At the beginning of this year when I was trying to decide which country music festival(s) I should buy tickets to, I started searching to see reviews for them to determine which ones are actually worth my money.
I’ve been attending festivals since I was 10 years old, and have grown accustomed to festival culture and have certainly had my money taken advantage of in the past.
That’s why, I decided this year, instead of choosing just one to go to, I’m going to go to as many country music festivals in Ontario as I can so you don’t have to, and so you don’t waste your hard earned money on a festival that might not be worth it.
For these reviews, I’ll be breaking things down into five key areas:
- Venue & Organization – How the space is laid out, how smoothly things are run, and overall logistics.
- Food – Looking at the variety, quality, pricing, and availability.
- People & Vibe – What’s the crowd like? General atmosphere, how people are interacting, and the age/demographic mix.
- Bathroom Situation – Yep, we’re going there. Are there enough toilets? Cleanliness, access, all that.
- Performances – Not just who’s playing (since taste varies), but how good the sound is and how the acts deliver live.
Let’s Go to Meadows Music Festival in Fergus Ontario!
On May 30, we loaded up the truck and made our way to Meadows Music Festival in Fergus, Ontario. It was our second time attending, and let me tell you … This festival has come a long way over the past two years! From improved food truck options to more accessible washrooms, it’s clear they’ve put in the effort to make the experience even better.
Knowing that we were only going to one day of this two day festival, we knew we had to try as many things as possible to make the experience worth it and get a full review out of it.
RELATED: Read about our last adventure at Meadows Music Festival in 2023 …
Festival Venue and Organization
Meadows took place at Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex, which is a venue I hadn’t been to before, but it impressed me right away. There was plenty of parking both in the lot and on the grass, with only a short walk to the festival grounds.
The grounds were beautiful with lots of green grass, shady tree-covered spots, and a nice breeze that helped make the heat more manageable.
The festival was well organized with a simple layout. Vendors lined either side of the grounds, and both stages were set up at the front, making it easy to navigate.
A thoughtful detail was the entrance setup, which included a separate line for bag checks and a re-entry entrance. It made coming and going much quicker and smoother, and it’s not something I typically see at festivals!
Another unique feature was the signage for attendees with chairs, indicating where they could and couldn’t go. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but then I remembered being at another festival, stuck behind rows of chairs lined up at the barricade while trying to stand near the front. At Meadows, there were so many chairs that the signs made total sense, and I’m sure other attendees appreciated them just as much.
Food at Meadows Music Festival
My first impression of the food at Meadows?
Wow, there were so many options … And they all looked amazing. Or maybe I was just starving … hard to say, honestly!
From perogies and tacos to pastries, pizza, grilled cheese, and more, the variety was seriously impressive.
We tried the tacos, brisket mac and cheese, and fries, and every bite was delicious. As expected at a festival, the prices were a bit on the higher side, but nothing outrageous. Drinks topped out at $11, and our massive order of fries was only about $6, which felt like a win.
We didn’t really have to wait for our food when we ordered around 4 to 5 p.m., but lines definitely started to pick up as the evening went on, so going earlier paid off!
People & Vibe
I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from the crowd at Meadows, but my first impression was that it leaned pretty family-friendly. There were a lot of kids and families around (not a bad thing at all, just something I noticed right away).
It actually gave off small-town fair vibes in the best way.
There weren’t a ton of kid-focused activities, but it still felt like a really nice night out for families and friends to enjoy together.
I was a bit surprised by how many people were smoking, especially considering how many kids were around. It felt like more than I usually notice at festivals. Some of the kids also seemed a little unsupervised … There were frisbees flying around and a few climbing all over the corn hole boards.
But hey, kids will be kids.
Overall, the vibe was relaxed and welcoming. Most people were kind and easygoing, though things did get a bit intense near the front of the stage with some pushy crowd behavior. Still, the atmosphere had that laid-back community feel that made the night enjoyable.
Bathroom Situation At Meadows Music Festival
Let’s talk about the bathroom situation…Because let’s be honest, it can really make or break a festival experience.
You never really know what you’re walking into at a new event, but from what I heard, Meadows added more porta potties this year, which is always a step in the right direction.
That alone is a win.
What really stood out to me, though, was the fact that because the festival takes place on the grounds of the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex, attendees had access to the indoor washrooms for most of the night.
Real flush toilets at a festival? Game-changer.
I personally only used a porta potty once, and the rest of the time I went inside, and both options were clean. Even better, I never had to wait in line. It was easily one of the best bathroom setups I’ve experienced at an outdoor event.
Performances
As I mentioned earlier, we attended Meadows on the Friday, which was their dedicated country night, and the lineup did not disappoint.
We got to see The Reklaws, The Country Mixtape (featuring Tyler Joe Miller, Andrew Hyatt, and Shawn Austin), The Road Hammers, and Sully Burrows on the main stage, along with a handful of incredible acts on the side stage.
Everyone brought their A-game, and honestly, it was hard to pick a favourite. The Road Hammers stood out with an exceptionally high-energy performance that had the whole crowd going. And of course, The Reklaws never miss. They always deliver such an entertaining and engaging show. But credit where it’s due: every artist brought something special, and the energy stayed high from start to finish.
One detail I really appreciated was how Meadows used the main stage speakers to project the audio from the side stage performances. It helped reduce echo across the grounds and made the sound quality feel more consistent no matter where you were standing.
It’s a small touch, but one that made a noticeable difference in the overall experience.
So…Is Meadows Music Festival Worth it?
I’d say so!
From what I remember, early bird weekend passes were around $120, which is a pretty solid deal considering the number of high-quality performances packed into the lineup.
When you factor in the smooth organization, wide variety of food vendors, clean and accessible washrooms, and overall welcoming atmosphere, it really does feel like you’re getting great value for your money.
It’s a festival that clearly listens to its audience and is working to improve year after year. Whether you’re a die-hard country music fan or just looking for a fun weekend with good vibes, Meadows is definitely worth checking out.
Lily Braendle
A seasoned concertgoer and festival enthusiast who was raised on country music. With passions for writing, storytelling, marketing and content creation.
