Country Thunder Music Festival Moves to Clearwater

New venue at Coachman Park to host 3-day event in May 2026

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:26pm

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A stark, minimalist black silhouette of an acoustic guitar set against a bright red background, conceptually representing the energy and spirit of a country music festival.The move of Country Thunder Music Festival to Clearwater's Coachman Park aims to minimize environmental impact while still delivering a high-energy country music experience.Clearwater Today

The popular Country Thunder Music Festival is relocating from its previous location on St. Pete Beach to Clearwater's Coachman Park. The 3-day event is now scheduled for May 8-10, 2026, following protests at the original venue that raised concerns about the festival's impact on the local beach and wildlife.

Why it matters

The move to Clearwater's Coachman Park aims to address environmental concerns raised by residents and activists about the festival's previous beachfront location. Relocating the event to an urban park setting is expected to mitigate any potential damage to sensitive coastal ecosystems.

The details

Country Thunder organizers announced the venue change on the festival's Facebook page. The new location at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater will host the 3-day country music event from May 8-10, 2026. This follows protests outside the original TradeWinds Resort venue on St. Pete Beach, where concerns were raised about the festival's potential to negatively impact the sandy beach dune system and nearby wildlife habitats.

  • The Country Thunder Music Festival is scheduled for May 8-10, 2026.
  • The festival's move to Clearwater was announced on the event's Facebook page on April 17, 2026.

The players

Country Thunder Music Festival

An annual 3-day country music festival that has been held in various locations across the United States and Canada since 1994.

Coachman Park

A 20-acre urban park in downtown Clearwater, Florida that will now host the relocated Country Thunder Music Festival.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to bring Country Thunder to the Clearwater community and look forward to working with local officials to ensure the festival is a success for both artists and attendees.”

— Wayne Hoskins, Country Thunder Festival Director

What’s next

Clearwater officials will work with Country Thunder organizers in the coming months to finalize logistics and ensure the festival's move to Coachman Park is a smooth transition.

The takeaway

The relocation of Country Thunder to Clearwater's Coachman Park demonstrates the festival's commitment to addressing environmental concerns and working with local communities to host its events in a sustainable manner.