Sun’s out, shade’s in: Campers gearing up for scorching heat at Country Thunder

While the music is drawing thousands of fans to Country Thunder Saskatchewan this weekend, the scorching temperatures are taking centre stage as campers look for ways to stay cool.

Festival goers arrived in Craven equipped with generators, air conditioners, extra water and plenty of shade to help them get through the extreme heat.

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Brody Carduner said he made sure to stock up in preparation for the conditions.

“We have the generator here, so hopefully we can run the air conditioner,” he said.

Ice and a cooler in the back of a camper's pickup truck at Country Thunder.

Many campers brought plenty of ice to keep water and other beverages cold during the scorching festival. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)

But while the sun overhead will be a concern for some campers, Carduner said he’s also worried about the water on the ground. Recent rain has left some campsites muddy, adding another challenge for campers.

“We’re putting this tarp down. Hopefully that’s gonna do it, and then maybe the heat will dry it up,” he said.

Brody Carduner at Country Thunder in July, 2026.

Brody Carduner said he’s worried about the soggy ground and mud just as much as the heat. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)

In addition to campers equipping themselves with ways to beat the heat, emergency personnel are reminding people that preventing heat-related illness starts with hydration.

“Try to stay out of direct sunlight for the hottest portions of the day, but definitely staying hydrated is one of the biggest things that you can do,” said Mike Wock, the festival’s on-site fire chief.

“Drink water, bring shade, anything.”

Mike Wock, the on-site fire chief for Country Thunder, in Craven in July, 2026.

Mike Wock, the festival’s on-site fire chief, said his team will be available and ready if any campers need assistance. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)

Wock said security and emergency response teams will be patrolling the campgrounds when they are called upon, working to keep everybody safe.

“If they can track us down either out in a campground, they’ll relay the message into the command post and we’ll get dispatched out, or they can come directly to our medical post and be treated,” he said.

Wock also urged campers to not light fireworks during the festival.

“Fire is a big concern for us out here,” he said.

“It causes us a lot of man manpower to go out and try to track down (and) make sure that there’s no danger or any injuries related to that.”

A canopy set up by campers at Country Thunder in July, 2026.

Some campers set up canopies to keep the sun at bay during the festival. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)

For other campers, this year’s Country Thunder festival will be all about staying cool with friends.

“We get those water sprayers, fill them with water, and as it gets hot we spray each other with the water and have a few bevies and cool ones,” said Christina Chrisman

She said sunscreen, bug spray and air conditioning are also must-haves for the weekend, and offered simple advice to fellow campers: “Keep in the shade, stay hydrated.”

With temperatures expected to remain high through the weekend, organizers and emergency crews are encouraging everyone to look out for one another while enjoying the festival.