and Sunday.”

Tickets for the Tree Town Music Festival concerts and camping are available on the Tree Town Music Festival website.