Founded in 2012, Boots and Hearts Music Festival (Boots) is the largest camping country music festival in Canada. Held at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds just north of Toronto, this four-day festival brings together some of the biggest names in country music from around the world for an unforgettable weekend of music and fun.
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I’ve been attending Boots and Hearts every year since it started. Enjoy this photo of my brother and me at the very first festival for proof… haha.
You might think that makes me biased, but I’ve watched the festival grow and change over the years, from switching venues to shifting ownership, with some improvements and some setbacks.
Attending every year has given me a unique perspective, and I can honestly share how it stacks up against other festivals we’ve been to this year. From the music and production to the overall vibe and fan experience, I’ve seen what works really well and what could be improved.
Festival Review Criteria
As always, I’m breaking down the festival experience into five categories:
- 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.
RELATED: Check out our podcast episode from Boots and Hearts 2025 …
Venue & Organization
Boots and Hearts is one of the most organized festivals I have ever attended.
From clear signage and detailed maps to their interactive app that lets you create your own schedule with reminders, everything is designed to make the experience smooth.
They also use wristbands with barcodes that you register online. These wristbands are used to scan into the festival grounds and are also used to pay for everything on site, which is incredibly convenient.
The venue is a farmer’s field, so it can get a bit dusty, but the team does an excellent job maintaining the grounds and transforming the space so that you almost forget you are standing in a field.
The entertainment space features a main stage and a massive VIP area with the infamous barn on one side. Then, the area is lined with bars and photo opportunities that lead toward sponsor activations, food trucks, and the Front Porch Stage.
The setup creates a vibrant, immersive experience where there is always something to see, do, or enjoy, no matter where you are on the grounds. That said, you definitely do a lot of walking from one thing to another.
Food
Boots and Hearts offers a great variety of food options throughout the festival, both in the main entertainment area and around the campgrounds.
Some fans mentioned wanting a bit more variety overall, but I always come prepared and bring plenty of snacks/food with me to Boots, knowing that festival food trucks can lean toward “unhealthy” options and higher prices.
Prices were reasonable for a festival of this scale. I paid $25, tip included, for a generous-sized poutine with chicken on top and it was worth every bite.
Some fans mentioned issues with vendors not offering a tip option and adding it automatically when the machine was turned back around. This seems to be more of an individual vendor problem rather than a Boots and Hearts issue, but it’s definitely something that should be addressed either way.
People & Vibe
Boots and Hearts attracts a wide mix of attendees.
There are kids here and there, lots of young adults and teenagers (especially in the camping area), some older festival-goers who tend to stick to the VIP section, and everything in between.
The crowd can also vary depending on the night.
For example, Sunday featured more rock-leaning artists, drawing a male-dominated audience of rock enthusiasts who weren’t always the most polite. Friday, headlined by Bailey Zimmerman, had a more laid-back and diverse crowd.
GA vs VIP at Boots and Hearts Music Festival
The GA section can get extremely rowdy the closer you are to the stage, but the bowl-shaped venue allows plenty of people to sit back on the hill, relaxing and enjoying the show from a distance.
VIP offers a slightly calmer vibe while still being close to the stage, which is a nice balance between comfort and being part of the action.
Overall, the mix of people and changing energy each night adds to the dynamic and exciting festival experience.
Bathroom Situation
I’ve always praised Boots for how organized they are when it comes to the bathroom situation.
The campground porta potties can get a bit messy, but they are cleaned daily (at least the ones I saw). If they become very dirty within a day, that’s more of an attendee issue than a festival issue…some people just lack respect or basic hygiene *eye roll*.
At a festival of this size, waiting for the washroom is to be expected, especially between sets. In GA, I didn’t encounter long lines, but we also tended to go during performances rather than in between sets.
VIP has long been praised for its “luxury” washrooms, featuring air-conditioned spaces, flushable toilets, and water, along with larger porta potties.
This year, some attendees were disappointed to find that a few stalls were broken and the air conditioning wasn’t on. Even so, these facilities were still cleaner and more comfortable than GA washrooms, in my opinion.
Performances
Being the biggest camping country music festival in the country, Boots is bound to face backlash no matter who’s on the lineup.
I’ve seen people complain every single year, even when they book the absolute top artists in the genre. You just can’t win or please everyone.
2025 was no different with headliners Justin Moore, Bailey Zimmerman, Sam Hunt, and Hardy.
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The biggest commotion I saw was that both Bailey and Hardy were just at the festival two years ago. And honestly, I get it!
It can feel a little repetitive.
But after watching their sets this time around, I have to admit both of them have stepped it up. Their shows have grown so much since the last time they were here, and it really showed.
Friday didn’t go quite as planned, with severe weather delaying the opening of the grounds and even forcing an evacuation later in the afternoon. Some sets were cut short or cancelled entirely, but Boots handled it impressively, staying on top of updates and making sure everyone knew the new timings and schedule changes.
Personally, I was beyond excited to see Cameron Whitcomb for the first time, and he did not disappoint. Not even a little. His set was electric with so much energy, such a strong voice, and he kept the crowd engaged the entire time.
On the flip side, I was equally as hyped to see Stephen Wilson Jr., and while his set was totally different, I loved it just as much.
Where Cameron brought high energy, Stephen leaned into a more chill vibe, and the crowd loved it too. He even surprised everyone by bringing Hardy out during his set, which was so exciting.
Sam Hunt’s set ended up being one of the most memorable, not just because of the music, but because of how the crowd responded when things went sideways.
His mic cut out mid-performance, and then right before the last song ended, everything suddenly went black. Instead of the moment falling flat, the audience jumped in, singing the lyrics loud enough to carry the song to the end. It turned what could’ve been a frustrating technical mishap into a reminder of how much energy and love the Boots fam brings, no matter what!
Is Boots and Hearts worth your money?
Yes, it is.
Overall, there is a reason why Boots is not only one of the top festivals in Ontario but also one of the leading festivals across Canada.
Attending a smaller festival really highlights just how big Boots is and how impressive their offerings are.
Longtime fans will always find something to critique from year to year, especially when comparing it to past experiences, but when you look at it alongside other festivals, it becomes clear that Boots truly knows what they are doing.
The sheer number of sponsor activations, games, and activities is unmatched by any other festival I have attended.
You can see the effort that goes into creating an experience that feels both fun and memorable, and that effort is what sets them apart.
Their ability to balance large-scale production with engaging small-details is exactly why they have earned a reputation as one of the top festivals in the country.
If you are looking for a festival experience on a bigger scale that delivers variety, energy, and entertainment at every turn, Boots and Hearts is absolutely worth your money.
Lily Braendle
A seasoned concertgoer and festival enthusiast who was raised on country music. With passions for writing, storytelling, marketing and content creation.
