2023 Boots & Hearts Festival

Summer festivals bring together a crowd not found at just any other concert. Weekend festival goers are there not just for the music, but for the experience that only a gathering of this sort can offer.

The Boots & Hearts Country Music Festival offers music lovers the chance to enjoy a fantastic collection of industry bests all in one place. The festival which takes place at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, Ontario began in 2012 and has grown into one of the biggest, most well-known outdoor music festivals in Canada.

This year the usual country music lineup saw a new blend in music, with the inclusion of rock favourites Nickleback, Big Wreck and JJ Wilde. Main stage country headliners included Boots alumni and fan favourite Keith Urban and country music superstar Tim McGraw headlined the main stage while Breland, and Tyler Joe Miller hit the Front Porch Stage for the very first time. Other acts that entertained fans all weekend included Riley Green, Hardy, Tim Hicks, Josh Ross, Lauren Alaina, Tim and the Glory Boys and so many more!

The festival brings together a wide-ranging crowd of people from young to old, all gathering, laughing and dancing together in the name of good music, and a good time. Music fans party through four days, enjoying live music and festival fun, with intimate performances at the Front Porch Stage, while dancing the night away with the larger-than-life talent rocking the main stage.

As the sun sets on Burl’s Creek your eyes are drawn to the lights which emanate from the enormous ferris wheel that gives you a top of the world view of the event grounds. There is a certain adrenaline that flows through the crowd as the moon comes up and everyone gears up for the party of the summer.

You always head home from Boots with new friends. While camping under the stars the party happens amongst all the tents and trailers. New weekend neighbors brought together by their love of country music leave as friends, with a cheers to beers and a plan to connect next year.

We had the chance to catch up with some Canadian favourites this year prior to making their Boots appearances. Check out our Q&A with Tim Hicks and Teigen Gayse.

Main Photo Credit: Chris Ashlee

Tim Hicks Photo Credit: Corey Kelly