Boots in the Park San Diego 2024 | Festivals

San Diego may be far from Nashville, but that doesn’t mean SoCal is short on country music fans. For one heel-stomping day, Boots in the Park brings tens of thousands to Waterfront Park to see country music hot shots. Yes, the festival lives up to its name, with the crowd looking more Nashville bar than probably any actual bar in Nashville. It’s less Johnny Cash and more the vibe of Bo Burnham’s country song from Make Happy. But as long as slick mandolin is your jam, and you don’t think too much about how much the performer’s boots cost, you’ll have an absolute blast. This year’s iteration will be headlined by Thomas Brett and Lee Bruce. Also performing are Scotty McCreery, LOCASH, Rhett Akins and Alana Springsteen.

Don’t worry about missing any of the star power: Boots in the Park keeps things simple with one big stage and some jumbo video screens. Between sets, chill back and look out over Waterfront Park’s fountains and reflection pools, or clack those heels all over the dance floors of the festival’s popular line-dancing tent. As the evening comes on and the sun sets behind the palm trees, settle in with a craft cocktail. Too fancy for you? Don’t worry. Boots in the Park covers both high and low. For fans of Walker Hayes’s song Fancy Like, there are plenty of more straightforward options, like Bud Light Seltzer.