Barefoot Country Music Fest Returns to Wildwood, Drawing Fans from All 50 States and 17 Countries

WILDWOOD, NJ — The Barefoot Country Music Fest returns to the beaches of Wildwood this week, bringing thousands of country music fans, major recording artists and a significant economic boost to the Wildwoods and surrounding region.

The four-day festival, running June 18 through June 21, features more than 40 country music performers, including headliners Post Malone, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Kelsea Ballerini.

Speaking Thursday morning on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND with host Don Williams, Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano said the event has grown into one of the country's premier music festivals.

"This show has sold out pretty much every year it's been here," Troiano said. "It has become one of the premier events in the country, if not in the world."

Troiano said festival organizers have reported attendees traveling from all 50 states and 17 countries, including Australia, to attend the beachfront event.

While the festival is largely sold out, Troiano said a limited number of general admission and VIP tickets may still be available through the festival's website.

The mayor highlighted the enormous logistical effort required to transform the beach into a temporary entertainment venue capable of hosting tens of thousands of people.

"We'll probably have anywhere from 175 to 200 tractor-trailers of equipment coming in and out," Troiano said. "I can't explain to you the amount of equipment that rolls in and out of here, plus all the buildings that they put up."

The festival's infrastructure includes massive staging systems, sound equipment and a fleet of luxury tour buses used by performers and their crews.

According to Troiano, some major touring acts arrive with multiple buses for band members, crew and support staff. He recalled a previous appearance by country superstar Kenny Chesney that required nine buses.

The city has spent weeks preparing for the event, including grading and leveling sections of the beach. Troiano credited local public works experts and former city employees for helping festival organizers navigate the unique challenges of constructing a temporary city on the sand.

"It is a city," Troiano said. "It's a city of 45,000 people."

In addition to benefiting Wildwood businesses, Troiano said the festival's economic impact extends throughout Cape May County and beyond, with visitors spending money at hotels, restaurants, attractions and casinos throughout the region.

Williams noted that even those who are not country music fans may appreciate the scale of the operation.

"It'd be worth just seeing the setup and everything," Williams said. "It's like a whole city moved in."

With favorable weather forecasts expected through the weekend, city officials are hoping for another successful year for one of South Jersey's largest tourism events.