Country Concert ends with a bang

Cameron Johnson, left, and Cassie Gingerich, both of Dayton, walk around Country Concert with an American flag Saturday, July 11.

The Band Perry performs at Country Concert Friday, July 10.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Jake Owen sits on the edge of the Main Stage at Country Concert as he performs Friday, July 10.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Cole Swindell shakes hands as he performs at Country Concert Saturday, July 12.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Justin Moore performs at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Singer Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band stops to sign a hat during his performance at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Kim Shroder, of Dayton, dances to Cole Swindell while wearing four cowgirl hats at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

A beach ball is tossed through the air at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Cameron Johnson, left, and Cassie Gingerich, both of Dayton, walk around Country Concert with an American flag Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Eric Myers, right, of Wapakoneta, poses for a picture with a Carrie Underwood cutout at Country Concert Saturday, July 11. Taking the picture for radio station K99.1 FM is Shay Tibbs, of Dayton. Tibbs walked the grounds taking pictures of people with the cutout.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Roger Grone, of Delphos, wears a hat with Carrie Underwood’s face on it at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Jessica Kramer, left, and Joel Giesige, both of Celina dance at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Carrie Underwood performs as the headline act at Country Concert Saturday, July 11.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

By Amy Barger

[email protected]

FORT LORAMIE — The 35th annual Hickory Hill Lakes Country Concert in Fort Loramie was enjoyed and received well by the many who attended over the weekend to see local and national artists including Carrie Underwood, Clark Manson, Florida Georgia Line and others.

The concert featured 24 performers over the three-day festival who entertained an estimated 30,000 people, according to a Country Concert staff member. The concert went relatively smoothly with minor injuries, said paramedic Travis Fleming of Spirit Medical Transportation.

“We’ve had some minor injuries, mainly dehydration and intoxication this week,” Fleming said. “Other than that, it’s been pretty decent and everybody has been having a lot of fun.”

Philip Dodge, of Palmyra, Mich., performed “shuttle service” for his daughter and her friend at the concert and showed satisfaction with the performances even though he was enjoying them from afar in the preferred parking section.

“Just sitting back and listening to the various groups coming and going seems to be a pretty smooth turnover with a constant variety of music,” Dodge commented. His daughter and her friend came to see Carrie Underwood and the family came for the concert before traveling to Nashville.

“My daughter is a country music fanatic. Just being here, she’s in heaven,” he said.

Steve Brogden, of Cincinnati, who attended the festival for the first time with friend Dee Dee Dilsaver, of Dayton, said, “I will definitely be back.” He enjoyed performances by Carrie Underwood, Neal McCoy and the Eli Young Band.

Dilsaver said that she came to see Carrie Underwood and that this was her seventh year attending Country Concert. She comes back every year because she enjoys the atmosphere, she said.

The first Hickory Hill Lakes Country Concert was performed in 1981 by Louise Mandrell, with 342 artists playing at the event since. It was announced on Saturday that country music artist Eric Church will be headlining the next Country Concert, which will take place July 7-9, 2016.