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Laura Gray is no stranger to Country Thunder festival-goers wandering into her campsite – and she doesn’t mind at all.
From the gravel road outside her trailer, passersby can see a sign proclaiming the ‘Craven Block Parents.’
Her site is a spot people can stop in if they are lost and get help with directions back to their campsite.
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Gray created the sign about seven years ago, many years after she began coming to the festival.
“I just think it’s the right thing to do,” she said. “I think everyone deserves a safe Craven.”
Over the years, Gray said she has walked hours taking campers back to their nightly accommodations to reunite them with their friends and family.
Gray said her campsite is always stocked with jello shots. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Occasionally, she’s helped campers who cannot remember their campsite number, which is why she has printed the map of the campgrounds stuck to the inside of her trailer door.
“We love the road show,” she said. “You meet so many cool people, some from different countries and different provinces and all over the place. We love hosting everyone, it’s been great.”
Gray said her campsite is always stocked with cold water, Gatorade, and pudding and jello shots – something she “can’t leave home without.”
She has many fond memories of meeting people and singing karaoke at the festival.
The Country Thunder Music Festival will see performances begin on Thursday evening.
The three big headliners for the weekend are Jason Aldean on Friday, Bailey Zimmerman on Saturday and Def Leppard on Sunday.
Campers pulled up to the Country Thunder gates on Wednesday morning. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Campers set up for the weekend
Country music lovers took advantage of early campground access on Wednesday morning, lumbering through with trailers and tents.
Kody Emery brought his lawnmower to keep the grass low and bugs away at his campsite.
“It’s nice to set up and start early,” he said.
Bernie D’Andrea always comes to the festival on the first day to get set up early. She’s been attending the event for decades.
Throughout her years at the festival, she said she’s seen all weather occur in the Craven Valley.
“Another thing you have to plan for is the weather change,” she said. “Clothes for being hot, cold because it’s usually cold at night time, rubber boots, flip flops.”
She said her trailer has been stuck in previous years when the rain comes in – but she’s hoping the weather holds out for the weekend.
Megan Benoit, one of the festival organizers, said she’s always eager to see how people set up their campsites.
“Some campsites have their own themes, and you can sometimes hear where the party is at just walking through the campsite,” she said.
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